Application for a short-stay visa (VISA C)

A visa is an authorisation for entry, stay, or transit, which a foreign national obtains before entering the territory of the Republic of Serbia. The visa shall be issued in electronic format, but it may also be issued as a sticker affixed to the foreign national’s travel document.

According to the provisions of the Law on Foreigners (“Official Gazette of the RS”, Nos. 24/2018, 31/2019, and 62/2023), the types of visas are:

Airport transit visa (visa A);
Short-stay visa (visa C);
Long-stay visa (visa D).

Submitting a Visa Application

A visa application is submitted by selecting the appropriate service and completing the online application form via the foreigners’ portal. It is considered successfully submitted when the applicant is notified of the receipt of the application. Notifications, decisions, and further instructions are sent to the email address registered during the application process.

Supporting documents, i.e. evidence, must be submitted in either electronic or digitised form, and the applicant is responsible for ensuring the completeness and authenticity of the documentation submitted electronically. A certified translation by a court-appointed translator must accompany any documents that are not initially issued in Serbian.

The visa application must be submitted either in person, i.e. electronically, using the prescribed form, no earlier than three months before the intended date of travel.

Individuals listed in the visa applicant’s travel document must submit separate visa applications using the prescribed form.

General Requirements for Visa Issuance in Terms of Submitting Supporting Documents

When submitting a visa application-regardless of the type of visa being applied for—a foreign national, in accordance with Article 25, paragraph 3 of the Law on Foreigners (“Official Gazette of the RS”, nos. 24/2018, 31/2019, and 62/2023), must provide the following:

A completed visa application form;
A travel document;
A photograph;
Proof of payment of the visa issuance fee;
Evidence of the purpose and reasons for staying in the Republic of Serbia;
An invitation letter;
Appropriate and valid travel health insurance.

The diplomatic-consular mission shall reject the visa application if the applicant fails to meet one or more of the general requirements in terms of submitting the aforementioned supporting documents, or fails to submit the application within the prescribed deadline. In the event of a rejected visa application, the documents submitted along with the application, as well as the amount paid for the visa fee, will be returned to the applicant.

When there are humanitarian reasons or it is in the interest of the Republic of Serbia, the visa application may be considered even if not all general requirements, in terms of the above-mentioned supporting documents, are met.

Additional documents required for each specific visa are primarily regulated by Article 26 of the Law on Foreigners (“Official Gazette of the RS”, nos. 24/2018, 31/2019, and 62/2023), as well as by the provisions of the Rulebook on Submitting Visa Applications Electronically and on Visas Approval (“Official Gazette of the RS”, no. 12/2025).

Short-Stay Visa (Visa C) Application

A short-stay visa (Visa C) is a permit for entry into the Republic of Serbia, transit through its territory, or stay in the territory of the Republic of Serbia for up to 90 days within any 180-day period, counting from the date of first entry.

The short-stay visa (Visa C) is issued for all travel purposes except those for which a long-stay visa is issued or temporary residence is granted. A short-stay visa (Visa C) cannot serve as the basis for applying for temporary residence in the Republic of Serbia, unless otherwise stipulated by the provisions of the Law on Foreigners.

The short-stay visa (Visa C) may be issued for one, two, or multiple entries into the Republic of Serbia, and its validity period cannot exceed five years.

When submitting a short-stay visa application, in accordance with Articles 21 and 26, paragraph 2 of the Law on Foreigners, and Articles 5, 6, and 7 of the Rulebook on Submitting Visa Applications Electronically and on Visas Approval (“Official Gazette of the RS”, no. 12/2025), the applicant is required to submit proof of:

The purpose of travel;
Sufficient financial means for accommodation expenses, or other proof related to accommodation;
Available financial means for subsistence during the intended stay and for return to the country of origin or usual residence;
Other supporting documents that verify the applicant’s intention to leave the Republic of Serbia before the requested visa expires.

Supporting documents proving fulfilment of the visa issuance requirements under Article 26 of the Law on Foreigners (“Official Gazette of the RS”, nos. 24/2018, 31/2019, and 62/2023), as well as under Article 5 of the Rulebook on Submitting Visa Applications Electronically and on Visas Approval (“Official Gazette of RS”, No. 12/2025), shall be considered:

as proof of the amount of financial means for subsistence – a certificate, or other proof of the state of the foreign national’s account in a Serbian or foreign bank, or another appropriate certificate of possession of financial means or of regular income, as well as cash and non-cash payment means (traveller’s cheques, credit cards, etc.);
as proof of secured accommodation – confirmation of a paid tourist arrangement, hotel or other accommodation reservation, organised tourist trip, lease of real estate, or ownership of real estate in the Republic of Serbia, confirmation of accommodation reservation, as well as another appropriate document based on which secured accommodation in the Republic of Serbia can be established. Exceptionally, proof of secured accommodation shall also be considered to be proof that the foreign national has sufficient means for accommodation and subsistence costs during their stay in the Republic of Serbia;
as proof of the intention to return to the country of origin or a third country – return air or other transport ticket, vehicle registration or driving licence if travelling by passenger vehicle, confirmation of employment, education, or another certificate on the personal, family, social or professional status of the foreign national in the country of origin or third country, confirmation of regulated residence in a third country if residing in a country that is not their country of origin;
as proof of travel health insurance – a health insurance policy from an authorised insurance company in another country, health insurance provided in accordance with international agreements or health insurance obtained under the conditions and in the manner determined by a special law, and in cases where a natural or legal person in the Republic of Serbia assumes the obligation to provide travel insurance for the foreign national they are inviting, the proof of health insurance shall be considered to be the insurance policy issued by the insurance company in the place of their residence or registered office.

