Visa policy of Serbia explained

Visitors to Serbia must obtain a visa from one of the Serbian diplomatic missions unless they are citizens of one of the visa-exempt countries.

Visa policy of Serbia is similar to the visa policy of the Schengen Area. Serbia grants visa-free entry to most Schengen Annex II nationalities, except for Brunei, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Kiribati, Malaysia, Mauritius, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nicaragua, Panama, Samoa, Saint Lucia, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Taiwan, Tuvalu, Vanuatu and Venezuela. It also grants visa-free entry to several additional countries - Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Belarus, China, Indonesia, Jamaica, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Oman, Qatar, Russia, Suriname and Turkey.

Visa exemption

Ordinary passports

Holders of ordinary passports of the following countries and territories may enter Serbia without a visa for the following period:^[1]

90 days within any 180 days All European Union member states^ID Albania^ID Andorra Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Armenia Australia Azerbaijan Bahrain Bosnia and Herzegovina^ID Brazil Canada Chile Costa Rica Dominica Georgia Grenada Iceland^ID Israel Japan Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Liechtenstein Macao Mexico Monaco Mongolia Montenegro^ID New Zealand ^ID Norway^ID Oman Palau Peru Qatar Saint Kitts and Nevis San Marino Seychelles Singapore Switzerland^ID Trinidad and Tobago Turkey Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom^2 United States Uruguay 30 days Belarus China^1 Kazakhstan Suriname 30 days within any 1 year Bahamas Barbados Colombia Indonesia Jamaica Paraguay Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 14 days Hong Kong

_{ID - May enter with a national ID card (incl. Irish passport card).
1 - 30 days visa-free period for holders of passports endorsed for public affairs too.
2 - Including all classes of British nationality.}

Substitute visa

Since 8 November 2014, holders of valid visa or residents of the Cyprus, Ireland, Schengen Area member states, United Kingdom or the United States may enter Serbia without a visa for a maximum stay of 90 days within any 180-day period, provided visa remains valid for the entire length of stay.^[64]

Reciprocity

See main article: Visa requirements for Serbian citizens.

Serbian citizens may enter most of the countries whose citizens are granted visa-free access to Serbia without a visa except for Australia, Bahamas, Bahrain (grants visa on arrival), Canada, Ireland, Jamaica, Kuwait, Mexico, New Zealand, Palau (grants visa on arrival), Paraguay, United Kingdom, United States.

Non-ordinary passports

Holders of diplomatic, official & service passports of the following countries and territories may enter Serbia visa-free for up to 90 days (unless otherwise stated):^[1]

Angola^2 Algeria^2 Belarus^2 Bangladesh^2 Cambodia China^2 Cuba^2 Dominican Republic^1 Ecuador

Egypt^D ^2 Guatemala Guinea Guinea-Bissau^2 Hong Kong^3 India^2 Indonesia^2 ^2 Iraq

Kazakhstan^2 Lebanon^2 Nicaragua^2 ^2 Macao Morocco Myanmar Pakistan^2

Paraguay^2 ^2 Senegal Singapore Thailand

_{D - Diplomatic passports only.
1 - 60 days
2 - 30 days
3 - 14 days}

Future changes

Serbia has signed visa exemption agreements with the following countries, but they have not yet entered into force:

Country	Passports	Agreement signed on
Guatemala^[65]	Ordinary	22 September 2023
^[66]	Ordinary	14 July 2023
Maldives^[67]	Diplomatic, service	9 May 2023
Guinea-Bissau^[68]	Diplomatic, official, special	6 April 2023
Togo^[69]	Diplomatic	15 March 2023
Antigua and Barbuda^[70]	All	16 January 2023
Tajikistan^[71]	Diplomatic, service	21 September 2022
^[72]	Diplomatic, service	29 July 2022
Ghana^[73]	Diplomatic, service	8 July 2022
Sao Tome and Principe^[74]	Diplomatic, service	6 July 2022
Saint Lucia^[75]	Diplomatic, service	3 February 2022
^[76]	Diplomatic, service	09 January 2020
Vanuatu^[77]	All	21 November 2019

General entry requirements for Serbia

The following are general entry requirements for Serbia:^[78]

• Valid passport/travel document;
• Valid visa in the passport, if a Serbian visa is required for passport holders of the respective country;
• Proof of sufficient funds for staying in Serbia. Sufficient funds are considered to be 50 euros per day of stay, proved by possession of the appropriate amount of cash, bank statement, traveler's cheques, credit cards or a letter of guarantee;
• Certificate of vaccination or a note that he/she has not contracted a contagious disease despite coming from an area affected by a pandemic, as defined by the information of the Ministry of Health.
• If underage children are traveling with one of their parents, it is necessary to submit a relevant certified authorization by the other parent; or if the child is traveling with a third person such authorization is required from both parents or guardian;
• It is recommended to have a health insurance for the period of stay in Serbia, covering possible medical costs to the amount of not less than 20,000 euros.

