The White Card — What Every Foreigner in Serbia Must Do

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."

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 within 24 hours of arrival. This is usually done in person at the nearest police station — your landlord or host should take you there with their own ID and proof they own or have rights to the property — but where available it can also be done online/electronically (including via the official welcometoserbia.gov.rs portal). Registration is free.

What you need to bring:

• Your passport (original)
• Your landlord (they must come in person, with their ID)
• Proof of the rental arrangement — a contract, or simply a signed statement from the landlord

What if you move apartments?

You must re-register every time you move to a new address. If you're here on a short stay (e.g. as a visitor), a new address must be registered within 24 hours. If you already hold temporary residence, a change of your living address is reported within 3 days; a permanent resident has 8 days. When in doubt, treat it as 24 hours — registering sooner is never wrong.

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?

Not registering is a violation of Serbian law. The statutory fine for a foreigner who fails to register runs from a few thousand dinars up to 150,000 RSD (roughly €40–€1,280) — in practice authorities often apply the lower end for a first, minor lapse. The bigger problem is usually downstream — without a registered address, you cannot open a bank account, apply for residence, 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.