Serbia is the capital of Belgrade and often attracts tourists and visitors across the year. If you plan to visit Serbia for any reason, you must get accurate information regarding its visa and visiting requirements. Your visa application can be rejected if you fail to provide the proper documents. Also, it is important to have proper travel insurance to become eligible for the visa.

Are you wondering about the right ways to get a visa for Serbia? Find out all about it in this article.

Fortunately, there is an option for a visa on arrival in Serbia. However, this visa will only be valid for 30 days in this region. Indian citizens will be eligible for a visa on arrival in India if they meet the required eligibility criteria, successfully produce the required documents and possess at least RSD 5435.75 per person for each day they stay in Serbia.

When it comes to knowing all about visas, you need to know the different types of Serbian visas. You must choose the visa best suited for you based on your purpose of visit. Here are the types of visas you get in Serbia.

1. Short Stay Visa (Visa C)

As the name suggests, this visa allows foreigners to stay in Serbia for short periods through multiple entries. These are usually valid for about 90 days for a single entry within the first six months of your visa. It applies to travellers visiting Serbia for multiple purposes, including tourism, business or studies.

Under this visa category, you can apply for the following types of Serbian visas.

• Tourist Visa: This visa is mandatory for individuals visiting Serbia for tourism purposes. You do not need this visa if you do not plan to stay for 30 days. However, this visa will be mandatory if you want a more extended vacation of more than 30 days. It will be valid for a year and is a single entry visa.
• Business Visa: Again, this visa is not mandatory if you do not plan to stay for more than a month. Otherwise, you need this visa if you plan to conduct any kind of business in Serbia. It is also valid for about a year. It will allow you to attend business conferences, meetings and exhibitions.
• School Trip Visa: This type of visa is valid for 30 days. It is suitable for international students in pre-primary and post-secondary levels of Education visiting Serbia for educational purposes. In addition, it allows schools to provide extracurricular activities, helping students to gain knowledge outside classrooms and textbooks.

2. Long Stay Visa (Visa D)

As the name suggests, this type of visa enables you to stay in the Republic of Serbia for longer. With this visa, you can wait for 90-180 days in Serbia. If you entered Serbia without a visa and wish to extend your stay with this visa, you can apply for the same through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Its approval will allow you to stay in Serbia temporarily for a long time.

• Student Visa: This is a long-term visa, generally valid for about 90 days. However, it can be extended up to a year or more based on the duration of the course. Applicants must be admitted to a Serbian educational institute to get this visa. It allows you to stay, study and work in Serbia for the stipulated period.
• Family Visa: A Serbian citizen or legal resident can apply for the visa of his/her family members. It is mainly suitable for the foreign spouse of a legal resident of this area. It will be valid for 90-180 days and can be extended based on the provided documents.
• Work Visa: If you get a job in a Serbian organisation or any branch of a company located in Serbia, you will need a work visa. In addition, you need to produce employment contracts and similar documents to prove your employment.

3. Visa on Arrival

This type of visa applies if you cannot apply for a visa in advance or simply need to visit Serbia urgently. It is only valid for about 30 days. You can get this visa if you meet all the eligibility conditions and successfully produce all the documents.

Knowing the eligibility criteria will be useful if you need to know all about a Serbian visa. In addition, you should check the following conditions while applying for the visa.

• Applicants should be able to produce all the required documents and fees.
• They should be genuine travellers and have a valid purpose for their visit.
• Additionally, they must show financial stability and sufficient funds while staying in Serbia.
• They need to show intent to return to their home country.
• Applicants should have clean criminal records and be in good health conditions.

When it comes to the requirements for a Serbian visa, you need to know the documents required for the process. These are mandatory to get approval for a visa application. Therefore, make sure to keep the following documents handy while you are applying for this visa.

• Copy of a passport valid for at least six months
• Recent passport-size photographs
• Air tickets to Serbia
• Return flight details and itinerary
• Bank statements and income tax returns
• Travel insurance valid for at least three years
• Cover letter
• Invitation letters
• Hotel booking details

Indian citizens need to pay USD 59.13 (RSD 6428.32) for a Visa C and USD 29.49 (RSD 3206.01) for a Visa D. There can be an additional charge of USD 2.5 (RSD 271.79) for a visa sticker. In the case of children, the amount will be up to USD 2.5 (RSD 271.79). 

Disclaimer: The visa fees are subject to change, based on new immigration rules, the country in which you apply, the local currency and currency exchange rates.

Now, you must be wondering about the process of a Serbian visa application. Unfortunately, there is no online method of application. The following steps will help you complete the offline application through the Serbia Embassy in India.

Step 1: Download and print the application form for a Serbian visa. Start filling it out with all your essential details.

Step 2: Collect all the necessary documents for the visa you are applying for. Learn about the application fee required and keep it with the form.

Step 3: Visit the local Serbian embassy in India or Honorary consulates in India. Submit the form, documents and application fee in the consular section.

You must wait for the embassy to contact you once the visa application is approved. If you are not confident with this process, you can also contact authorised visa agents to complete it for you. However, they might charge an additional fee for the same.

It usually takes the embassy about 10-15 days to process your visa application and approve it. However, it might take a maximum of 30 days based on the details and complications in your application.

Getting travel insurance will be mandatory while applying for a Serbian visa. Maintaining a safe and convenient environment in a foreign country can be challenging. Travel insurance will help you avoid the common problems you might face here. If you are wondering about the reasons for buying travel insurance, here are some benefits it will provide.

• Travel Assistance: This area covers any problems you might face while travelling. For instance, you might lose your passport, luggage or other essential belongings. Travel insurance will provide full assistance in such cases and provide reimbursement for any loss compensation.
• Health and Accident Coverage: Medical emergencies can be a liability when visiting a foreign country. Moreover, you might face unfortunate accidental damage. Having travel insurance will help you with financial coverage.
• Stay Extension: Getting stuck in a foreign country can be expected because of flight cancellations. Travel insurance will help you out in this regard. It will compensate for cancelled flights and help get a visa extension in cases of emergencies.

Therefore, getting a visa for Serbia will be essential if you plan to visit the country and stay there for more than 30 days. As this article pointed out, finding details like documents and eligibility is necessary while applying for a visa. You need to know the kind of visa you need based on your purpose of visit and apply accordingly.