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to Serbia
Hospitable Serbia has many advantages - ski resorts, world-class medicine, European service, affordable prices. Not least on this list is the simplified visa regime, which relieves holders of Russian foreign passports from unnecessary formalities at the border.
Do Russians need a visa to Serbia?
Russian citizens entering Serbia for tourism purposes, for recreation and treatment, or to meet relatives do not require a visa. The period of stay for visa-free entry is no more than 30 days. It can be extended using a simple “visa-run” procedure - leave the country for at least a few hours and return back, after which the countdown of a new 30 days will begin.
Holders of foreign passports with valid Schengen, US and UK visas also have the right to visa-free entry into Serbia. At the same time, the period of stay in the country is limited to 90 days within six months.
Registration deadlines
It is impossible to predict the duration of consideration of the application: it can take from 5 to 30 days. It is advisable to check the deadlines in advance with the embassy.
Please note that the visa is issued to the tourist personally. You can also apply for a permit online.
Kalemegdan fortress in Belgrade. This is the most important historical monument in Belgrade. The fortress was restored by the Byzantine emperor Justinian the Great and remained a Byzantine citadel until the 11th century, then passed into the hands of Hungary, after which it was donated to the Serbs.
Documents for visa-free entry
For visa-free entry into Serbia, the following documents are required:
- a foreign passport with a validity period of at least three months at the end of the trip;
- return ticket;
- hotel reservation or rental agreement for the entire duration of the trip;
- bank/card account statement, traveler's checks or cash at the rate of 50 EUR per day for the entire duration of the trip. Prices on the page are for December 2021;
- health insurance policy.
As a rule, when entering Serbia, you only need to present a passport, but the border guard may inquire about the availability of other documents.
Additional condition for visa-free stay
Those entering the country without a visa must register at the nearest police station within 24 hours. This service is usually provided by the administration of hotels, resorts and boarding houses for their guests. In case of renting private housing or staying with relatives/friends, a personal visit is required.
Failure to register will result in a fine of RSD 6,000 for each day of stay in Serbia.
Possible difficulties in obtaining a visa
If everything is done correctly, then no problems with the organs will arise. Entry can be prohibited only in case of violation of the country's migration laws. Considering that Serbia is very loyal in this regard and rarely issues refusals, an appeal procedure is not provided. Therefore, you should be very careful when submitting documents.
Mount Zlatibor, Uvak River Gorge. A non-navigable tributary of the Lima River, the Uvac, flows through southwestern Serbia. The most beautiful place on it is considered to be the canyon that formed between the mountains Zlatibor and Zlator. The unique gorge is located on the territory of the reserve. Griffon vultures, which until recently were considered extinct, can still be seen here.
Applying for a visa yourself
To obtain a visa, you should contact the consular departments of the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in Russia, located in Moscow and St. Petersburg. Documents are accepted in the morning on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. No pre-registration required. For applying for a visa, each applicant who has his own passport is charged a consular fee, regardless of age (for children included in the parents’ document, there is no need to pay a fee).
Unlike many other countries, there are no visa centers in Russia that act as intermediaries between the applicant and the Serbian consulates, as well as providing consulting and courier services. The visa application is accepted by the consulate no earlier than 3 months before the trip.
To obtain a visa to Serbia, you do not need to submit fingerprints.
Who needs a visa?
If you expect to stay in Belgrade for more than one month, or are heading to study or work in Serbia, you should first of all contact the consular section of the Serbian Embassy.
Embassy of Serbia in Moscow.
In your case, you need a visa. This rule has remained unchanged at the beginning of 2021.
Documents for a visa to Serbia
To obtain a visa at the Consulate the following is provided:
- The form
must be completed in Serbian, English or Russian. The form can be downloaded at the office. website of the Embassy of Serbia; - Photograph
Two photographs (see photo requirements below); - International passport
with two blank pages, valid for 3 months after the end of the trip; - Photocopy of the general passport
Copies of all completed pages; - Insurance policy
Medical insurance with a minimum coverage of 20,000 EUR, which can be filled out online; - A copy of a
round-trip air ticket or confirmation of air ticket reservation; - Confirmation of financial solvency
Bank/card account statement or traveler's checks at the rate of 50 EUR per day per person for the entire period of stay in Serbia; - Certificate of employment
indicating the position, salary and guarantee of job retention; for students - a certificate from the educational institution; for pensioners - pension certificate - Confirmation of accommodation
Hotel reservation or rental agreement, invitation from relatives or friends.
.
Depending on the purpose of the trip, the following documents are additionally required:
- confirmation of family ties with a Serbian citizen;
- employment contract when working for hire;
- certificate from the university for students studying in Serbia;
- business permit for entrepreneurs.
