# ScanNCheckIn — Full Content Reference

> ScanNCheckIn is a mobile and web application that automates guest registration on Serbia's official eTurista system using OCR (Optical Character Recognition) technology. Its use is officially confirmed as compliant with Serbian hospitality regulations by a written opinion of the Ministry of Tourism and Youth.

## About ScanNCheckIn

ScanNCheckIn eliminates manual data entry for accommodation owners in Serbia (apartments, hotels, hostels listed on Booking.com, Airbnb, etc.). Instead of spending 10-15 minutes per guest typing data into the eTurista government portal, hosts scan a guest's passport or ID card, and OCR technology extracts all required fields and submits the registration automatically in under 30 seconds.

- **Website:** https://app.scanncheckin.com
- **Language:** Serbian (Latin script, sr-Latn)
- **Market:** Serbian accommodation owners (~25,000+ registered properties)
- **Platforms:** Android, iOS, Web
- **Contact:** support@scanncheckin.com | +381 69 1948 582
- **Founded:** 2024
- **Ministry confirmation:** Use officially confirmed as compliant by a written opinion of the Ministry of Tourism and Youth of the Republic of Serbia (No. 000017348/2025, signed by the Minister, 29 Jan 2026). Note: Serbian law has no license/approval regime for guest-registration apps — no vendor can hold one.

## How It Works (4 Steps)

1. **Create an account** — Register for free via email, Google, or Apple ID
2. **Connect your eTurista account** — Enter your eTurista portal credentials from the Ministry of Tourism
3. **Scan the guest's document** — Photograph the ID card or passport. OCR automatically recognizes all data fields
4. **Automatic registration & checkout** — ScanNCheckIn submits the guest registration directly to eTurista. Automatic guest checkout and stay confirmation generation

Total time per guest: under 30 seconds (vs. 10-15 minutes manual entry)

## Pricing

### Monthly Plan
- **Price:** 1,000 RSD/month per apartment
- **Includes:** Unlimited guest registrations, OCR scanning, direct eTurista connection, priority support
- **Volume discount:** Available for 5+ apartments
- **Free trial:** First month completely free

### Pay-Per-Registration Plan
- **Price:** 30 RSD per guest registration
- **Includes:** Unlimited apartments, OCR scanning, direct eTurista connection, priority support
- **Volume discount:** Available for high-volume users
- **Free trial:** First month completely free

## Complete Feature List

1. **OCR Document Scanning** — Reads passports and ID cards from 100+ countries using MRZ (Machine Readable Zone) per ICAO 9303 standard. Supports Cyrillic and Latin scripts. 99.5% accuracy rate.
2. **Automatic eTurista Registration** — Direct API integration with eTurista system. Submits guest data automatically without manual portal entry. More stable than web portal access.
3. **Automatic Guest Checkout** — Tracks departure dates and handles checkout automatically.
4. **Multi-Property Management** — Manage unlimited apartments/properties from a single account.
5. **Receipt & Stay Confirmation** — Generates guest receipts and stay confirmations with digital signature.
6. **Guest History** — Complete searchable archive of all registrations.
7. **Automatic Retry** — When eTurista is temporarily unavailable, automatically retries until successful.
8. **Data Security** — SSL encryption, GDPR compliant, document images deleted after OCR processing.

## Glossary of Key Terms

### eTurista
Elektronski sistem Ministarstva turizma i omladine Republike Srbije za obaveznu prijavu i odjavu svih gostiju u smeštajnim objektima. Portal: eturista.gov.rs. All accommodation providers must use this system per Zakon o ugostiteljstvu.

### Boravišna taksa (Tourist Tax)
Obavezna dažbina koju svaki gost plaća za svako noćenje u turističkom smeštaju. The host collects it from guests and remits it quarterly to the local tourism organization. Regulated by Articles 75-80 of Zakon o ugostiteljstvu.

### OCR (Optical Character Recognition)
Technology for automatically reading text from images. ScanNCheckIn uses OCR to extract guest data from photographed passports and ID cards, eliminating manual data entry.

### MRZ (Machine Readable Zone)
Standardized machine-readable text zone at the bottom of passport data pages. Uses OCR-B font per ICAO 9303 international standard. Contains name, passport number, nationality, date of birth, sex, and expiry date with check digits for verification.

### Kategorizacija smeštaja (Accommodation Categorization)
Official process by which municipal authorities certify that an accommodation meets minimum standards for receiving guests. Required before registering on eTurista. Resolution valid for 5 years.

