Immigration. Travel. Living.

Serbia: visas and immigration

Flag of Serbia

Serbia is located in southeastern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula, and its population reaches nearly nine million people.

Visa types

Below there are types of visas to Serbia, which differ depending on the length and purpose of stay.

C-Type visa (short-term)

Depending on the purpose of your visit, which is limited to 90 days, you can obtain the following types of visas:

  • Tourist Visa;
  • Business or Fair Participation Visa;
  • Family, Relative or Friend Visit Visa;
  • Cultural, Sports or Conference Visit Visa;
  • Short-Term Education or Internship Visa.

D-Type Visa (Long-Term) 

A D-Type visa to Serbia is required for a stay for more than three months for various purposes. You can apply for a long-term visa for the following reasons:

  • You are going to study at a university, take a long-term internship or language courses;
  • You are planning to work for an enterprise in Serbia or seasonal work;
  • You are an academician, researcher, or scientist who is going to work in a certified research center in Serbia;
  • Your first-degree family member is a resident of Serbia;
  • You are going for long-term treatment at a medical facility in Serbia;
  • You are a business person or entrepreneur that will bring economic benefits to Serbia.

Transit Visa

This type of visa is given if Serbia is not the final destination.

Who doesn’t need a Serbia visa? 

Serbia has a lot of bilateral or multilateral visa agreements with different countries from all over the world. Due to this, citizens of these countries are allowed to stay in the country on a visa-free basis, but no more than 90 days within 180 days from the date of the first entry. More than 90 countries have an agreement on a visa-free regime, a list of which can be found on the state website of Serbia. Citizens of those countries that are not on the list have to apply for a C-Type visa in advance before traveling.

Also, on October 30, 2014, the Government of the Republic of Serbia approved a visa-free regime for foreign citizens whose foreign passports have a valid Schengen, UK, or US visa. Citizens of these states are also entitled to a visa-free visit to the country for up to 90 days in 180 days.

Obtaining a visa

To obtain a visa at the Serbian Embassy you will go through the following process:

  1. prepare all the necessary documents;
  2. fill out a visa application form;
  3. visit the Consular Section of the Embassy of Serbia, pay the visa fee, and submit the necessary documents;
  4. get a ready-made passport with a visa.

white and red labeled box

Required documents for a visa

To obtain a visa at the Serbian Embassy you will need:

  • valid passport (validity must be at least 90 days from the expected date of opening the visa);
  • letter of invitation (for a private visit);
  • documents confirming payment for the tour, or other documents confirming the purpose of stay in Serbia (for a tourist trip);
  • completed visa application form;
  • 1 photograph measuring 3.5 x 4.5 cm;
  • documents confirming the booking of tickets back;
  • confirmation of the availability of sufficient funds to stay in Serbia (at the rate of 50 โ‚ฌ for one day);
  • medical insurance with a coverage amount of at least 20,000 โ‚ฌ.

Depending on the purpose of the trip, you must additionally provide the following documents:

  • confirmation of family ties with a citizen of Serbia;
  • employment contract when working for hire;
  • a certificate from the university for students studying in Serbia;
  • business permit for entrepreneurs.

Additional condition for a visa-free stay

Those who enter the country without a visa must register at the nearest police station within 24 hours. This service is usually provided for its guests by the administration of hotels, resorts, and boarding houses. In the case of renting private housing or living with relatives/friends, a personal visit is required.

Failure to register is subject to a fine of 50 euros for each day of stay.

Consular fee and visa processing time

Consular fee for issuing an annual Serbian visa for tourists – 40 EUR. For those who go to work, study, do business, or whose trip will last longer than 30 days, the cost of the consular fee is 110 EUR.

The term for consideration of documents for a visa is 5-7 working days.

Traveling with children

To travel to Serbia, a child must be entered in the passport of one of the parents or have their own (mandatory for children over 14 years old). If only one of the parents travels with him, you need to provide notarized consent to travel from the other, even if the parents are divorced.

The consent of the second parent to take the child abroad is not required if:

  • the second parent is not alive (a death certificate is required);
  • he is deprived of parental rights (court decision);
  • missing or is on the official wanted list (confirmation from the police);
  • the child is brought up by only one parent.

If the parent and child have different surnames, an additional document confirming the relationship will be required. A minor entering Serbia accompanied by a third person must have a passport and a notarized consent of both parents, indicating the passport details of the person responsible for the child.

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