What the white card is
The white card (beli karton) is the common name for the registration of a foreigner's stay (prijava boravišta) with the police, under art. 111 of the Law on Foreigners. It is done every time you arrive in Serbia and every time you change address.
It is not a residence permit. If you stay longer than 90 days within 180 days, you need temporary residence.
Who registers you, and by when
The rule is 24 hours:
| Where you stay | Who registers | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Hotel or paid accommodation | The hotel or the landlord | 24 hours |
| As a guest of a private person | Your host | 24 hours |
| Neither | You yourself | 24 hours |
A host may authorise you to register yourself. When you change address, the deadline is again 24 hours.
Where to register in Belgrade
At the duty desk of the police station covering the address where you stay, or at the regional police administration. For general questions about the status of foreigners in Belgrade, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs names the Department for Foreigners at Omladinskih brigada 1.
Registering online
The law allows electronic registration. On the eUprava portal, a private host with a qualified electronic certificate can register a foreign guest online. So online registration is done by the host, not by the guest.
Documents
- The registration form (Obrazac 1) in two copies.
- The foreigner's passport.
- Proof of the right to use the property (ownership or another legal basis).
- If the host is a private person, the host's ID card.
No photo is needed for the white card: it is not on the Ministry of Interior's list.
If you don't register
Not registering is an offence: art. 120 of the Law on Foreigners provides for a fine both for a foreigner who had to register himself and for the host. Register within 24 hours.
After you get a residence permit
With temporary residence, your residential address is registered; if you move, report the new address within 3 days (art. 110).
Next step: the residence permit
If you are staying in Serbia for longer, the next step is temporary residence, and for that you need a 35 × 45 mm photo. Every document and its photo is in Documents in Serbia.
Frequently asked questions
What is the white card in Serbia?
The registration of a foreigner's stay at an address with the police (prijava boravišta, Law on Foreigners, art. 111). The paper confirmation is commonly called the white card.
How soon do I need to register?
Within 24 hours of arriving or of moving to a new address.
Who registers me, the landlord or me?
A hotel or anyone who rents you accommodation for payment registers you within 24 hours, and so does a private host you stay with. If you stay with neither, you register yourself. A host can also authorise you to do it.
Can the white card be done online?
Yes, for private hosts: the eUprava service lets a host with a qualified electronic certificate register a foreign guest online.
Do I need a photo for the white card?
No. The Ministry of Interior's list of documents does not include a photo.
What happens if I don't register?
It is an offence: art. 120 of the Law on Foreigners provides for a fine for both the foreigner and the host. Register within 24 hours.
- Law on Foreigners (Zakon o strancima), Official Gazette 24/2018, 31/2019, 62/2023: text on paragraf.rs
- MUP: Registration of a foreigner's stay (prijava boravišta stranca, in Serbian)
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Serbia: Registration of stay
- eUprava: registration of a foreigner's stay by a private host (in Serbian)
Checked against the official sources on . This is general information, not legal advice. Rules change: before you apply, check the requirements with the police (MUP), the embassy or the visa centre.
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