When a refund is possible and when it is not
Money can be returned in two cases: the fee went to the wrong payment details, or it was left unused. But if your documents were accepted and you then changed your mind about obtaining residence, the fee cannot be refunded this way. It is important to understand that up front so as not to waste time on papers that will not be accepted.
Who decides and what is confirmed
The decision on a refund is taken by the treasury, while the MUP only confirms that the fee was not used. In Belgrade the treasury requests that confirmation from the MUP itself — you simply go to the treasury branch for your municipality with the application and the original receipts. In Novi Sad the procedure differs: you collect the confirmation of an unused fee from the MUP in person and take it to the treasury.
If the payment went to the consolidated account
Sometimes the money goes to the MUP's consolidated account. In that case you can try sending a complaint by email to the treasury's official address for such payments — a legitimate channel for these transactions. State the payment details, attach the receipt and describe the situation.
The refund application
The main document is the application for refund or rebooking of erroneously paid funds for an individual. The form is issued at the treasury branch, but it is handier to complete it at home and bring it ready: at the counter only the data needs checking. If you go directly to the treasury branch, the additional request letter is not needed — it is required where you obtain the confirmation from the MUP yourself, as in Novi Sad. That letter is a request to issue confirmation that the payment was not used: it states the amount, the recipient's account, the model number and the payment reference from the receipt.
An important limitation: where the money goes
Money is not returned to a non-resident's account. A resident account is needed — for example, you can ask your landlord to receive the refund into his account. It is worth thinking this through before filing the application, otherwise the money is returned with nowhere to receive it. A practical tip: keep all receipts for state payments, including unsuccessful ones — without the original receipt the procedure starts with reconstructing the payment data, which adds weeks.
What to do step by step
Establish whether your case qualifies for a refund: wrong payment details or an unused fee. Collect the original receipts. If you are in Belgrade, go to the treasury branch for your municipality with the application and receipts; if in Novi Sad, go first to the MUP for the confirmation, then to the treasury. Complete the application at home so that only checking remains on site. Decide in advance which resident account the refund will arrive in. And keep second copies of every document you submit.
Data checked on 11 October 2026: the refund procedure and the roles of the MUP and treasury follow current practice and community experience; check timescales and application requirements at your own treasury branch.