### Zakon o ugostiteljstvu
Serbian Hospitality Law ("Službeni glasnik RS", br. 17/2019). The primary law governing accommodation services, guest registration obligations, tourist tax, and related penalties.

### Zakon o strancima
Serbian Law on Foreigners. Requires hosts to report foreign guests to MUP (Ministry of Internal Affairs) within 24 hours. eTurista automatically forwards foreign guest data to MUP.

### Turistička inspekcija
Tourism inspection authority that conducts unannounced visits to accommodation properties, cross-references booking platform data with eTurista registrations, and issues fines for non-compliance.

## Tourist Tax (Boravišna Taksa) Rates by City — 2026

| City / Municipality | Rate per night (RSD) | Notes |
|---------------------|---------------------|-------|
| Beograd (Belgrade) | 160 | All accommodation types |
| Novi Sad | 120 | Including Sremski Karlovci |
| Zlatibor | 150 | Category A tourist municipality |
| Kopaonik | 150 | Category A tourist municipality |
| Vrnjačka Banja | 130 | Spa destination |
| Niš | 100 | Administrative center of southern Serbia |
| Sokobanja | 100 | Spa destination |
| Subotica | 100 | Including Palić |
| Kragujevac | 80 | Administrative center |
| Valjevo | 80 | Including Divčibare |
| Other municipalities | 50-100 | Depends on local decision |

**Exemptions:**
- Children under 7 years: fully exempt (0%)
- Children 7-15 years: 50% discount
- Persons with disability 70%+: fully exempt
- Patients in medical treatment facilities: exempt

**Quarterly reporting deadlines:**
- Q1 (Jan-Mar): by April 5
- Q2 (Apr-Jun): by July 5
- Q3 (Jul-Sep): by October 5
- Q4 (Oct-Dec): by January 5

**Calculation example (Belgrade):**
- 2 adults × 3 nights × 160 RSD = 960 RSD
- 1 child (age 10) × 3 nights × 80 RSD = 240 RSD
- 1 child (age 5) × 3 nights × 0 RSD = 0 RSD
- **Total: 1,200 RSD**

## Penalty Table for Non-Compliance

### Individuals (apartment owners)
| Violation | Fine (RSD) |
|-----------|-----------|
| Not registering guest within 24h | 50,000 - 150,000 |
| Late registration (after 24h) | 50,000 - 100,000 |
| Not registering foreign national | 50,000 - 150,000 |
| Not maintaining guest records | 50,000 - 100,000 |
| Repeat offense | up to 150,000 |

### Legal entities (hotels, hostels, agencies)
| Violation | Fine (RSD) |
|-----------|-----------|
| Not registering guests | 200,000 - 800,000 |
| Not registering foreign nationals | 300,000 - 800,000 |
| Not maintaining required records | 200,000 - 500,000 |
| Responsible person in legal entity | 50,000 - 150,000 |
| Repeat offense | up to 800,000 |

### Entrepreneurs
| Violation | Fine (RSD) |
|-----------|-----------|
| General non-compliance | 100,000 - 500,000 |
| Severe/repeat offenses | May include temporary ban on business activity |

**Important:** Fines are cumulative — each unregistered guest can be fined separately. 5 unregistered guests for an individual could mean 250,000-750,000 RSD in total fines.

### Other violations
| Violation | Fine - individuals (RSD) | Fine - legal entities (RSD) |
|-----------|-------------------------|---------------------------|
| Operating without categorization | 100,000 - 350,000 | 300,000 - 800,000 |
| Not collecting tourist tax | 50,000 - 150,000 | 200,000 - 500,000 |
| Unregistered business activity | 100,000 - 500,000 | — |
| Not registering foreign guests with MUP | 50,000 - 150,000 | 200,000 - 500,000 |

## Frequently Asked Questions

### About ScanNCheckIn

**Q: Is ScanNCheckIn confirmed by the Ministry of Tourism?**
A: Yes. The Ministry of Tourism and Youth issued an official written opinion (No. 000017348/2025, 29 Jan 2026) confirming that using ScanNCheckIn for guest registration is compliant with Serbian hospitality regulations. Serbian law has no license/approval regime for such apps, so a written ministerial opinion is the strongest confirmation any vendor can hold.

