The First 30 Days in Serbia: A Relocator's Checklist

I remember the first weeks - every day the question was: "what's more important right now: the account, insurance or PIB?". In the end I made a lot of unnecessary moves and missed a couple of important things. Below is an organized plan for the first 30 days so you don't get stuck in queues and avoid fines.

The numbers are for summer 2026. They will change a lot, but the order will stay the same.

Day 0-1: before departure

• Passport - valid for at least 6 months from the planned departure from Serbia.
• Money for the first month - cash (euros are better). Russian, Ukrainian and Kazakh cards work intermittently in Serbia, which is critical in the first weeks.
• Confirmation of accommodation booking - at least 30 days, may be required by the border officer.
• Health insurance policy - €40-60 for the first month. Formally you might not be let in without it; in practice it is rarely asked for, but it's better to have it.
• Screenshot of a return ticket - even a fake one; the border officer will let you through more easily.

At the airport you do not need to declare anything if you have < €10 000 cash. The pink stamp showing border crossing is the main document of the first month - don't lose it.

Day 1-3: housing for 30 days

If you still don't have permanent housing, the first task is to move from Airbnb to a regular apartment.

Where to look:

• SerbiaHub - everything in one place + Telegram channels, no duplicates, filters by district, price, furniture, pets.
• 4zida.rs - the largest database.
• oglasi.rs - more private listings without agents.
• halooglasi.com - many premium options.

Rental prices (summer 2026):

City	Studio	One-bedroom	Two-bedroom
Belgrade centre (Vračar, Stari Grad)	500-650	700-900	1000-1500
Belgrade outskirts (Novi Beograd, Zemun)	350-500	500-700	700-1000
Novi Sad centre	350-500	500-700	700-900
Niš	200-300	300-450	450-650

What to watch for when signing the contract:

1. Contract - in Serbian (you can have a translation). English is not formally accepted.
2. Deposit is usually equal to one month's rent; if they ask for more - negotiate.
3. Boравишна такса - tourist tax ~€1 per day, actually paid by the tenant. For 30 days ≈ €30.
4. Пријава боравка (registration of residence) - the landlord must register you at MUP within 24 hours. Without this you are technically illegal. If the landlord refuses - red flag.
5. Utilities - clarify what is included in the rent. Usually they are separate: electricity (struja), heating in winter (grejanje), internet, sometimes water. In a winter month it can add +€80-150.

Day 3-5: PIB and boravak

PIB (porejski identifikacioni broj, tax identification number, similar to an INN) is needed for a bank account, rental contracts, health insurance. It is issued instantly at the Poreska uprava of your municipality, free of charge. Bring your passport, fill out form PR-1 - you receive a paper with the number.

Boravak (residence permit, temporary stay permit) is mandatory after 90 days.

Bases for a boravak:

• Запослење - employment in a Serbian company (employer handles it).
• ИП (паушалац) - you opened your own business; suitable for freelancers, IT specialists. Fixed tax 20-40 k RSD/month depending on activity.
• Family reunification - if a spouse/parent already has a boravak.
• Student - studying at a Serbian university.
• Real-estate purchase - officially works, but in 2024-26 MUP can delay.
• Humanitarian - simplified scheme for Ukrainians.

Minimum document set: passport (+ copy with entry stamp), rental or property contract (for address), health insurance (cheap options from Dunav/Triglav, €100-300/year), bank statement ≥ €1500, proof of basis (employment contract, registration decision for ИП, university invitation). Schedule the submission through eUprava. Online appointment is mandatory; queues can be a month ahead.

Day 5-7: bank and account

To receive salary, pay rent and utilities you need a resident account.

Banks to choose from:

Bank	Pros	Cons
Banca Intesa	Largest network, good app, English	Expensive: maintenance ~600 RSD/month
Raiffeisen	Friendly to foreigners, English	Opens in 1-2 weeks
OTP	Fast opening, English in main branches	Average app
NLB Komercijalna	Cheap (~150 RSD/month)	Most branches speak only Serbian
Erste	Good app, programs for IT freelancers	Expensive for a basic account

Usually you open it in one visit: passport, PIB, rental contract - fill the form, get the card immediately, IBAN arrives by email in 3 days.

