Health booklet: how to get it

Health Booklet (Здравствена књижица) is a mandatory document for all residents of Serbia, including foreign citizens with temporary or permanent status. Without it, you cannot receive medical care in public institutions, obtain insurance, or get a job. The registration process goes through the Дом здравља (Health Center), requires a certain package of papers, and usually takes from one to three weeks.

## Who is eligible to receive it

The card is issued to citizens of Serbia, foreigners with a valid registration (боравишна дозвола) and compulsory health insurance policy (ОМС), as well as refugees and persons with international protection. If you have arrived on a visa without registration, you cannot formalize the књижица. EU/EEA citizens can use the European EHIC card, but a local card is still recommended for full access to services.

## Where to formalize: Health Center by place of residence

You need to make an appointment to receive the књижица at the nearest Health Center. A full list of institutions is available on the website of the [Ministry of Health of the Republic of Serbia](https://www.zdravlje.gov.rs). Examples:

- **Belgrade**: Health Center Stari grad, ul. Kneza Miloša 1, tel. +381 11 361 22 22
- **Novi Sad**: Health Center Novi Beograd, ul. Bulevar oslobođenja 100, tel. +381 21 488 81 00
- **Niš**: Health Center Niš, ul. Obrenovićeva 1, tel. +381 18 222 33 33

You can make an appointment online through the [Zdravlje Srbije](https://www.pacijent.zdravlje.gov.rs) portal or by phone. No walk-ins are accepted.

## Required documents

The standard set is as follows:

1. Passport (original + copies of all pages with marks)
2. Боравишна дозвола (original + copies) - only for foreigners
3. ЈМБГ (assigned during registration)
4. ОМС policy (confirmation of insurance payment)
5. Certificate of place of residence (from општина or Health Center)
6. Photograph 3.5 × 4.5 cm, matte, without corners

For children, a birth certificate and a certificate from school (if the child is of school age) are added. If you replace a lost card, you need a request for a duplicate.

## Procedure for obtaining: step-by-step algorithm

1. **Appointment scheduling** - through the portal, phone, or in some cases, messengers.
2. **First visit** - you submit a complete package of documents, the employee checks them and appoints a date for the next visit (usually within 3-7 days).
3. **Doctor's examination** - at the second visit, you are referred to a district therapist or pediatrician. If there are no problems, the card is prepared immediately.
4. **Receiving the card** - you pick it up at the Health Center's registry; the production period is from 1 to 10 days.

If you have chronic diseases, the doctor may prescribe additional tests, which prolongs the process up to 2-4 weeks.

## Cost and validity period

The registration of the књижица is free if you have an ОМС policy. If the insurance is not paid, a doctor's visit costs from 10 to 50 EUR depending on the service. Validity period: 5 years for citizens of Serbia, 1-3 years for foreigners (depends on the type of residence). The extension is carried out in the same way as the first registration - with an updated ОМС policy and passport.

## Services opened by the card

- Therapist's appointment (free)
- Emergency care, including ambulance calls
- Vaccination according to the national calendar
- Treatment of chronic diseases (diabetes, hypertension, etc.)
- Preferential prescriptions under the Републичког фонда за здравствено осигурање program
- Certificates for work or study

Without the књижица, it is impossible to make an appointment for a planned operation, get a referral to a specialized doctor, or formalize a sick leave. Private clinics do not require it, but prices are 2-5 times higher.

## Frequent problems and their solutions

- **Refusal of appointment** - submit a complaint through the [Zdravlje Srbije](https://www.zdravlje.gov.rs) portal or contact the local administration.
- **Long waiting** - in large cities (Belgrade, Novi Sad), the first appointment may take 2-3 weeks; an alternative is private clinics (appointment from 30 EUR).
- **Missing documents** - the absence of ЈМБГ or ОМС policy leads to refusal; clarify with the accountant how quickly to formalize the missing papers.
- **Error in the card** - if the name or other data are incorrect, come to the registry with your passport to correct.

## Useful links

- [List of Health Centers by regions of Serbia](/docs)
- [How to formalize an ОМС policy for foreigners (step-by-step instructions)](/docs)
- [Map of public medical institutions of Serbia](/transit-map)
- [Official portal of the Ministry of Health of Serbia](https://www.zdravlje.gov.rs)
- [Portal for online appointment scheduling](https://www.pacijent.zdravlje.gov.rs)
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