On October 30, 2014, the Government of the Republic of Serbia adopted the Decision on visa free entry to the Republic of Serbia for holders of foreign national passports having a valid Schengen, UK and other Member States’ visa, or visa of the United States of America, and for holders of foreign national passports having residence permit in the countries of the Schengen area, EU or the United States of America. On basis of this decision, the above-mentioned categories of foreign nationals may, without prior visa application, enter, transit and stay in the Republic of Serbia up to 90 days during a six-month period, and within validity of said visas or residence permits.
Other holders of foreign national passports who plan to stay in Serbia for up to 90 days or 90 to 180 days must submit a visa application to the diplomatic and consular mission of the Republic of Serbia abroad.
Types of visas issued in diplomatic and consular missions:
- short stay visa (visa C)
- long stay visa (visa D).
Visa C (visa for a stay of up to 90 days)
Visa for a short stay is issued for tourist, business and other travel for one, two or more entries into the Republic of Serbia. Continuous residence of an alien with a short-stay visa, or a total length of consecutive stays, can not exceed 90 days within six months from the date of first entry.
Visa for a short stay with multiple entries shall be issued with a validity period of one year.
Long stay visa (visa D)
Long stay visa shall be permission to enter and stay on the territory of the Republic of Serbia between 90 and 180 days. A foreigner who, in accordance with the visa regime for entry into the Republic of Serbia requires a visa, and who intends to apply for temporary residence in the Republic of Serbia, shall obtain a long stay visa.
A foreigner to whom has been issued a long stay visa based on employment exercises the right to employment following the regulations governing the employment of foreigners.
Before the expiration of the valid long stay visa based on employment, the foreigner submits a request for temporary residence approval based on employment if his business engagement in the Republic of Serbia lasts longer than the validity of the long stay visa.
Long Stay Visa Issuance Authority
Visa shall be issued by diplomatic or consular mission, unless determined otherwise in the Law on Foreigners. As exception Short-Term Visa may be issued by the Border Police.
Visa application shall be reviewed and decided on by the diplomatic or consular mission in the area of legal residence of the applicant. Exceptionally, the diplomatic or consular mission shall review and decide on the application submitted by a foreigner, who is staying legally in its consular area, and does not have residence in that country, when he submits evidence of urgency of travel to the Republic of Serbia, for he requires a visa.
In the countries where there is no diplomatic or consular mission of the Republic of Serbia, mutual agency in the procedure of visa issuance may be defined in an international agreement.
Foreign Travel Document
When applying for a visa, a foreigner must present a foreign travel document, valid for a minimum of three months after the intended date of departure from the Republic of Serbia, with at least two consecutive blank pages, and issued within the past ten years.
Exceptionally, if this is in the interest of the Republic of Serbia, or there are humanitarian reasons for this, when applying for a visa, a foreigner may present a foreign travel document that does not meet the previously mentioned criteria.
If this is in the interest of the Republic of Serbia, or there are humanitarian reasons for this, and the travel document is not recognised by the Republic of Serbia, the visa shall be issued on the Visa Entry Form. The layout of the Visa Entry Form and the manner of entry of the visa into the form, shall be prescribed by the Minister responsible for foreign affairs.
Visa Application Submission
Visa application shall be submitted personally, on a prescribed form, not earlier than three months prior to the start of the intended journey.
The diplomatic or consular mission may deviate from personal submission of the visa application if determined that the applicant has used previously issued visas lawfully. Persons included in the travel document of the visa applicant shall submit separate visa applications on a prescribed form.
The following shall be submitted alongside the visa application:
- Filled-in Visa Application Form;
- Travel document;
- Photograph;
- Proof of paid fee for visa issuance;
- Proof of the purpose and reasons for stay in the Republic of Serbia;
- Letter of invitation;
- Adequate and valid travel medical insurance.
Diplomatic or consular mission shall refuse a visa application if the applicant does not meet one or more of the general criteria or does not submit the application within the provided timeframe.
In case of refusal of the visa application, the documents submitted with the application, and the fee paid for visa issuance shall be returned to the applicant.
When humanitarian reasons or interest of the Republic of Serbia exist, a visa application shall be reviewed even if the general criteria have not been met.
If a visa application is accepted for review, the travel document of the foreigner shall be stamped confirming the receipt of the visa application. Diplomatic and service travel documents shall not be stamped.
The layout of the Visa Application Form and the receipt stamp, shall be prescribed by the Minister responsible for foreign affairs.
