Serbia Travel Information

The Serbian border is from March 20, at. 08:00 closed for entry for all traffic except goods transport. For information on entry and coronavirus, see the section Health. According to Abbreviationfinder, SRB stands for Serbia in geography.

Safety

Most trips to Serbia are made without any special problems. Hospitality in both Serbia and the capital of Belgrade is more visible than the problems. Normal tourist precautions are usually sufficient for travelers in Serbia. Norway is represented by an embassy in Belgrade.

The risk of terrorist incidents in Serbia is considered low. Crime in Belgrade is low compared to other European major cities. Handbags, pickpockets and home burglaries occur. Tourists are not targets of violence, but killings and violence in connection with organized crime have occurred in tourist areas. Although the Government of Serbia has initiated measures to reduce corruption in the country, Norwegians in the country should still be aware that this is still a significant problem.

The number of traffic accidents in Serbia is somewhat higher than in most European countries. Roads in Serbia are not always of a good standard, especially in rural areas and in southern Serbia.

Demonstrations are taking place in Belgrade and in other major cities. Usually, these LGBT rights, Kosovo, deal with cuts in the public sector or political resistance. Most demonstrations are conducted without violence, although this has happened. Scheduled Pride parades in recent years have been canceled due to participants’ safety. The parade in 2014 was held with major security forces in place. Tourists are generally advised to avoid large crowds and demonstrations.

Parts of Serbia were hit by floods in May 2014 as a result of heavy rainfall. During certain periods, extreme rainfall may occur where travel to outskirts of Serbia should be avoided. There is no particular danger of being in Serbia during extreme rainfall.

  • Countryaah: Belgrade is the capital of Serbia. Check to find information of population, geography, history, and economy about the capital city.

Norwegian citizens staying for a shorter or longer period in Serbia are encouraged to register at reiseregistrering.no/. Norwegian citizens are encouraged to have valid travel insurance. In times of crisis and emergency, travelers can contact the Norwegian Embassy in Belgrade, which is open Monday to Friday from 9am to 3pm.

Embassy of Norway in Belgrade
Sava Business Center
6th floor.
Milentija Popovica 5 and
11070 Novi Belgrade
Tel: +381 (0) 11 3208 000
E-mail: emb.belgrade@mfa.no

Outside the opening hours of the embassy, ​​travelers can contact the Foreign Ministry’s 24-hour operating center on tel: +47 23 95 00 00 or e-mail: UDops@mfa.no

Major Landmarks in Serbia

Entry

Please note that entry regulations may change. The Foreign Service is not responsible if the following information on entry regulations or visa requirements is changed at short notice. It is the responsibility of the traveler to ensure that travel documents are valid for entry and to familiarize themselves with the current entry rules for each country.

Norwegian citizens do not need a visa for visits or tourism in Serbia for stays up to three months. For private accommodation, you must register with the local police within 24 hours to get a so-called “white paper”. Without this, travelers will experience difficulties in traveling.

The passport must be valid for at least three months from the time you arrive in Serbia. For residence in Serbia beyond three months, you must apply for a temporary residence permit. For the latest updated information on entry rules, travelers are encouraged to check with the Serbian Embassy in Oslo. Although Norwegian citizens do not need a visa when traveling to Serbia, the passport is the only approved identification document.

Everyone with a foreign passport is required to have a visa in Serbia. A visa must be applied for in advance. The case processing time is stated to be at least 14 days. Questions about foreign passport visas and the application process itself can be directed to the Serbian Embassy in Norway.

One cannot enter Serbia from Kosovo unless one also traveled into Kosovo from Serbia. If you enter Serbia from places other than Kosovo and have a Kosovo stamp in your passport, the Border Police in Serbia will normally stamp over the Kosovo stamp and replace it with Serbia. After this, one can normally enter Serbia. This rule is not always practiced. You may be asked to get a Kosovo stamp on your own sheet upon entry into Kosovo.

If you drive a Serbian registered car into Kosovo, upon entry you will usually be required to purchase additional insurance for the car at the border, since Serbian car insurance does not apply in Kosovo.

There have been cases where Norwegian citizens of Kosovar origin have problems at the border, as Serbia does not recognize Kosovo as a state. For further information on border crossings between Kosovo, Serbia, Northern Macedonia, Albania or Montenegro, it is recommended to contact Serbian border authorities.

Upon entry, travelers will be asked to provide if you bring more than 10,000 euros (including travelers checks – or equivalent in another currency) into Serbia. This declaration is required upon departure.

Health

Coronavirus (covid-19): Norwegian travelers should keep abreast of the development of the coronavirus. Feel free to follow local authorities’ advice, guidance and instructions on how to deal with the situation. On March 6, the first case of covid-19 within Serbian borders was confirmed. The Serbian authorities update their information on the Coronavirus health website .

