Beli cardboard: what is it and where to get it

Beli karton (white card) - a document confirming registration of residence in Serbia. It is issued to all foreigners who stay in the country for more than 30 days: property owners, tenants and their families. Without a beli karton, there may be difficulties with banking services, medical care and visa renewal.

What is a beli karton and why it is needed

Beli karton (Serb. bela karta) - temporary registration of residence (prijava boravišta). The document is issued free of charge and remains valid until you change your address or leave the country. Validity - one year; if you leave for more than 3 months the registration is cancelled.

Why it is needed:

• open a bank account (banks refuse without it);
• obtain health insurance (the policy is mandatory for visa renewal);
• extend temporary residence (boravišna dozvola) or permanent residence;
• employment (employers require proof of address);
• get a driver's licence (for residents longer than 6 months).

Who is required to arrange a beli karton

Registration is the responsibility of the property owner - the owner or the landlord. Exception: if you rent a place yourself (for example, through Booking.com or Airbnb), you submit the documents yourself.

Who registers:

• owners of apartments/houses renting to foreigners;
• landlords who have concluded a rental contract with a foreigner;
• foreigners staying in hotels/apartments for more than 30 days (registration is handled by the administration).

Who is exempt:

• tourists who are in the country for less than 30 days;
• diplomats and staff of international organisations;
• residents of dormitories and hostels (registration is carried out by the administration).

If the landlord refuses, you have three options:

1. complaint to the police (Policijska uprava) at your place of residence;
2. file a lawsuit demanding that the landlord be obliged to fulfil the duty;
3. change accommodation and register at the new address.

Where and how to obtain a beli karton in 2026

Registration takes place only at the police station (Policijska uprava) for your place of residence. In most cities (Belgrade, Novi Sad, Niš) a prior appointment through the portal eUprava is required; in small settlements you can appear without an appointment.

Required documents

For the property owner

• passport or ID card;
• title deed (uverenje o vlasništvu) or rental contract (ugovor o zakupu);
• completed form Prijava boravišta (download here).

For the foreigner

• passport with a valid visa or permanent residence permit;
• rental contract (if registration is based on rented accommodation).

Step-by-step procedure

1. Collect documents - the owner or the foreigner gathers the paperwork.
2. Online appointment - in large cities we book an appointment on eUprava. In small settlements an appointment is not mandatory.
3. Visit the station - in 2026 the average waiting time - 1-3 hours (in Belgrade up to 5 hours on peak days).
4. Verification - the officer checks the data against the property database.
5. Issuance - the document is handed over immediately if everything is in order; in some cases additional certificates may be requested.

Deadlines: registration must be completed within 24 hours after moving in. If the owner does not go to the police, the foreigner can file a complaint and the police will compel the owner to comply within 7 days.

Cost

Issuing a beli karton - free of charge. Possible indirect expenses:

Expense	Amount (RSD)	Approx. (EUR)
Notarial certification of the rental contract	500-1 000	4-8
Translation of documents into Serbian (if needed)	1 000-2 000	8-16
Court fee for registration extension	0	0

What to do if the owner refuses to register

Owner refusal - a common problem, especially in Belgrade. Below is a practical action plan.

1. Reach an amicable agreement

Explain that without registration the foreigner cannot open a bank account and the police may impose a fine - 50 000-100 000 RSD (~400-800 EUR). If the owner agrees, complete the registration within 24 hours.

2. Go to the police yourself

The foreigner can go to the police with the rental contract. In 2026 some stations require a written consent from the owner (notarised document). If such a document is presented, the police must register you.

3. Complaint to the housing inspection authority

Submit an online complaint to Republikanska inspekcija za zaštitu potrošača via the site inspektor.gov.rs. Review time - up to 14 days; if the violation is confirmed, the landlord faces a fine up to 100 000 RSD (~800 EUR).

4. Court action

As a last resort, file a lawsuit at the court of your residence. The court will order the landlord to register within 7 days. Claim cost ≈ 5 000 RSD (~40 EUR), duration ≈ 1-3 months.

5. Change accommodation

If the issue cannot be resolved, look for another place. Some listings already include a beli karton, but their price is higher - 10-20 % above normal rental rates.

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

Mistake	Consequences	How to avoid
Expired beli karton	Fine 20 000-50 000 RSD (~160-400 EUR)	Book an appointment 1-2 months before expiry
Incorrect address	Document cancellation	Immediately inform the police of any address change
No rental contract	Registration refusal	Sign a contract, preferably notarised
Registration at a tourist address	Visa cancellation	Register only at your permanent residence
Documents without translation	Refusal at the counter	Order translation from a certified translator (1 500-3 000 RSD)

Useful links

Internal

• How to open a bank account in a Serbian bank
• Extending temporary residence in Serbia
• Police station map of Belgrade

External

• Police appointment via eUprava: [euprava.gov.rs](httpshttps://euprava.gov.rs)
• Republic housing inspection authority: inspektor.gov.rs