Foreigners in Serbia most often face misdemeanours related to registration of stay, length of stay and work. Besides a fine, a misdemeanour can have consequences for residence, so it should not be treated as a formality.
The most common misdemeanours
- Unregistered stay (white card). A foreigner must be registered within 24 hours of arrival. Registration is made by the landlord, the hotel or the host the foreigner is visiting, and by the foreigner only when not staying with anyone. The person who was required to register is fined, an individual from 5,000 to 150,000 dinars.
- Stay without a legal basis. Staying longer than allowed, for example after 90 days without a visa or after approved residence expires. The fine is from 50,000 to 150,000 dinars, with possible removal from Serbia.
- Work without a permit. The foreigner is fined from 15,000 to 150,000 dinars, and an employer that is a legal entity from 800,000 to 2,000,000 dinars. The foreigner may also receive an entry ban.
- Traffic offences. The same rules apply as for Serbian drivers. A foreign driving licence ceases to be valid 12 months after temporary residence of more than six months or permanent residence is granted. A foreigner with such residence can exchange it for a Serbian licence without taking a driving test.
Penalty notice and misdemeanour proceedings
The police or an inspectorate issue a misdemeanour penalty notice only for offences with a fixed fine, such as many traffic offences. Anyone who pays half the fine within eight days is released from the other half. Anyone who disagrees files a request for a court decision within the same deadline. Offences under the Foreigners Act carry a range of fines, so they are dealt with in proceedings before the misdemeanour court. An appeal against the judgment can be filed within eight days. A foreigner has the right to an interpreter and to defence counsel.
Consequences for residence
Besides the fine, the competent authority may issue a return decision to a foreigner staying unlawfully and impose an entry ban for a certain period. In misdemeanour proceedings the court may also impose the protective measure of removing the foreigner from Serbia for six months to five years. Previous convictions may also affect decisions on extending residence.
What to do
- Do not sign a statement or a notice that has not been translated and is not clear.
- Check the deadline for a request for a court decision or for an appeal, and do not miss it.
- Gather evidence: the lease, the registration confirmation, the residence decision, the employment contract.
- Assess how the outcome affects your residence before accepting the penalty.
Common questions
Note: This text is general information and is not legal advice for a specific case. It reflects the regulations at the time of the page's last update (October 2026). Assessing a particular situation requires reviewing the documents and circumstances of the case.
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