The Serbian border is from March 20, at. 08:00 closed for entry for all traffic except goods transport.

State borders are closed to all foreign nationals, except those who have residence or residence permits, including accredited diplomats and their families. The quarantine provisions at entry apply respectively. 14 or 28 days, depending on the risk country they return from.

Belgrade Airport is closed for commercial flights from March 19 (12:00 noon). The airport will still be open for humanitarian and cargo flights, with special permission from the government.

Niš airport is closed from 18 March.

By the way, a curfew has been introduced in Serbia with effect from Wednesday, March 18, and is valid from noon. 8 p.m. 05. For persons over 65, leaving the home from the same date is strictly prohibited. In the countryside, the age limit has been extended to 70 years.

You can find more information and guidance from the Norwegian health authorities on the website of the Norwegian Institute of Public Health. See also UD’s answers to frequently asked questions about travel and coronavirus.

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There are no particular health problems associated with traveling to Serbia. However, the standard of public health care is significantly lower than in Norway. The possibilities for medical assistance are good, but the hospitals have limited access to medicines and the sanitary conditions can be worse than in Norway.

Travelers should be aware of the increasing prevalence of the West Nile virus in Serbia. The virus has been increasingly detected over the last couple of years, with the emphasis in Belgrade. The virus occurs in the summer and is transmitted by mosquitoes. Strengthened protection against mosquito bites is recommended.

Rabies occur in Serbia and are infected by foxes, dogs, bats and other mammals. Belgrade is still struggling with many loose dogs, but the problem has decreased considerably in recent years and since 1980 no cases of rabies have been reported.

In 2018, there was a relatively large outbreak of measles. More than 94 percent of these cases were in non-vaccinated individuals. It is thus strongly recommended to be vaccinated against this before arrival in Serbia.

In 2018, a few cases of cholera were also reported in poorer, rural areas.

You can obtain several medicines and other necessary articles at one of the many pharmacies. Many private clinics have good deals, and the prices of treatment can be compared to the prices in Norway.

Tap water can be drunk, but bottled water is recommended.

For relevant vaccines and official health travel advice for Norwegians traveling to Serbia, it is recommended to familiarize yourself with the recommendations from the Institute of Public Health’s website.

Practical information

According to allcitycodes, the area code for calls from Norway to Serbia is +381. The telephone network is stable, especially in Belgrade and other large and medium-sized cities. There is no time difference between Norway and Serbia. Current: 220 volts. Mobile coverage is very good across the country with 3G and 4G in big cities.

The Internet domain is:.rs

Currency – Serbian Dinar RSD (as of 13.05.2019):
RSD 100 = 8.32 NOK
1 NOK = 12.01 RSD
100 RSD = EUR 0.84 EUR
1 = RSD 117.9

ATMs are well-developed and easily accessible in most major cities. Credit cards can be used in shops, restaurants, cafes and hotels. Please note that the offer may be limited in some smaller locations.

The food stores in Serbia have been open longer than in Norway. Some grocery stores are open 24 hours a day. Other stores are open Monday to Saturday approx. 10: 00-19: 00. Banks are usually open Monday to Friday approx. 08: 00-17: 00. Opening hours may vary in different parts of the country.

National Holidays 2019: 1-2. January – New Year, January 7 – Orthodox Christmas Day, 15, 16. and February 17 – National Day, April 29 – Orthodox Easter, May 1, Workers’ Day, May 30 – Christ’s Ascension Day, June 20 – Pentecost, November 11 – Reconciliation Day.

Serbian is the official language of the country. Travelers can also understand Serbian in the other former Yugoslav countries, where what was then called Serbo-Croatian was a common language. The written language uses the Cyrillic alphabet and may vary from the other Balkan countries. In practice, one also uses the Latin alphabet. Signs and information are mostly in Cyrillic, Latin and English. As a traveler, you do well with English.

In Belgrade, the public transport system is crowded and can be irregular at times. Tickets can be purchased at Belgrade’s many kiosks. Taxi services in Belgrade and in other cities are good and reasonable. Taxis at the airport and the train station may be overpriced, but at the airport you can book a taxi from an information desk in the Arrivals Hall. Then you will get a receipt with the correct price for the trip in question. There are daily bus and train departures to Bosnia, Croatia, Montenegro, Hungary and Northern Macedonia. For more information see

  • Serbia Railway- or
  • Serbian bus routes

Tips on restaurants, cafes, hotels and taxis are expected. Foreigners must be able to identify themselves on request. A passport or any copy of the passport should be included.

Emergency number: Police + 192, ambulance + 194, fire + 193 The
Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ 24-hour operating center can also be reached on tel: +47 23 95 00 00 or e-mail: UDops@mfa.no