Serbia may end visa-free travel for Russians to advance EU membership bid

Serbia, still one of the few European nations where Russians can enter without a visa, is reportedly set to join the Schengen Area, a change that would necessitate Russian citizens obtaining visas, according to the Moscow Times on August 11. Serbian European Integration Minister Nemanja Starović revealed that Belgrade aims to be fully prepared for Schengen Area membership by the end of 2027.

He disclosed that a dedicated working group, led by the Interior Ministry, has been formed and a plan for the required reforms has been approved. While Serbia envisions joining the Schengen Area without first becoming a full member of the European Union, Starović noted that EU membership is unlikely before the end of the decade.

Dragan Stanojević, chair of Serbia's Committee on the Diaspora and Serbs in the Region, further confirmed that discussions regarding changes to the visa policy for Russians are underway as part of Serbia's efforts to satisfy EU requirements. Russians have been visa-free visitors in Serbia since they can stay up to 30 days without a visa.

Serbia has been pursuing EU membership since 2014. Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić announced in April 2026 that Serbia intends to meet the necessary criteria by the year-end to advance its integration into Europe, including in migration and visa policies. In October 2025, Vučić reiterated EU membership as a top foreign policy priority for Serbia, dismissing earlier reports that Serbia might end visa-free travel for Russians.

However, these statements contradicted Vučić's June remarks, when he stated that the issue had not been considered in Serbia.