A visa for Serbia is a state issued document that is needed only for foreigners whose country does not have an agreement on a free visa regime with Serbia.
There are different types of visa for Serbia, including:
- Tourist visas – for sightseeing and visiting friends or family
- Student visas – for studying in a foreign country
- Work visas – for employment purposes
- Transit visas – for passing through a country on the way to another destination.
visa for Serbia, depending on the time they are issued
According to the duration for which they were issued, there are 3 types of visa for Serbia:
- Visa B – transit visa;
- Visa C – short stay visa;
- Visa D – visa for a temporary stay.
Citizens from European Union according to bilateral agreements have automatically visa C, which is also called “tourist visa”. According to the regulations of the bilateral agreements they are allowed to stay in Serbia up to 90 days, within the period of 6 months after the first entry into Serbia.
Entering Serbia with an identity card
Entry to Serbia with an identity card is allowed for holders of identity cards from EU countries. If the identity card is used for entry in Serbia, the identity card (and not the passport) should also be used for exit from Serbia. However, it practice foreigners can use the different documents. The only restriction that exists in connection with the use of an identity card for entry in Serbia is temporary stay in Serbia. An application for temporary stay can be submitted only if a foreign citizen has entered in Serbia with a passport.
A visa for Serbia is therefore a prerequisite for entering the country. According to the new Serbian law on the employment of foreigners, a visa for Serbia can be skipped as a step in the application procedure for residence in Serbia. Because, according to the new law, applying for a temporary residence permit in Serbia and a work permit can be done online, even before entering the country. Thus, the visa for Serbia has lost its significance, because if he applies for residence without having a visa for Serbia, and if temporary residence in Serbia is approved, the foreigner does not have to obtain a visa for Serbia.
Visa regime for Serbia
Visa regime for Serbia can be checked on the following link.
If foreign citizens need a visa, they must prepare the following documents:
- valid passport (passport must be valid for at least 90 days from the date of visa issuance);
- invitation letter;
- for a private visit – a letter of invitation certified by the competent authority of the Republic of Serbia;
- for a business visit – a letter of invitation from a company in Serbia;
- for a tourist visit – a confirmation from the tourist organization
- about booked visit;
- completed visa application form;
- photo with a size of 3,5 cm x 4,5 cm;
- reservation of a return ticket or itinerary (copy of driver’s license and insurance in case of travel by car);
- proof of possession of financial means for the stay in Serbia;
- health insurance;
- visa issuance fee.
Competent authority
The visa application is submitted to the consular mission. The application is submitted online, and personal presence is required for visa approval. During the visa approval process, the Serbian consulate transmits documents to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, which checks the available databases of visa applicants. Foreign citizens must enter in Serbia through the border crossing which was chosen when visa documents were submitted. As of February 2024, an application for a new integral document can be submitted online. This is a document that contains no only visa permisson, but also residence and work permit.