Visa requirements

Requirements for tourist / business visa

Tourist visa entitles its holder only for tourism trip and visit of relatives and / or friends. Tourist visa holders are prohibited to engage in business or work activities in Serbia.^[79]

General visa requirements:

Valid passport (passport must be valid at least 90 days from issue date of visa)Letter of invitation:

• Invitation letter for a private visit certified by the relevant authority of the Republic of Serbia;^[80]
• Invitation letter for a business visit by a company in Serbia;^[81]
• Invitation letter for a tourist trip – a proof of payment for the trip issued by a travel agency (voucher or other type of payment receipt);
• Completed visa application form: (PDF);^[82]
• Photo (size 3.5x4.5 cm);
• Return ticket or Itinerary (copy of driving license and insurance if traveling by car);
• Proof of sufficient funds for staying in Serbia;
• Health insurance;
• Visa fee.

Visa applications should be submitted to the Embassy or Consulate General of the Republic of Serbia abroad.^[83]

For the issuance of a transit visa, person should have an entry visa for the country entering after the Republic of Serbia. In case a visa is not required for that country, person will be asked to present other documents explaining the purpose of his/her visit there.

Serbian diplomatic mission reserves the right to request additional documentation. Incomplete applications will not be accepted.

Requirements for temporary residence visa / work visa

Anyone wishing to live and work in Serbia will be required to apply for a temporary residence permit (for nationals requiring a visa, a temporary residence visa has to be obtained before entry).^[84] To obtain a temporary visa for employment purposes, you will need to secure a job offer from a Serbian company or government department, or a foreign company based in Serbia.

The criteria for approval of an employment visa include suitable educational qualifications or work experience, a secured employment contract in Serbia, proof of adequate means of subsistence in Serbia, police confirmation that you have no criminal record, and a satisfactory medical examination. All official documents must be translated into Serbian.

Requirements for permanent residence

Permanent residency in Serbia can be acquired after five years of temporary residency, three years of temporary residency if married to a Serbian citizen and on special basis.^[85]

Obligatory registration

If foreign travelers stay at a hotel, hostel or other commercial accommodation during their visit to Serbia, they are not required to register with the police, since the accommodation will complete the registration on their behalf and issue a receipt confirming it (if not automatically issued, the traveler should request it).

When staying in a private accommodation, the owner of the apartment / house must register the foreigner with the police station of the precinct in which the residence is located (alternatively, the owner can issue a written authorization in advance through a notary for the foreigner to register him/herself within 24 hours of the foreigner entering the country.^{[86] [87]} The process involves filling in an online form (also available at major police stations) which is signed and stamped by a police officer.

Visitors should safeguard this form during the stay in the country, as it may be checked by police inside the country and / or when exiting Serbia. Failing to complete the registration may result in a RSD 5,000-150,000 fine (also for the accommodation provider / host), imprisonment and / or deportation.

Visitor statistics

Most visitors arriving in Serbia for tourism (counting only those in registered tourist accommodations) were from the following countries of nationality:^{[88] [89] [90]}

Country	2023	2022	2021
	201,440	125,602	48,936
	170,884	123,425	63,297
	158,824	148,773	102,515
	123,059	105,792	57,574
	110,419	81,661	22,425
	109,738	92,046	52,471
	108,161	89,860	39,327
	100,055	74,590	27,624
	96,079	80,656	58,516
	92,125	32,591	16,451
Total	2,134,305	1,772,763	871,239

See also

• Visa requirements for Serbian citizens
• Visa policy of the Schengen Area
• Visa policy of Kosovo