Credit cards: Mir/UnionPay are accepted at some ATMs and shops, but since spring 2024 their presence has decreased. It's better to have at least one Visa/Mastercard from a European bank.

Day 7-14: SIM and internet

Mobile operators:

• MTS - state-owned, best coverage in regions, medium prices.
• Yettel (formerly Telenor) - best internet tariffs.
• A1 - cheapest, convenient apps.

Prepaid package 5-10 GB + minutes costs 800-1500 RSD/month. You buy the SIM in any shop with your passport, activation takes about 10 minutes. For long-term use (over 6 months) postpaid is cheaper - ~30 % discount, but you need a boravak.

Home internet: most rented apartments already have it. If not, options are: SBB (cable), Yettel/Telenor (DSL/fiber), MTS - gigabit for 2000-3500 RSD/month. Installation is usually free with a 12-month contract.

Day 10-15: transport

Public transport:

• Belgrade - from 2025 free for everyone. Just hop on any bus, trolleybus or tram. Routes in the PlanPlus app or on the map at serbiahub.com/transit-map.
• Novi Sad - ~75 RSD per ride or 2280 RSD/month. Card bought at NS Bus kiosks or from the driver. NS Bus app.
• Other cities - similar prices, purchase at kiosks.

Taxis: Yandex Go works in Belgrade and Novi Sad, prices ~30 % lower than local CarGo. Bolt is also available, a bit more expensive but no queues.

Between cities:

• Buses - BusPlus.rs, Belgrade-Novi Sad €5-8, 1.5 h.
• Trains - srbvoz.rs, BG-Voz (commuter train in Belgrade, free from 2025) and intercity. Cheaper than bus, but sometimes delayed.
• Nikola Tesla Airport - bus A1 from downtown Belgrade €4 (30 min), or Yandex/taxi €15-20.

Day 15-20: insurance and health

State health insurance - after you get a boravak it is deducted automatically from salary (if you are employed) or paid manually (if you are an ИП) ~5500 RSD/month. Access to public health care is through the здравствена књижица (medical booklet), obtained at the РФЗО after registration at the chosen дом здравља near your residence. Basic care (GP, lab tests) is covered, but specialist appointments can have 2-4-week waits.

Private medicine: networks Bel Medic, MediGroup, Medicor. GP visit €30-50, specialist €40-80, basic labs €50-150. English is spoken everywhere, no queues.

Private insurance - Dunav osiguranje or Triglav, €150-400/year depending on the plan.

Day 20-30: taxes and the serious part

If you plan to work long-term, get a handle on taxes.

• Working for a Serbian company - taxes are paid by the employer (income tax 10 % + contributions 35.55 %). You do nothing.
• ИП (паушалац) - fixed monthly tax for the chosen activity. Programmer ≈ 30-35 k RSD/month (€250-300). Declaration is filed once a year through ePorezi.
• Income from a foreign company - must be declared via ePorezi. Tax = 20 % (for non-residents the first 6 months) or 10 % (for residents). Serbia has double-taxation avoidance agreements with many countries.
• Residency - tax residence is considered after 183 days in a year or if the centre of vital interests is in Serbia.

Complex cases are best discussed with an accountant (Konsalting). Consultation ≈ €50-100, bookkeeping ≈ €100-200/month.

In parallel: things you can do without urgency

• Register at the local library (passport + PIB).
• Get a Serbian-style driver's licence (if you plan to stay more than a year). Russian/Belarusian/Ukrainian licences are accepted for 6 months.
• Find a dentist, hairdresser, good butcher near your home.
• Connect online utility payments via еРачуни.
• Sign up on eUprava - all government services in electronic form.

Useful resources

• SerbiaHub - housing, services, places, transport routes (my project, free).
• Beoinfo - official Belgrade portal.
• eUprava - all government services online.
• BusPlus - buses across Serbia.
• ePorezi - tax system.

Main advice

Bureaucracy in Serbia is odd: what is done in a day in Europe can take weeks here, and vice-versa - some basic things are done in a single visit. Build in extra time, don't stick to strict deadlines. In any unclear situation ask locals: Serbs are generally friendly and will help strangers. English is limited outside big cities, but people will understand the gist of your question even with gestures.

Good luck with the move!