Evidence of Eligibility for Visa Issuance
Upon submission of application for long stay visa, the applicant shall submit also the following evidence:
- Of the purpose of visit;
- Of sufficient funds for accommodation expenses or other proof related to accommodation;
- Of available means of subsistence during the intended stay and for return to the country of origin or place of usual residence;
- Other evidence which may be used to verify the applicant’s intent to leave the Republic of Serbia before the expiry of the visa applied for;
- Evidence, or documents, necessary in accordance with the provisions of the Law on foreigners, when applying for temporary residence (depending on the grounds for residence).
Letter of Invitation
A legal entity or natural person inviting a foreigner for personal or business visit, must submit a letter of invitation.
In the letter of invitation, the Inviter shall commit to cover all the costs of stay and forced removal of the foreigner from the territory of the Republic of Serbia, as well as all costs in case of stay and accommodation of the foreigner in the detention centre, if they cannot be charged from the foreigner.
If the Inviter of the foreign national in the Republic of Serbia is a natural person, the letter of invitation shall contain a statement of the natural person that he shall commit to cover all the costs of stay and forced removal of the foreigner from the territory of the Republic of Serbia, as well as all costs in case of stay and accommodation of the foreigner in the detention centre, if they cannot be charged from the foreigner, information about the foreigner (name and family name, date of birth, nationality, travel document information), information about the inviter (name and family name, date of birth, nationality, telephone number, address of residence, reason for inviting the foreigner into the Republic of Serbia), as well as any other information relevant for the procedure of visa issuance.
The letter of invitation from a natural person shall be stamped by the competent authority for official verification of documents.
If the inviter of the foreign national into the Republic of Serbia is a legal entity, the letter of invitation shall contain a statement of the legal entity that it shall commit to cover all the costs of stay and forced removal of the foreigner from the territory of the Republic of Serbia, as well as all costs in case of stay and accommodation of the foreigner in the detention centre, if they cannot be charged from the foreigner, information about the foreigner (name and family name, date of birth, nationality, travel document information), name, address, registration and tax identity number, signature and stamp of the authorised person in the legal entity inviting the foreigner to visit, the reason for inviting the foreigner into the Republic of Serbia, as well as other information relevant for the procedure of visa issuance.
Travel Medical Insurance
Visa applicant must provide proof that during his stay in the Republic of Serbia, he has adequate travel medical insurance covering costs that may be incurred in relation to emergency medical assistance, emergency hospital treatment, return to the country of origin for health-related reasons or in the case of death.
As exception, the proof of travel medical insurance shall not be needed from holders of diplomatic travel documents or applicants for Airport Transit Visa.
The period of insurance must not be shorter than the period of planned stay in the Republic of Serbia.
Verification of Eligibility and Risk Assessment
Diplomatic or consular mission, in cooperation with the Ministry of Interior and state authorities responsible for safeguarding the security of the Republic of Serbia, shall verify information about the applicant and inviter by checking records kept in accordance with the law, determining the validity of the information provided in the documents attached to the visa application, as well as whether the purpose of travel is justified.
Personal information of the visa applicant and connected natural persons and legal entities shall be collected and processed in accordance with the regulation on records and data processing in the area of internal affairs.
Before issuing a visa, a diplomatic or consular mission shall acquire prior consent from the Ministry of Interior.
Prior consent shall be issued by the Ministry of Interior, based on assessment results of the competent authority responsible for the place of arrival of a foreigner, results of the assessment of state authority responsible for safeguarding the security of the Republic of Serbia, and other operational information available in the specific case. The deadline for providing consent shall be ten days after the day of submission of the visa application for review. The deadline may be extended to up to 25 days, if there are legitimate reasons for this.
The competent authority responsible for the place of arrival of a foreigner shall conduct an interview with the inviter and determine circumstances surrounding he foreigner’s arrival into the Republic of Serbia, perform checks in the records kept in accordance with the law and undertake other actions in accordance with the law and regulations based on the law, in order to establish the facts necessary to assess whether the visa application has merit.
Checking information and evidence provided with the visa application shall be used to determine the existence of one or more reasons to refuse issuance of the visa prescribed in Article 36 of the Law on foreigners.
In justified situations, a diplomatic or consular mission, or competent authority, may invite the applicant or inviter to provide additional information and documentation to the application.
If a visa application is being reviewed again, prior refusal of visa application may not be reason to refuse the new visa application.
Deadline for Deciding on a Visa Application
A visa application shall be decided on within 15 days after the day of submission of the application. The deadline of 15 days may be extended to up to 30 days if there are legitimate reasons for this.
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