Operating procedures of the Hungarian Embassy
Visitors are accepted from 8.30 to 13.00. Day off is Friday. Experienced tourists who have received a visa more than once are advised to make an appointment in advance. If time is limited and you can’t get through to the institution, then it is better to arrive at the beginning of the week, since on Wednesdays and Thursdays the embassy is occupied by Gazprom employees.
Documents are issued after two o'clock in the afternoon, on a coupon with the specified date and time. The visa fee for Russians is 35 euros, it is paid at OTP Bank. The branch is located at Bulevar kralja Aleksandra 101. It is not very far from the embassy, it takes about 15 minutes to walk to it.
To reduce the number of requests to the embassy, the citizen immediately indicates the required number of departures from the country. For example: “Expect to visit Hungary 5 times over the next 30 days.” This will not surprise anyone, since in Serbia it is normal to travel frequently to neighboring countries.
Serbia is a wonderful country with affordable holidays, including affordable ticket prices, low room rates and delicious food. To visit ski resorts and explore ancient castles located on the territory of the state, Russians in 2021 may not need a visa.
Traveling with children
To travel to Serbia, a child must be included in the passport of one of the parents or have their own (required for children over 14 years old). If only one of the parents is traveling with him, he must provide notarized consent for the trip from the second, even if the parents are divorced.
The consent of the second parent to take the child abroad is not necessary if:
- the second parent is no longer alive (a death certificate must be presented);
- he is deprived of parental rights (court decision);
- missing or officially wanted (confirmation from the police).
- the child is raised by only one parent (certificate form 25).
If the parent and child have different last names, an additional document confirming the relationship will be required. A minor entering Serbia accompanied by a third party must have a foreign passport and notarized consent of both parents indicating the passport details of the person responsible for the child.
Conditions for visa-free entry to Belgrade for Russians
Visa-free entry to Serbia is permissible for Russians if the purpose of the trip is tourist, business or guest, and the duration of stay in the country does not exceed 30 days.
To visit Belgrade, it is enough to present a current passport, the validity of which will expire at least 3 months after the Russian returns home.
To confirm the purpose of a tourist’s visit to Belgrade, passport control officers may ask to see a return ticket, insurance, hotel reservation, bank statement indicating sufficient funds (traditionally, it is assumed that a tourist needs 50 € per day) or other papers. If the Russian does not arouse suspicion, then these documents are usually not asked.
Visa-free countries also include Ukraine, Belarus and Kazakhstan. Citizens of these countries also visit Belgrade without entry permits.
Church of St. Mark on Tashmaidan.
Located in the center of the Serbian capital. Built before the Second World War in 1931-1940. The Church of St. Mark houses one of the largest collections of icons from the 13th to 19th centuries in Serbia. After arriving in the country, the traveler contacts the police department within 3 days to register at the place of stay and submit the appropriate notification. If a foreigner stays at a hotel, inn, boarding house or other commercial establishments, the organization’s employees register for him at the place of stay. If a person is staying with friends or renting an apartment, in order to receive a White Card he will have to invite the police department and the owner of the property.
The visa-free regime does not apply to Russians who plan to travel to the autonomous territory of Kosovo, despite the fact that legally it is still the territory of Serbia. To visit Kosovo, a separate entry document must be pre-issued.
Required documents
Documents for work, student and long-term travel are submitted to the Consular Section of the Serbian Embassy in Russia.
List of required papers:
- copy of international passport;
- a copy of a general passport;
- 2 photos measuring 3.5*4.5 cm (we recommend that you familiarize yourself with the photo requirements additionally);
- a questionnaire filled out by hand or on a computer, which is then printed and submitted on paper;
- copies of tickets or ticket reservations;
- a copy of insurance with a coverage value of at least 20,000 €;
- bank certificate confirming the availability of sufficient funds (to calculate the total amount, the length of stay is multiplied by 50 € per person);
- a copy of the child's birth certificate;
- a notarized power of attorney to take a child abroad from one or both parents;
- receipt of payment of the consular fee;
- a copy of the hotel reservation or residential rental agreement;
- an invitation from an employer to apply for a work visa;
- invitation from relatives or friends for a guest visa. The document is prepared by the inviting Serbian side and previously certified by the Immigration Department of the Serbian Ministry of Internal Affairs;
- copy of the Green Card for drivers.
When submitting an application and documents, the Consulate employee will check the original documents with copies, return the original papers to the owner, and keep their duplicates for further consideration.
Russian tourists do not require a visa to visit the country for up to 30 days. If the trip is for the purpose of working or studying, a visa is required regardless of the length of stay.