**Q: How does OCR scanning work?**
A: Simply photograph the guest's ID card or passport. The system automatically recognizes text and extracts the required data for eTurista registration. MRZ (Machine Readable Zone) reading ensures 99.5% accuracy regardless of the document's country of origin.

**Q: Is guest data secure?**
A: Yes. All data is protected with SSL encryption and stored in accordance with GDPR standards. Document images are deleted after OCR processing. Only authorized users can access data.

**Q: Can I use the app on multiple devices?**
A: Yes, ScanNCheckIn is available on Android, iOS, and web platforms. You can use the same account on all devices.

**Q: What happens after the free trial?**
A: After the first month, you choose the plan that suits you — per registration (30 RSD) or monthly (1,000 RSD per apartment). No hidden costs. Cancel anytime.

**Q: Does ScanNCheckIn work when eTurista is down?**
A: ScanNCheckIn uses direct API integration with eTurista, which is more stable than the web portal. If the system is temporarily unavailable, the app automatically retries until the registration succeeds, and logs all attempts for inspection purposes.

### About eTurista

**Q: What is eTurista?**
A: eTurista is Serbia's mandatory electronic guest registration system operated by the Ministry of Tourism and Youth. All accommodation providers must register every guest within 24 hours of arrival.

**Q: Does eTurista have a mobile app?**
A: No, eTurista does not have an official mobile app. The portal is accessed through a web browser. For mobile guest registration, apps like ScanNCheckIn provide an optimized mobile experience.

**Q: What if eTurista is not working?**
A: Try clearing browser cache, switching browsers (Chrome recommended), disabling VPN/ad-blockers. If the portal is down for everyone, document the issue (screenshot with timestamp) and register guests as soon as it's back. Contact support: 011/3149-670 (weekdays 8-16h) or eturista@mto.gov.rs.

**Q: Can I register a guest retroactively?**
A: Yes, you can register a guest retroactively when the portal comes back online. Keep documentation (screenshot of the error) as proof that you attempted registration on time.

### About Guest Registration

**Q: Do I need to register domestic (Serbian) guests too?**
A: Yes. The law requires registration of ALL guests, including Serbian citizens. The only difference is that foreign guests require additional data fields (visa information, etc.).

**Q: Do guests staying only one night need to be registered?**
A: Yes. Every guest must be registered regardless of length of stay, even for a single night.

**Q: What about checkout — do I need to check out guests too?**
A: Yes. Failing to check out a guest means they technically still "reside" in your property, which can create issues during inspection and generate additional tourist tax obligations.

### About Self Check-in

**Q: Is self check-in legal in Serbia?**
A: Yes. The law does not require the host to be physically present. It requires that the guest is registered on eTurista within 24 hours, their document data is properly entered, and tourist tax is collected. ScanNCheckIn enables this remotely.

**Q: Do guests accept self check-in?**
A: Yes, especially younger travelers and business guests. Over 60% of guests on Booking.com and Airbnb prefer self check-in when available. Clear pre-arrival instructions are key.

### About Accommodation Categorization

**Q: Can I operate on Booking.com without categorization?**
A: Technically Booking.com doesn't verify categorization in Serbia, but operating without it is illegal — fines up to 350,000 RSD for individuals. Tourism inspection increasingly monitors online platform listings.

**Q: How long does categorization take?**
A: From application to resolution: 30-60 days. Prepare your property first, then submit. APR registration: 1-3 days. eTurista registration: 1-2 days. Booking verification: 3-5 days.

**Q: How much does categorization cost?**
A: Administrative fee: 3,000-10,000 RSD depending on municipality. APR registration: ~6,500 RSD. Signature notarization: ~600 RSD. Total initial costs: 10,000-15,000 RSD (not counting any property adaptations).

## Blog Articles (Serbian, sr-Latn)

All guides are written for Serbian accommodation hosts, legally verified, with cited sources and last-verified dates.