Depending on the purpose of travel, when submitting the Application for the issuance of a short-stay visa (visa C), in accordance with the provisions of Article 6 of the Rulebook on Submitting Visa Applications Electronically and on Visas Approval (“Official Gazette of RS”, no. 12/2025), one of the following documents shall be submitted or obtained:

In the case of tourist travel – confirmation from a travel agency or hotel on a completed accommodation reservation or other proof of secured accommodation, or proof of a tourist package under which the foreign national is coming to the Republic of Serbia;
In the case of a private visit – an invitation letter from a natural person, and if the inviter is a staff member of an accredited diplomatic-consular mission of a foreign state or a representation of an international organisation – a note from the diplomatic-consular mission;
In the case of a business trip – an invitation letter from a business entity, organiser of a meeting, conference, fair, congress or other event, expressing the need for the foreign national’s stay in the Republic of Serbia, and other documentation may also be submitted proving the existence of trade or business relations, the business activity of the company, and that the foreign national holds the status of an employee;
In the case of travel for attending political, scientific, cultural, sports or religious events or manifestations – an invitation letter from the organiser of the event or other manifestation clearly stating the location and duration period, and a supporting document with the event programme and information on participants may also be submitted;
In the case of travel within an official delegation to international gatherings held in the territory of the Republic of Serbia – a letter or note from the organiser of the event inviting the members of the official delegation for whom the visa application is being submitted, and a list of the delegation may also be attached;
In the case of travel for education, language learning, professional specialisation or vocational training – a certificate of enrolment from the educational institution, and a confirmation of tuition or training fee payment, granted scholarship or confirmation that the foreign national is exempt from tuition fees, may also be attached, as well as proof of previous level of education;
In the case of travel for health reasons, for medical treatment in the Republic of Serbia – a certificate from a doctor or medical institution indicating the need for treatment abroad, a document from a medical institution in the Republic of Serbia confirming that it can provide the treatment, proof of sufficient financial means to pay for the treatment and related expenses or evidence that the treatment has been paid in advance, and correspondence with the medical institution confirming admission may also be submitted;
In the case of an official or private trip of the holder of a diplomatic or official passport – a note from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or diplomatic-consular mission of the foreign state, or a note from the international organisation or its representation in the Republic of Serbia;
In the case of taking up duties at a foreign diplomatic-consular mission or representation of an international organisation, where an initial visa is required for a staff member of that mission and their family member – a note from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the sending state or international organisation;
In the case of transit – proof that the person possesses a visa for entry into the country to which they are travelling via the territory of the Republic of Serbia, or via the territory through which they continue their journey, unless exempt from holding such a visa.

In cases where there are humanitarian reasons, force majeure, or the interest of the Republic of Serbia, pursuant to Article 29, paragraph 3 of the Law on Foreigners (“Official Gazette of RS”, nos. 24/2018, 31/2019, and 62/2023) and Article 7 of the Rulebook on Submitting Visa Applications Electronically and on Visas Approval (“Official Gazette of RS”, no. 12/2025), the following shall be submitted when applying for a short-stay visa (visa C):

Proof that the matter concerns illness or medical treatment of the applicant, or the death, illness, or medical treatment of a family member, or other reasons confirming that the case involves humanitarian grounds;
A note from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or a diplomatic-consular mission of another state, or an international organisation, except in cases involving the issuance of an initial visa;
An invitation from competent state authorities and institutions of the Republic of Serbia in the case of members of foreign state delegations or prominent individuals whose arrival supports the development and improvement of bilateral relations in areas such as the economy, science, education, culture, sports, or other cooperation of importance and interest to the Republic of Serbia;
Other documents, based on which the need for urgent action due to humanitarian reasons, the interest of the Republic of Serbia, or force majeure can be indisputably established.

In these exceptional cases, proof may also include a notice from a competent state authority about the existence of an interest of the Republic of Serbia, which is communicated to the diplomatic-consular mission via the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in an appropriate manner.

The diplomatic-consular mission may, as an exception, issue a visa without additional documents to the holder of a diplomatic, official, special, or United Nations laissez-passer passport, in cases of reciprocity or international practice.

The diplomatic-consular mission takes into account the risk that the applicant may pose a threat of illegal migration or a security risk to the Republic of Serbia, particularly if the foreign national is arriving from a country with an elevated risk of migration or security concerns.

To assess the risk, the diplomatic-consular mission may, through the competent department within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, request that the relevant authorities in the Republic of Serbia carry out a background check on the applicant and the inviter by reviewing records maintained in accordance with the law.