# Visa policy of Serbia

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, Kyrgyzstan, 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:
| 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  Kyrgyzstan  Liechtenstein  Macao  Mexico  Moldova  Monaco | Montenegro$^{ID}$  New Zealand  North Macedonia$^{ID}$  Norway$^{ID}$  Palau  Peru  Saint Kitts and Nevis  San Marino  Seychelles  Singapore | South Korea  Switzerland$^{ID}$  Trinidad and Tobago  Turkey  Ukraine  United Arab Emirates  United Kingdom$^2$  United States  Uruguay  Vatican City |
| Belarus  China$^1$ | Kazakhstan  Russia | Suriname |
| Bahamas  Barbados  Colombia | Indonesia  Jamaica  Paraguay | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines |
* Hong Kong
$_{ID-MayenterwithanationalIDcard(incl.Irishpassportcard).}$ $_{1-30daysvisa-freeperiodforholdersofpassportsendorsedforpublicaffairstoo.}$ $_{2-IncludingallclassesofBritishnationality.}$
* Date of visa changes
* Dates of entry into force of the bilateral visa waiver agreement/unilateral decision or ratification by Serbia (marked *)
* Unknown: Mexico
* April 1966$^*$: Tunisia
* August 1966$^*$: Cuba
* October 1971$^*$: Costa Rica
* May 1973$^*$: Chile
* October 1985$^*$: Bolivia
* February 1987$^*$: Seychelles
* November 1989$^*$: Argentina
* March 1998$^*$: North Macedonia
* December 1999$^*$: Belarus
* May 2003$^*$: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States, Vatican City. (unilateral)
* June 2007: Romania (unilateral)
* March 2008: Russia (unilateral)
* December 2009$^*$: Israel
* October 2010$^*$: Brazil, Turkey
* December 2010$^*$: Kazakhstan
* May 2011: Japan
* October 2011$^*$: Albania (resumed), Ukraine, Uruguay
* November 2011: Hong Kong
* January 2013$^*$: Macao SAR
* August 2013: United Arab Emirates (unilateral)
* July 2014: Mongolia
* June 2015: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman and Qatar (unilateral)
* August 2015: Moldova
* January 2017: China
* May 2017: Peru (unilateral)
* September 2017: India and Iran (unilateral)
* October 2017: Indonesia (unilateral)
* December 2017: Guinea-Bissau (unilateral)
* January 2018: Suriname (unilateral)
* February 2018: Bahamas, Barbados, Jamaica, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Paraguay, Colombia (unilateral)
* March 2018: Georgia
* June 2018: Azerbaijan and Burundi (unilateral)
* November 2018: Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Trinidad and Tobago (unilateral)
* November 2018: Kyrgyzstan
* January 2019: Palau and Saint Kitts and Nevis (unilateral)
* September 2019: Suriname (bilateral)
* November 2019: Armenia (unilateral)
* Cancelled:
* May 1978 - N/A$^*$: Bangladesh
* January 1985 - January 2003$^*$: Botswana
* June 1972 - January 2003$^*$: Iraq
* N/A - January 2003$^*$: Niger
* November 1970 - N/A$^*$: Pakistan
* December 1970 - N/A$^*$: Iran
* March 1971 - N/A$^*$ (resumed in 2017): India
* August 1975 - January 2003$^*$: Zambia
* June 1985 - January 2003$^*$: Zimbabwe
* January 2018: Malaysia
* October 2018: Iran
* November 2022: Burundi
* November 2022: Tunisia
* January 2023: India
* January 2023: Guinea-Bissau
* February 2023: Bolivia
* April 2023: Cuba
* Note: citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro were never required visas for Serbia.

### Fee exemption

Nationals of the following countries are exempt from short (up to 90 days) and long stay (up to 180 days) visa fees:
| Armenia  China | Mali  Pakistan |

### Substitute visa

Since 8 November 2014, holders of valid visa or residents of 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.

### Reciprocity

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):
| 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$^2$  Iran$^2$  Iraq | Kazakhstan$^2$  Laos  Lebanon  Nicaragua$^2$  North Korea$^2$  Macao  Morocco  Myanmar  Pakistan$^2$ | Paraguay  Russia$^2$  Senegal  Singapore  Thailand  Vietnam |
$_{D-Diplomaticpassportsonly.}$ $_{1-60days}$ $_{2-30days}$ $_{3-14days}$

### 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 |
| Vanuatu | All | 21 November 2019 |
| Palestine | Diplomatic, service | 09 January 2020 |
| Saint Lucia | Diplomatic, service | 3 February 2022 |
| Sao Tome and Principe | Diplomatic, service | 6 July 2022 |
| Ghana | Diplomatic, service | 8 July 2022 |
| Eswatini | Diplomatic, service | 29 July 2022 |
| Tajikistan | Diplomatic, service | 21 September 2022 |
| Antigua and Barbuda | All | 16 January 2023 |
| Togo | Diplomatic | 15 March 2023 |
| Guinea-Bissau | Diplomatic, official, special | 6 April 2023 |
| Maldives | Diplomatic, service | 9 May 2023 |
| Venezuela | Ordinary | 14 July 2023 |
| Guatemala | Ordinary | 22 September 2023 |
| Uzbekistan | Diplomatic, official | 23 September 2024 |
| Tuvalu | Diplomatic, official | 23 September 2024 |
| Nepal | Diplomatic, official | 26 September 2024 |
| Tuvalu | Ordinary | 21 November 2024 |
| Burundi | Diplomatic, official | 12 March 2025 |

## Online applications

As of 2024, visas can be applied for online. However, they are still not issued in electronic form, requiring a visit to a diplomatic or consular office to have the visa affixed to a passport.

## General entry requirements for Serbia

The following are general entry requirements for Serbia:
* 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.
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;
* Invitation letter for a business visit by a company in Serbia;
* 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);
* 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.
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). 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.

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