Notes and References

1. Web site: Visa regime that the Republic of Serbia applies to foreign citizens . Mfa.gov.rs.
2. Web site: PDF.js viewer. www.pravno-informacioni-sistem.rs. 2 April 2018.
3. Web site: PDF.js viewer. www.pravno-informacioni-sistem.rs. 2 April 2018.
4. Web site: PDF.js viewer. www.pravno-informacioni-sistem.rs. 2 April 2018.
5. Web site: MEÐUNARODNI BILATERALNI UGOVORI . bg . 2017-09-13 . 2017-09-14 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170914035017/http://www.mfa.gov.rs/sr/images/stories/bilaterala_ugovori/cile.pdf . dead .
6. Web site: PDF.js viewer. www.pravno-informacioni-sistem.rs. 2 April 2018.
7. Web site: PDF.js viewer. www.pravno-informacioni-sistem.rs. 2 April 2018.
8. Web site: PDF.js viewer. www.pravno-informacioni-sistem.rs. 2 April 2018.
9. Web site: PDF.js viewer. www.pravno-informacioni-sistem.rs. 2 April 2018.
10. Web site: PDF.js viewer. www.pravno-informacioni-sistem.rs. 2 April 2018.
11. Web site: None.
12. Web site: Odluka o ukidanju viza za državljane Rumunije. www.pravno-informacioni-sistem.rs. 2 April 2018.
13. Web site: Odluka o ukidanju viza za državljane Ruske Federacije. www.pravno-informacioni-sistem.rs. 2 April 2018.
14. Previous visa-free agreement under different terms were applied in period 1965 (on duty),1967 (for tourism)-1990 as Yugoslavia and 1990-2009.
15. Web site: PDF.js viewer. www.pravno-informacioni-sistem.rs. 2 April 2018.
16. Web site: PDF.js viewer. www.pravno-informacioni-sistem.rs. 2 April 2018.
17. Web site: PDF.js viewer. www.pravno-informacioni-sistem.rs. 2 April 2018.
18. Web site: Zakon o potvrđivanju Sporazuma između Vlade Republike Srbije i Vlade Republike Kazahstana o ukidanju viza za njihove državljane. www.pravno-informacioni-sistem.rs. 2 April 2018.
19. Web site: Zakon o potvrđivanju Sporazuma između Republike Srbije i Japana o ukidanju viza. www.pravno-informacioni-sistem.rs. 2 April 2018.
20. Web site: Zakon o potvrđivanju Sporazuma između Vlade Republike Srbije i Saveta ministara Republike Albanije o uzajamnom putovanju državljana. www.pravno-informacioni-sistem.rs. 2 April 2018.
21. Web site: Zakon o potvrđivanju Sporazuma između Vlade Republike Srbije i Kabineta ministara Ukrajine o ukidanju viza za njihove državljane. www.pravno-informacioni-sistem.rs. 2 April 2018.
22. Web site: Zakon o potvrđivanju Sporazuma između Republike Srbije i Istočne Republike Urugvaj o ukidanju viza za njihove državljane. www.pravno-informacioni-sistem.rs. 2 April 2018.
23. Web site: Visa-free access to the Republic of Serbia for HKSAR passport holders - Immigration Department. www.immd.gov.hk. 2 April 2018.
24. Web site: Zakon o potvrđivanju Sporazuma između Vlade Republike Srbije i Vlade Specijalne Administrativne Regije Makao Narodne Republike Kine o međusobnom ukidanju viza. www.pravno-informacioni-sistem.rs. 2 April 2018.
25. Web site: Odluka o ulasku nosilaca svih vrsta putnih isprava Ujedinjenih Arapskih Emirata u Republiku Srbiju bez vize. www.pravno-informacioni-sistem.rs. 2 April 2018.
26. Web site: Zakon o potvrđivanju Sporazuma između Vlade Republike Srbije i Vlade Mongolije o ukidanju viza za državljane dveju zemalja. www.pravno-informacioni-sistem.rs. 2 April 2018.
27. Web site: Odluka o ukidanju viza za ulazak u Republiku Srbiju. www.pravno-informacioni-sistem.rs. 2 April 2018.
28. Web site: The Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Serbia and the Government of the Republic of Moldova on the Exemption of Visa Requirements for their Respective Nationals. mfa.gov.rs. 2 April 2018.
29. Web site: Zakon o potvrđivanju Sporazuma između Vlade Republike Srbije i Vlade Republike Moldavije o ukidanju viza za državljane dveju zemalja. www.pravno-informacioni-sistem.rs. 2 April 2018.
30. Web site: The Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Serbia and the Government of the People's Republic of China on mutual visa exemption for holders of ordinary passports. mfa.gov.rs. 2 April 2018.
31. Web site: Zakon o potvrđivanju Sporazuma između Vlade Republike Srbije i Vlade Narodne Republike Kine o međusobnom ukidanju viza za nosioce običnih pasoša. www.pravno-informacioni-sistem.rs. 2 April 2018.
