Serbia
About
| The capital Belgrade has plenty to offer, with interesting museums and galleries, a wide range of restaurants and cafes, and some of the best nightlife in southeast Europe. In the Old Town, Kalemegdan Park and Belgrade Fortress, which overlooks the confluence of the Sava and Danube Rivers, are well worth a visit. Also of interest are the Orthodox Cathedral (Saborna Crkva) and Princess Ljubica's Konak. Away from the capital, Novi Sad is an attractive, lively city with an elegant centre and picturesque fortress overlooking the Danube. Serbia has some noted wine routes. The Palic wine route follows the trail of 'Wines from the Sands' where the wine-making tradition is over 2,000 years old. Explore Djerdap National Park which spans 64,000 hectares, where the main attraction is the Djerdap Gorge, a river valley made from four gorges. Other national parks are Sara, Fruska Gora, Kopaonik and Tara. |
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| Official Name: | Republic of Serbia |
| Capital: | Belgrade (BEG) |
| Currency: | Serbian Dinar (RSD). In Kosovo, EURO is the only official currency and Dinar’s are not accepted. |
| Language: | Serbian. Hungarian and Albanian are also spoken in some regions. |
| Dialling code from SA: | + 381 |
| Time Zones: | UTC / GMT +1 (1 hour behind South Africa) |
| Daylight Savings Time: | From last Sunday March to last Sunday October: UTC / GMT +2 (same time as South Africa) |
| Side of the Road: | Right |
| Best Time to Go: | April - October |
| Best for: | Museums and Galleries, Architecture, UNESCO World Heritage Sites |
| Plugs: | 220 volts AC, 50Hz. European plugs with two round pins are used |
| Drinking Water: | Mains water in hotels and towns is safe to drink. |
| Health: | Doctors are well trained, but public healthcare facilitates may be limited. There are adequate and well-equipped private medical facilities, however visitors are required to pay for these services. Comprehensive health insurance is recommended. If you require any medication on your travels it is best to bring it with you, in the original packaging, with a signed and dated letter from your doctor detailing exactly what it is and why you need it. |
| Customs: | Homosexuality is legal, but public displays of affection should be avoided. |
| Local Offences / Law: | Travellers should carry their passports at all times. |
| Travel Tips / Warnings: | Avoid photographing military installations, police buildings and bomb damage. Check the local political situation before finalising travel plans. |
| Duty Free: | The following items may be imported into Serbia without incurring customs duty: • 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250g of tobacco • 1L of alcohol • 1 bottle of perfume and 1 bottle of eau de toilette • Goods up to the value of €100 |
| Prohibited Imports: | Drugs, and weapons and ammunition, unless they are for hunting purposes and the hunt is organised by the Hunting Association of Serbia. |
| Prohibited Exports: | You must obtain permission from the Ministry of Culture to export items of artistic or cultural value. Hunting trophies require a shipping document or trophy certificate. |
Issuing Authorities
Embassy of the Republic of Serbia
163 Marais Street, Brooklyn 0181, Pretoria
Tel: 012 460 5626 / 6103
E-mail: info@srbembassy.org.za
Web: www.pretoria.mfa.gov.rs
Office hours: Mon-Fri 08:00-16:00
Consular: Tue & Thur 10:00-14:00
Public Holidays 2025: Jan 1-2, 7; Feb 15, 17; Apr 18-21; May 1-2; Nov 11 (Additional optional holidays may be observed)
Public Holidays 2026: Jan 1-2, 7; Feb 15-17; Apr 10-13; May 1-2; Nov 11 (Additional optional holidays may be observed)
Visa Requirements
Visas are required by South African passport holders.
If passenger is in possession of a valid Schengen, UK or USA visa, they do not require a Serbian visa for a stay of up to 90 days.
REQUIREMENTS:
Visas may be applied for online at welcometoserbia.gov.rs or in person at the embassy.
- Completed application form (online or printed copy if applying at embassy)
- Passport with 2 consecutive blank pages - must be valid for 90 days after departure date from Serbia.
- 1 photo (3.5cm x 4.5cm)
- Copy of return ticket (or reservation)
- Proof of sufficient funds for stay (± 50EUR available per day)
- Travel Insurance
- Proof of accommodation / tour itinerary, or invitation letter from Serbia certified in the local municipality. The invitation letter needs to contain the name address and contact details of the person inviting, your full name and passport number and the dates of the visit.
- Proof of intent to return to home country (eg letter of employment)
- For a business visa, an invitation letter from the company in Serbia is needed, as well as a letter from the company represented in South Africa confirming the trip
- Minors require unabridged birth certificate and parent/parents consent
No applications sent via email or fax will be accepted. The application may be submitted personally, sent via post, courier, or submitted by a third party. Incomplete applications can not be taken into consideration and will be returned to the applicants at their own expense.
Visa Processing Time
Minimum 3 weeks.
Visa Cost
Application Fee: ZAR 1804
SA Representative
Representation accredited from Sofia, Bulgaria.
Travel Health
| Compulsory: | None |
| Recommended Travel Vaccines: | Hepatitis A & B, Tick-Borne Encephalitis (Not available in SA), Tetanus, Polio |
