What is the White Card?

The White Card is a mandatory address registration that every foreigner must complete within 24 hours of arriving in Serbia. It is not optional, and it is not just for long-term residents — it applies to everyone, including tourists.

The name comes from the small white slip of paper you receive as proof. In Serbian it is called prijava boravista stranaca — literally "foreigner address registration."

Why it matters beyond the legal obligation: Almost everything else you want to do in Serbia — open a bank account, apply for a residence permit, register a company — requires your White Card as proof of address. It is the foundation everything else sits on.

Who registers you?

This depends entirely on where you are staying:

Staying in a hotel or hostel?

Nothing for you to do. The hotel registers you automatically when you check in. This is why they photograph or scan your passport at the front desk — it is part of the registration process. You will receive a copy of the registration slip.

Staying in a private apartment, Airbnb, or with a friend?

You must register at the nearest police station within 24 hours of arrival. In practice, your landlord or host should take you there — they need to be present with their own ID and proof that they own or have rights to the property.

What you need to bring:

Common problem: landlords who refuse. Some landlords do not want their rental income officially on record. They may tell you registration is not necessary, or make excuses. This is wrong — it is a legal requirement for you, and their refusal creates a real problem. If this happens, contact Marko. There are legal workarounds.

What if you move apartments?

You must re-register every time you move to a new address. Each new address requires a new White Card registration within 24 hours of moving in.

If you are regularly moving between apartments or Airbnbs during the same visit, this can become tedious. Most people settle this by finding a permanent base early.

How long is it valid?

The White Card covers you for the duration of your stay at that address. It does not expire on its own — but it stops being valid when you move to a new address (at which point you register a new one).

What happens if you do not register?

Technically, not registering is a violation of Serbian law and can result in a fine. More practically, the bigger problem is downstream — without a registered address, you cannot open a bank account, apply for a residence permit, or register a business. Everything in Serbia's bureaucracy requires proof of address.

Can a lawyer help with White Card issues?

Yes. If your landlord refuses to register you, if you have a complicated living situation, or if you missed the 24-hour window and are not sure what to do, Marko can help sort it out. It is one of the most common things he deals with for newly arrived foreigners.

💬 Ask Marko about your situation