32. Web site: The Decision on visa exemption for the nationals of Republic of Peru, holding ordinary passports. mfa.gov.rs. 2 April 2018.
33. Web site: Odluka o ukidanju viza za ulazak u Republiku Srbiju za državljane Republike Peru, nosioce običnih pasoša. www.pravno-informacioni-sistem.rs. 2 April 2018.
34. Web site: The Decision on visa exemption for the nationals of the Republic of India, holding ordinary passports. mfa.gov.rs. 2 April 2018.
35. Web site: Odluka o ukidanju viza za ulazak u Republiku Srbiju za državljane Republike Indije. www.pravno-informacioni-sistem.rs. 2 April 2018.
36. Web site: The Decision on visa exemption for the nationals of the Islamic Republic of Iran, holding ordinary passports. mfa.gov.rs. 2 April 2018.
37. Web site: Decision on visa exemption for the nationals of the Republic of Indonesia, holders of ordinary passports. mfa.rs. 2 April 2018. 13 August 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200813052741/http://mfa.rs/en/consular-news-from-front-page/115-consular-news/17006-decision-on-visa-exemption-for-the-nationals-of-the-republic-of-indonesia-holders-of-ordinary-passports. dead.
38. Web site: DECISION OF THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA ON VISA EXEMPTION FOR TNE NATIONALS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE GUINEA BISSAU, HOLDERS OF ALL PASSPORTS. mfa.gov.rs. 2 April 2018.
39. Web site: DECISION OF THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA ON VISA EXEMPTION FOR TNE NATIONALS OF THE REPUBLIC OF SURINAME, HOLDERS OF ALL PASSPORTS. mfa.gov.rs. 2 April 2018.
40. Web site: ABOLISHED VISAS FOR CITISENS FOUR (4) COUNTRIES OF THE CARIBBEAN REGION AND TWO (2) COUNTRIES OF THE LATIN AMERICAN REGION. mfa.gov.rs. 2 April 2018.
41. Web site: ABOLISHED VISAS FOR CITISENS OF GEORGIA, HOLDERS OF ORDINARY PASSPORT. mfa.gov.rs. 2 April 2018.
42. Web site: ABOLISHED VISAS FOR CITISENS OF THE REPUBLIC OF AZERBAIJAN, HOLDERS OF ORDINARY PASSPORTS. mfa.gov.rs. 30 May 2018.
43. Web site: ABOLISHED VISAS FOR CITISENS OF THE REPUBLIC OF BURUNDI. mfa.gov.rs. 30 May 2018.
44. Web site: Abolished Visas for Citisens of Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, Commonwealth of Dominica and Trinidad and Tobago . 2018-11-06 . 2018-11-06 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181106210731/http://www.mfa.gov.rs/en/consular-news-from-front-page/115-consular-news/18304-abolished-visas-for-citisens-of-antigua-and-barbuda-grenada-commonwealth-of-dominica-and-trinidad-and-tobago . dead .
45. Web site: Соглашение между Правительством КР и Правительством Республики Сербия о взаимной отмене визовых требований для владельцев общегражданских паспортов (Agreement between the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic and the Government of the Republic of Serbia on the mutual abolition of visa requirements for holders of general passports) . ru . https://web.archive.org/web/20181106094019/http://www.mfa.gov.kg/news/view/idnews/5263 . 2018-11-06.
46. Web site: http://pravno-informacioni-sistem.rs/SlGlasnikPortal/eli/rep/sgrs/vlada/odluka/2019/3/4/reg. sr:Одлука о укидању виза за улазак у Републику Србију за држављане Федерације Свети Китс и Невис и Републике Палау: 3/2019-32. sr. www.pravno-informacioni-sistem.rs. 27 January 2019.
47. Web site: Visa Waiver Agreement with the Republic of Suriname . 2019-10-04 . 2019-10-18 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191018034641/http://www.mfa.gov.rs/en/consular-news-from-front-page/115-consular-news/18986-visa-waiver-agreement-with-the-republic-of-suriname . dead .
48. Web site: Abolished Visas for Citisens of Armenia, Holders of Ordinary Passports . 2019-11-02 . 2019-11-02 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191102224825/http://mfa.gov.rs/en/consular-news-from-front-page/115-consular-news/19056-abolished-visas-for-citisens-of-armenia-holders-of-ordinary-passports . dead .
49. Web site: PDF.js viewer. sr. www.pravno-informacioni-sistem.rs. 2 April 2018.
50. Web site: PDF.js viewer. www.pravno-informacioni-sistem.rs. 2 April 2018.