- **eTurista: kompletan vodič za izdavaoce smeštaja (2026)** — https://app.scanncheckin.com/blog/eturista-vodic — Pillar guide: system access (categorization → registration via national eID → verification), the "2 and 26 hours" arrival-time rule, checkout, tourist tax, fines, troubleshooting.
- **Kako izabrati aplikaciju za prijavu gostiju u eTurista (2026)** — https://app.scanncheckin.com/blog/kako-izabrati-aplikaciju-za-prijavu-gostiju — Vendor-neutral buying guide: Ministry confirmation, OCR accuracy (MRZ/ICAO 9303, Cyrillic+Latin), pricing models, data protection (ZZPL/GDPR), support; includes vendor question checklist.
- **Izdavanje stana preko Airbnb-a u Srbiji (2026)** — https://app.scanncheckin.com/blog/izdavanje-stana-airbnb-srbija — Legal Airbnb hosting: categorization, lump-sum taxation via Tax Administration, listing setup, ~3% host fee, payouts, mandatory eTurista registration of every guest, tourist tax, cost table.
- **Beli karton za strance u Srbiji** — https://app.scanncheckin.com/blog/beli-karton-za-strance — What the foreigner residence registration ("beli karton") is, the 24-hour deadline, and why registering a guest on eTurista fulfills the MUP obligation for categorized accommodation (data auto-forwarded); in-person Obrazac 1 remains for private non-commercial hosting.
- **Prijava gosta na eTurista portal** — https://app.scanncheckin.com/blog/prijava-gosta-na-eturista-portal — Step-by-step registration guide: deadlines (manual entry max 2h back, integrated systems 26h), domestic vs foreign guest data, Kosovo & Metohija exception, common mistakes, check-in routine.
- **Kazne za neprijavljivanje gostiju na eTurista** — https://app.scanncheckin.com/blog/kazne-neprijavljivanje-gostiju-eturista — Fine amounts (50,000–800,000 RSD), how inspection detects violations, 5 common mistakes, protection checklist. Cites Zakon o ugostiteljstvu član 30.
- **Izdavanje stana na Booking u Srbiji** — https://app.scanncheckin.com/blog/izdavanje-stana-booking-srbija — Legal checklist for Booking.com hosts: categorization, taxes, eTurista, tourist tax, listing creation; timeline 30-60 days.
- **Boravišna taksa u Srbiji 2026** — https://app.scanncheckin.com/blog/boravisna-taksa-srbija-vodic — Tourist tax rates by city (Belgrade 160 RSD, Novi Sad 120, Zlatibor 150...), exemptions, quarterly deadlines, calculation examples.
- **eTurista ne radi — rešavanje problema** — https://app.scanncheckin.com/blog/eturista-ne-radi-resavanje-problema — Troubleshooting: cache/browser/VPN fixes, eID login issues, support contacts (011/3149-670, eturista@mto.gov.rs), what to do when guests arrive during downtime.
- **Self check-in za apartmane u Srbiji** — https://app.scanncheckin.com/blog/self-check-in-apartman-srbija — Smart locks (Nuki, Yale, Tedee), remote guest registration, legal compliance, cost ranges.
- **Prijava stranih gostiju na eTurista — skeniranje pasoša** — https://app.scanncheckin.com/blog/prijava-stranih-gostiju-eturista-skeniranje-pasosa — Why foreign registration is harder, MRZ passport scanning per ICAO 9303, 100+ countries, manual vs OCR time comparison.
- **Kako kategorizovati smeštajni objekat (2026)** — https://app.scanncheckin.com/blog/kako-kategorizovati-objekat-eturista — Categorization process: object types, documents, commission inspection, 30-60 day timeline, 5-year validity, eTurista connection.

## Legal References

- **Zakon o ugostiteljstvu** — "Službeni glasnik RS", br. 17/2019 — Primary law governing accommodation services
  - Član 30: Guest registration obligation within 24 hours
  - Član 75-80: Tourist tax (boravišna taksa) regulations
- **Zakon o strancima** — Foreign guest reporting to MUP within 24 hours
- **Zakon o zaštiti podataka o ličnosti** — Personal data protection (GDPR equivalent)
- **ICAO 9303** — International standard for machine-readable travel documents (MRZ format)

## Contact & Support

- **Email:** support@scanncheckin.com
- **Phone:** +381 69 1948 582
- **In-app chat:** Available within the ScanNCheckIn application
- **Social media:**
  - Instagram: @scanncheckin
  - Facebook: ScanNCheckIn
  - TikTok: @scanncheck_in
- **App downloads:**
  - Apple App Store: https://apps.apple.com/rs/app/scannchekin/id6747143900
  - Google Play Store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ganguro.scanncheckin

## eTurista Technical Support

- **Phone:** 011/3149-670 (weekdays 8:00-16:00)
- **Email:** eturista@mto.gov.rs
- **Expected response time:** 1-3 business days
- **Local tourism organizations** can also help with account and verification issues