How to Buy a Serbia SIM Card in 2026

The first thing to know about a SIM card for Serbia is that Serbia is not in the European Union. The EU's roam-like-at-home rules stop at the border, so a German, Austrian or other EU phone plan that works for free in Croatia or Hungary starts charging roaming the moment it connects to a Serbian network, and so do British plans. That makes a local SIM or a travel eSIM worth arranging for almost every visitor. This guide covers the three Serbian networks, the passport rule that changed in 2025, the kiosks at Belgrade airport, what the tourist plans cost in dinars, and our Global64 eSIMs, which you can buy before you leave home. Our plans for the country are on the Serbia eSIM page.

mts, Yettel and A1

Serbia has three networks. mts, run by state-owned Telekom Srbija, is the largest. Yettel, the former Telenor, is rated by several travel testers as the most reliable overall and sells a clearly branded tourist plan. A1 Serbia, the former Vip, is strong in the cities. All three give fast 4G across Belgrade, Novi Sad and Niš, with 5G spreading in the larger cities and resorts, so price and plan length matter more than the logo.

The passport rule since 2025

Following a rule change in February 2025, foreign visitors must show a passport to register and activate a prepaid SIM. A SIM bought through a channel that does not take your ID at the till has to be registered within 30 days, through the operator's app, website or a shop, or it is limited to emergency calls and the operator's helpline. Older blog posts say no passport is needed in Serbia; they predate the change. Take the passport.

Belgrade airport kiosks

In the Terminal 2 arrivals area at Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport, near baggage claim, mts has a kiosk and also sells through the post office counter, and Yettel and A1 have kiosks close by. They open around 9am and close between 8 and 10pm, so a late arrival may find them shut. Official kiosks charge the same as the city shops; third-party stalls may add a little. In town, every operator has shops around Knez Mihailova and in the malls.

What the tourist plans cost

Serbian data is cheap. The plans published for 2026:

• Yettel Tourist plan: 50 GB for 30 days at 1,399 RSD, about 12 EUR, with 3.5 GB for roaming in the Western Balkans, useful if the trip continues to Montenegro or Bosnia.
• A1 Welcome Unlimited GB: 30 days at 1,999 RSD.
• mts Super Turist SIM: about 20 EUR for 30 days.

Airport tourist SIMs range from about 600 to 1,999 RSD. Pay in dinars or by card.

Buying before you go

Many searches, a good share of them in German, ask how to buy a Serbian SIM before leaving home. A Serbian SIM has to be registered with a passport in Serbia, so the practical way to arrive connected is an eSIM installed at home. Our Global64 10GB eSIM is $10 for seven days, the Global64 20GB eSIM $15 for 14 days and the Global64 50GB eSIM $35 for 30 days. For a long summer with family, the Global64 80GB eSIM is $52 for 60 days. All start on first use, include hotspot and 5G where available, and cover 64 countries, including Serbia, Montenegro, Croatia and most of the EU, so the same eSIM works on the drive down. They are data only.

The Vodafone Travel VIP eSIM includes Serbia only at $7.50 for each day you use it there, on top of its $32 price, so it suits a short visit. The O2 SMS Only eSIM at $8 a month keeps verification texts arriving on a private UK number, and the Global PAYG eSIM at $20 includes €17.50 of credit.

Side by side

Our recommendation

If you are driving or flying in from the EU, remember that your home plan stops being free at the Serbian border. For a city break or a fortnight, install the Global64 20GB eSIM before you travel; for a long family visit, the Global64 80GB eSIM. If you want a Serbian number, buy the Yettel Tourist plan at the airport kiosk or a shop in town, with your passport. Set-up steps are in our eSIM installation guide, and the plans for the country are on the Serbia eSIM page.