51. Web site: PDF.js viewer. www.pravno-informacioni-sistem.rs. 2 April 2018.
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53. Web site: PDF.js viewer. www.pravno-informacioni-sistem.rs. 2 April 2018.
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58. Web site: Odluka o ukidanju viza za ulazak u Republiku Srbiju za državljane Malezije: 81/2016-8. https://web.archive.org/web/20171112144031/http://mfa.gov.rs/en/consular-news-from-front-page/115-consular-news/15800-the-decision-on-visa-exemption-for-the-nationals-of-malaysia. dead. November 12, 2017. www.pravno-informacioni-sistem.rs.
59. Web site: Decision on termination of the validity of the Decision on the abolition of visas for entry into the Republic of Serbia for the nationals of the Islamic Republic of Iran, holders of ordinary passports . 2018-10-11 . 2019-02-11 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190211205555/http://mfa.gov.rs/en/consular-news-from-front-page/115-consular-news/18226-decision-on-termination-of-the-validity-of-the-decision-on-the-abolition-of-visas-for-entry-into-the-republic-of-serbia-for-the-nationals-of-the-islamic-republic-of-iran-holders-of-ordinary-passports . dead .
60. Was applied from 2 September 2017 Web site: The Decision on visa exemption for the nationals of the Islamic Republic of Iran, holding ordinary passports. mfa.gov.rs. 2 April 2018.
61. Web site: Serbia Introduces Visas for Nationals of India & Guinea-Bissau From January 1, 2023 . 23 December 2022 .
62. Web site: Serbia Has Introduced Visas for Nationals of Bolivia Following EU Pressure . 28 February 2023 .
63. Web site: Serbia Has Introduced Visas for Cubans in Bid to Align it's visa Policy with EU . 14 April 2023 .
64. Web site: Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in the Portuguese Republic . Lisbon.mfa.gov.rs . 20 January 2015.
65. Web site: Низ билатералних састанака министра Дачић на маргинама 78. заседања ГС УН у Њујорку | Министарство спољних послова .
66. Web site: Дачић и МИП Венецуеле Хил о унапређењу сарадње | Министарство спољних послова .
67. Web site: ППВ и МСП Дачић са министром спољних послова Малдива | Министарство спољних послова .
68. Web site: Serbia, Guinea-Bissau sign agreements on cooperation .
69. Web site: Того признаје само једну Србију - шеф дипломатије Републике Того након састанка са Дачићем | Министарство спољних послова .
70. Web site: Antigua and Barbuda and Serbia abolish visa requirements..
71. Web site: Више од 20 сусрета са шефовима дипломатија на маргинама 77. заседања ГС УН .
72. Web site: Селаковић: Нови почетак давно започетих односа Србије и Есватинија .
73. Web site: Вишедеценијско искрено пријатељство Србије и Гане .
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76. Web site: Традиционално пријатељство и међусобна подршка у међународним форумима и организацијама Србије и Палестине .
77. Web site: Vanuatu signs MOU and Visa Waiver Agreement with Serbia. November 23, 2019. Vanuatu Daily Post.
78. Web site: General entry requirements for Serbia . . June 6, 2016.
79. Web site: Visa . June 6, 2016 . July 31, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140731155822/http://www.mfa.gov.rs/en/consular-affairs/entry-serbia/visa-requirements . dead.
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86. Web site: Odeljenje za strance . Mup.gov.rs . 2012-07-25 . 2015-02-21 . 2015-02-21 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150221184919/http://www.mup.gov.rs/cms_lat/direkcija.nsf/odeljenje-za-strance.h . dead .
87. Web site: Boravak I Nastanjenje Stranca . Mup.gov.rs . 21 February 2015 . 5 March 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150305231416/http://www.mup.gov.rs/domino/dokumenta.nsf/boravakstrancil . dead.
88. Web site: . Foreign tourist arrivals and overnight stays, by countries of tourists' origin 2021. stat.gov.rs . 1 January 2024.
89. Web site: Foreign tourist arrivals and overnight stays, by countries of tourists' origin 2022 . stat.gov.rs . 1 January 2024.
90. Web site: Foreign tourist arrivals and overnight stays, by countries of tourists' origin 2023 . stat.gov.rs. 6 February 2024.