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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Visa free travel only for holders of biometric passports

Belgrade, 18 December 2009

First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior Ivica Dacic said today that the removal of visa restrictions, which will be valid from midnight tonight, will only apply to those who hold biometric passports.

Author: Infobiro.tv

Speaking at press conference, Dacic said that the usual border control regulations are in place, reiterating that the EU decision to remove visa restrictions was the result of hard work to meet all criteria set forth in the roadmap for visa liberalisation, which was given to Serbia on July 7 last year.

The criteria concerned document security, illegal immigration and readmission, public order and security, the fight against organised crime, terrorism and corruption, foreign relations and fundamental human rights, explained Dacic, adding that the removal of visa restrictions has not been presented as a gift, rather it was earned through intensive work.

He said that visa free travel for short stays of up to 90 days is possible, but suitable visas are still required for longer stays, work or residence.

He said that visa free travel in 28 Schengen area countries will not be possible for those citizens who live in Kosovo-Metohija and who received their documents from the Coordinating Administration of the Interior Ministry. He said that Internally Displaced Persons whose documents state their place of residence as Kosovo-Metohija may travel to the EU without visas if they were issued passports by the local police. He said that despite the removal of visa restrictions, normal EU border checks will be in place.

Dacic said that citizens travelling for tourism could be asked to produce evidence of hotel reservations, a return air ticket and evidence of adequate funds. Those visiting friends or family will not have to produce a letter of guarantee but should be able to state the address of the person they are visiting, stressing that these are normal border checks, also implemented by the Serbian border police. The Interior Ministry has prepared booklets giving precise information and advice, which it would be useful to consult prior to travelling, said Dacic, adding that citizens can find these booklets in tomorrow’s newspapers and soon they will be available at airports and border crossings. He added that over the next few days the government will decide a date to apply for candidate status, stressing that the Interior Ministry will continue to implement reforms and to introduce European standards to help accelerate the EU accession process. Dacic said that nearly one and a half million biometric passports and the same number of new identity cards will have been issued by the end of this year. Head of the European Commission Delegation to Serbia Vincent Degert said that the removal of visa restrictions is extremely important for Serbian citizens as they have waited for this for nearly two decades. The decision to enforce visa liberalisation from December 19 and not from January next year will enable many people to spend the winter holidays with their friends and family living in EU countries, said Degert.

He stressed that the removal of visa restrictions is also an opportunity for European and Serbian citizens to establish better contacts, adding that he hopes that after midnight the statistics that say that 70% of young Serbian people have not travelled to the EU will change.