Serbia (RS)

Must be valid for at least 3 months beyond the requested temporary residence period. Required for all MUP (Ministry of Interior / Ministarstvo unutrašnjih poslova) residence applications, banking, notarial services and regional travel. Keep notarised copies for administrative appointments.

Proof of lawful entry and short-stay allowance. EU citizens and many nationalities enter visa-free for up to 90 days. For long-term stays, a D-category long-stay visa or temporary residence permit is required before arrival. Photograph your entry stamp immediately after crossing the border.

All visitors in private accommodation must register their stay with the police (MUP) within 24 hours of arrival. Hotels register guests automatically. The registration slip (bela kartica / white card) confirms registered temporary address. Required for banking, SIM cards and residence permit applications.

Biometric card proving temporary residence (privremeni boravak) issued by MUP — Odeljenje za strance (Foreigners Division). When combined with work authorisation, this is a single permit. Apply at the relevant MUP station for your municipality. Required for banking, JMBG assignment and many government services.

Lease agreement, owner consent (overrenu izjavu vlasnika) or property title extract. Required for temporary residence permit applications, white card registration, banking and school enrolment. The lease should be registered with the Tax Administration (Poreska uprava) and the Municipal Assembly Secretariat.

Required for temporary and permanent residence permit applications. Serbia is a Hague Apostille member; foreign police clearances from Hague member countries require apostille. Certified Serbian translation by a court interpreter (sudski tumač) is required. Certificate must generally be no older than 6 months.

Required for family reunification permits, children's school enrolment, marriage registration in Serbia, citizenship and some social security procedures. Apostille from Hague member countries; certified Serbian translation required.

Required for family reunification, spouse residence permits, dependant health insurance (RFZO — Republički fond za zdravstveno osiguranje) registration and some benefit applications. Apostille from Hague member countries; certified Serbian translation required.

Required for regulated professions, highly qualified worker permits, university enrolment and nostrification (nostifikacija — formal degree recognition). Apostille from Hague member countries; certified Serbian translation required. Nostrification is processed by the relevant university or professional chamber in Serbia.

Core document for work authorisation, payroll registration, PIO Fond (Pension and Disability Insurance Fund) registration, RFZO health insurance enrolment and banking KYC compliance. The contract must comply with the Serbian Labour Law (Zakon o radu).

Proof of RFZO (Republički fond za zdravstveno osiguranje — Republic Fund for Health Insurance) enrolment or private health insurance. Employees are registered automatically by their employer. Self-employed and voluntary payers register directly with RFZO. Required for temporary residence permit applications and medical access.

PIB (Poreski identifikacioni broj) is the tax number for businesses and the self-employed, issued by the Tax Administration (Poreska uprava — purs.gov.rs). For individuals, the JMBG (Jedinstveni matični broj građana — unique citizen registration number) serves as the personal identifier. Foreign nationals receive an EBS (Evidencijski broj stranca) upon residence permit approval until JMBG is issued.

EU/EEA driving licences are valid in Serbia for stays up to 6 months; non-EU licences accompanied by an IDP are valid for up to 1 year. For long-term residents, the licence must be exchanged at MUP. Translation may be required if the licence is not in Latin script. Serbia drives on the right.