Serbia has a public health insurance system run by the Republic Health Insurance Fund (RFZO), and a growing private sector in Belgrade. Which you can use depends on your status: insured employees and residents use the public system, while visitors and many new arrivals rely on private care and travel or private insurance. Rules and prices change, so use this guide as an orientation and confirm the details with the insurer or your employer.
How Public Healthcare Works
Public healthcare is funded mainly by mandatory contributions from employees, employers and the self-employed. Insured people choose a family doctor at a local health centre (dom zdravlja), who handles routine care and refers patients to specialists and hospitals. Insured patients typically pay small co-payments for visits, medicines and some services. Public hospitals and clinics can be crowded, and waiting times for specialists and some procedures can be long.
Who Is Covered
- Employees with a Serbian employer: The employer registers you for compulsory health insurance as part of payroll. Ask HR to confirm this and to give you the insurance card or registration details.
- Self-employed people: You pay your own contributions. See our taxes guide.
- Other residents: It depends on the permit. Some permit types, such as study or family reunification, may require you to arrange private insurance, while others allow you to join the public scheme. Check the requirement for your permit type.
- Tourists and short-term visitors: Not covered by the public scheme. Carry travel insurance.
Serbia has bilateral social security agreements with some countries that cover emergency treatment, so check whether your country has one before you travel.
Emergencies
Call 194 for an ambulance or 112 for the general emergency number. Emergency departments will treat urgent cases, but foreign patients who are not insured in Serbia may be billed for treatment afterwards unless a bilateral agreement or an insurer covers it. Keep your passport, insurance documents and policy number with you. Our guide to emergency numbers in Belgrade lists the others.
Private Healthcare
Belgrade has many private clinics and laboratories, which most expats use for routine appointments, tests, dentistry and specialist consultations because appointments are faster and English is more commonly spoken. Prices are set by each clinic and vary widely, so ask for a price list before you book. Our guide to private healthcare in Belgrade goes into more detail. Many people combine a public family doctor with private clinics for specific needs.
Insurance Options for Foreigners
| Option | Who it suits | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Public insurance via employer or contributions | Employees and some residents | Lower cost, but queues and Serbian-language service in public facilities. |
| Local private health insurance | Residents who want faster access | Check what is covered, the limits and whether it satisfies your permit. |
| International health insurance | Long-term expats and nomads | Covers care in Serbia and abroad. Compare exclusions and pre-existing condition rules. |
| Travel insurance | Short visits | Check emergency cover and repatriation. |
Language and Practical Tips
- English is spoken in many private clinics and by younger doctors, but less reliably in public facilities. See our guide to English-speaking doctors and pharmacies.
- Bring a Serbian speaker or use a translation app for public appointments.
- Keep copies of your medical records and prescriptions, with translations where possible.
- Pharmacies are widespread, but not every medicine from abroad is available, so check before you move if you take regular medication.
- Do not pay informal payments for treatment. If someone asks you for one, ask for an official receipt or go to another facility.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is healthcare free in Serbia?
Not entirely. Insured people get most services with small co-payments, but visitors and uninsured foreigners pay for treatment, and many expats also use private clinics.
Do I need health insurance to get a residence permit?
Many permit types require proof of health insurance. Check the requirement for your ground. See our residence permit guide.
What number do I call in an emergency?
194 for an ambulance, or 112 for the general emergency number.
I’m Nevena, a writer and Belgrade native who now splits my time between Serbia and the UK. I’ve been living between two countries for 8 years, which means I understand Belgrade from both sides: as someone who grew up here, and as someone who had to rediscover it through expat eyes.
That dual perspective shapes everything I write. I cover expat life in Belgrade in depth, the things no guidebook tells you, like how to navigate the healthcare system, where to find reliable childcare, what property buying actually involves for foreigners, and how much things really cost when you live here rather than just visiting. I’ve done most of this myself, which means my guides are based on real experience, not research from a distance.
I also write about Serbia and the wider Balkans as a travel destination, a region that still surprises people with how much it offers. I’ve taken 35+ solo trips across Serbia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Croatia and Romania, and I speak Serbian, English and conversational Romanian.
Belgrade is one of Europe’s most underrated cities, and I’ve made it my mission to change that, one honest, practical guide at a time.