How long you can stay visa-free
For Russian citizens, visa-free entry to Serbia gives 30 days per trip. Ukrainian citizens have different terms — 90 days in 180, as do EU countries. An important detail many learn too late: since 2026 Serbia, aligning its visa policy with European norms, has begun applying the 90-days-in-180 rule to longer visa-free stays as well, so the routine of regular exits is no longer considered reliable.
What may be asked at the border
The passport must be valid for at least 90 days at the time of return. On request, a border officer may ask for return tickets, an address of stay — a hotel booking or an invitation, medical insurance and proof of financial means, a guide figure being about 50 euros per person per day. That does not mean you will always be asked, but it is better to keep the documents to hand.
The white card — within the first 24 hours
Address registration is mandatory and is done within 24 hours of arrival. A hotel registers the guest itself, and so does the owner of a flat or apartment. Since 2025–2026 Serbia has moved to an electronic registration system, and the confirmation arrives as a file: keeping it on your phone is enough. On exit the registration is sometimes checked at the border, especially at land crossings into Bosnia and Herzegovina used for short trips. So it is worth keeping the confirmation in your messages.
Customs rules worth knowing
Cash may be brought in in any amount, but sums above 10,000 euros must be declared — this is free, and the certificate is useful on exit. Tobacco and alcohol are limited: 50 cigarettes, a litre of spirits and two litres of wine per person over 17, and allowances cannot be pooled for a family — each person must stay within the limit. Products of animal origin — up to one kilogram. Medicines without a prescription — a 15-day supply; if the medicine is prescription-only or contains psychotropic substances, a stamped prescription is required. A drone without defence ministry permission is best left behind, and chewing tobacco is banned from entry into Serbia.
Where you cannot enter from
Entering from Kosovo, if you arrived there not via Serbia, counts as an illegal border crossing. Keep that in mind if you plan a car trip around the Balkans.
What to do step by step
Check your passport's validity — at least 90 days with a margin for the return. Prepare accommodation booking and return tickets, insurance and proof of funds. Find out in advance who will register you at the address and obtain the registration confirmation within the first 24 hours. Do not forget the limits if you carry tobacco, alcohol or money. And keep the main point in mind: 30 days per entry is not permission to live in the country permanently — that requires residence.
Data checked on 11 October 2026: visa-free stay terms, document requirements and customs limits per the rules in force and border practice; before travelling it is worth checking them against official Serbian MFA information.