SIM card in Serbia for newcomers: operators, registration and top-up

Short answer: Serbia has three mobile operators, Yettel, A1 and mts; you can buy a prepaid SIM in their shops or kiosks, but since 2025 every prepaid number must be registered with an ID, which for most foreigners is the passport.

A Serbian phone number is one of the first things you need. Your employer, landlord, bank and delivery apps will ask for it. Many apps send you a code by SMS. Without a local number, simple things become hard.

The good news: getting a SIM card in Serbia is quick. The one new rule you must know is registration. Since 2025, every prepaid number must be registered with your ID.

This guide explains the three operators, how to buy and register a SIM, eSIM options and how to top up. We do not list prices, because packages change often. Always check the operator's website for current offers. Facts were checked as of November 2026.

The three mobile operators

Serbia has three mobile networks:

All three cover Belgrade, Novi Sad, Niš and other cities well. In villages and mountains, coverage can differ. If you will work in a specific place, such as a construction site outside the city, ask co-workers which network works best there.

Prepaid or contract?

Prepaid (pripejd)

• You pay first and use the credit or package.
• No monthly bill and no long contract.
• Easy for newcomers: you need only your passport to register.
• You can stop using it at any time.

Contract (postpaid)

• You pay a monthly bill.
• Often better value for big data packages or a new phone on instalments.
• Usually needs a residence permit and possibly more documents, such as proof of address or a bank account.

Our advice: start with prepaid on day one. After you get your residence permit and bank account, compare contract offers. See opening a bank account in Serbia.

Mandatory registration of prepaid numbers

This is the most important rule.

Serbia's Law on Electronic Communications requires operators to register all prepaid users. According to the regulator RATEL, the deadline for existing users was in early 2025, and unregistered numbers were first limited and then deactivated. New prepaid numbers must be registered when you start using them.

What this means for you:

• When you buy a prepaid SIM, you must register it with your identity details.
• If you do not register, the number will be limited (for example, only emergency calls and registration) and then switched off.
• Your credit can be lost if the number is deactivated.

Which documents foreigners use

According to RATEL and Yettel's registration page:

Each operator has its own exact list. Check it on the operator's website before you go, and carry your original passport.

How to register

Depending on the operator, you can register:

1. In the shop when you buy the SIM. This is the easiest way. Staff do it for you.
2. In the operator's app (Yettel says you can register in the app).
3. Online on the operator's website, using a registration form.

If you buy a SIM at a kiosk, ask the seller how to register. Then do it the same day.

Where to buy a SIM card

You can buy a prepaid SIM at:

• Operator shops in shopping malls and city centres. Best for newcomers, because staff can register it and set up your package.
• Kiosks and newsstands that sell top-up vouchers and starter packs.
• Some supermarkets and petrol stations.
• At the airport, depending on which shops are open when you land.

Step by step in a shop

1. Go to a Yettel, A1 or mts shop with your passport.
2. Say: "I want a prepaid SIM card" (in Serbian: Želim pripejd karticu).
3. Choose a package (data, minutes, validity). Ask what is included.
4. Staff register the number with your passport.
5. Put the SIM in your phone and test calls, SMS and mobile data.
6. Write down your number and keep the SIM holder card. It has your PIN and PUK codes.

Phone compatibility

Serbia uses standard GSM networks with 4G (and 5G in some areas). Most phones bought in South Asia work. If your phone was bought locked to an operator abroad, it must be unlocked first.

eSIM in Serbia

An eSIM is a digital SIM inside your phone. No plastic card.

• Serbian operators offer eSIM on some plans. Ask in the shop or check the operator's website for which packages support eSIM.
• Your phone must support eSIM. Many newer iPhones and Android phones do; many budget phones do not.
• A Serbian eSIM is still a Serbian number, so it still needs registration with your ID.

Travel eSIM apps sold online can give you data on arrival, but they usually do not give you a Serbian phone number. Many Serbian apps and banks need a local number for SMS codes. So a local SIM is still useful.

Topping up and checking your balance

Ways to top up (dopuna)

1. Vouchers from kiosks, supermarkets and petrol stations. Ask for a dopuna for your operator.
2. The operator's app with a bank card.
3. Online banking - many Serbian bank apps can top up prepaid numbers.
4. In the operator's shop.

Checking balance and packages

Each operator has a short code and an app to check your credit and remaining data. The codes are printed on the SIM pack and listed on the operator's website. The operator's app is the easiest way.

Keep your number active

Prepaid numbers can be deactivated if you do not use or top them up for a long time. Rules differ by operator. If you leave Serbia for a while and want to keep your number, ask the shop how long it stays active without top-ups.

Calling home and roaming

Calling Bangladesh, Nepal, India and other countries

International calls on normal Serbian prepaid credit can be expensive. Most newcomers use WhatsApp, Viber, IMO or Messenger calls over mobile data or Wi-Fi. Viber is very popular in Serbia, so you will probably use it with local people too.

Some operators sell international call add-ons. Check the website if you call home often by regular phone.

Roaming

Serbia is not in the European Union, so EU "roam like at home" rules do not automatically apply to Serbian SIMs. If you travel to another country, check your operator's roaming prices first, or turn off mobile data roaming to avoid big charges. Serbia is part of a regional roaming agreement with some Western Balkan neighbours; check your operator's website for which countries are included.

A few useful tips

• Save your PUK code. If you enter the wrong PIN three times, you need the PUK.
• Put your number on your papers. Employers, landlords and offices will ask for a Serbian number. Give the same number everywhere.
• Beware of SMS scams. Do not click links in messages that say you won a prize or must pay a delivery fee.
• Write emergency numbers in your phone now: police 192, ambulance 194, fire 193. See our emergency and health guide.

Once your number works, you can order food and groceries with delivery apps. Our guide to food delivery and grocery shopping in Belgrade explains how. The Hello Serbia app also keeps your newcomer checklist, so you can tick off the SIM card next to the white card and bank account.

Where to check

• RATEL - prepaid registration rules: ratel.rs
• Yettel - prepaid registration and offers: yettel.rs
• A1 Serbia - offers and shops: a1.rs
• mts - offers and shops: mts.rs

Last checked November 2026. Prices and packages change often; always confirm on the operator's website.

Official sources

• RATEL (Regulatory Authority for Electronic Communications): mandatory registration of prepaid numbers
• Yettel: prepaid registration
• A1 Serbia
• mts (Telekom Srbija)

This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice. Rules, prices and phone numbers can change. We last checked it in November 2026. Always confirm with the official source before you act.