Serbia travel advice

Travel Summary

• Visitors should be aware that there have been a small number of unprovoked attacks (one fatal) against foreign citizens in Belgrade over the past two weeks, possibly connected to extremist, far right groups. The Embassy will continue to monitor the situation closely and visitors are advised to monitor this advice regularly in case there are further developments.
  
  
• There are confirmed human cases of A (H1N1) -Swine Flu in Serbia. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has raised its Pandemic Threat Alert Phase to Level 6. The WHO website at: www.who.int has further details. You should also check media reports for further developments in Serbia. There is a dedicated Swine Flu page on this website. Guidance on Pandemic Flu is available on the UK Department of Health website at http://www.dh.gov.uk.
  
  
• On 17 February 2008 the Government of Kosovo declared independence from Serbia. Serbia has rejected Kosovo's declaration of independence as illegal, but the UK Government, along with the majority of other EU Member States, has granted recognition.
  
  
• The overall security situation for travellers in Belgrade and throughout Serbia remains calm. Many Serbs feel strongly about Kosovo, and you should be wary about entering into political discussions with people you do not know well. Additionally, you are advised to avoid any political rallies or protests you may encounter, although these are not particularly widespread.
  
  
• Residual landmines and other unexploded ordnance remain in Serbia. You should take extra care, particularly when travelling in the mountainous areas brodering Kosovo. Do not stray from roads and paved areas without an experienced guide. See the Local Travle section of this advice for more details.
  
  
• The Serbian authorities will not allow you to travel into Serbia from Kosovo unless you began your journey in Serbia and are returning there directly. Following the declaration of independence by Kosovo, cr ossing of the land border between Serbia and Kosovo may be problematic or subject to demonstrations and protests. See the Entry Requirements section of this advice for more details.
  
  
• There is an underlying threat from terrorism. Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers.
  
  
• Most visits to Serbia are trouble-free. 9 British nationals required consular assistance in Serbia in the period 01 April 2008 – 31 March 2009 for the following types of incident; deaths (1 case); hospitalisations (2 cases); and arrests, for a variety of offences (4 cases). During this period assistance was also requested with regard to lost or stolen passports (27 cases).
  
  
• We recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake. See the General (Insurance) section of this advice and Travel Insurance for more details.

Safety and security

Terrorism

There is an underlying risk from terrorism. Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers. For more general information see Terrorism Abroad.

Crime

As in other parts of Europe, you should be aware of the incidence of street crime, particularly in larger cities. Be extra vigilant for pick pocketing in public places such as airports and on public transportation. As a foreigner, you may be a target for criminals who may assume you are carrying large amounts of cash. Four wheel drive and luxury vehicles are also a popular target. Isolated incidents of armed violence in major cities are a problem. These are usually linked to organised crime and are not directed against foreigners, including British nationals. All incidents of crime should be reported to the local police from whom you should obtain a report.

For more general information see Victims of Crime Abroad.

Political Situation

Serbia Country Profile

The situation in Serbia is generally stable.

The issue of Kosovo remains a potential cause for unrest. The country witnessed large public demonstrations and several violent incidents in the wake of the declaration of independence by Kosovo on 17 February 2008.

You should be aware that the issue of Kosovo's independence is a very emotive one for many Serbs and will remain so for the foreseeable future. You should avoid demonstrations and try not to be drawn into discussion about Kosovo with people you do not know well.

In Southern Serbia the security situation has much improved as a result of the political process involving the Serbian Authorities and the local Albanian minority. But events in Kosovo continue to have an impact in South Serbia and you should continue to check local developments before and during your journey.

For more information on the Political Situation in Serbia please see the FCO Country Profile for Serbia.

Local Travel

There is still some danger from residual mines and other unexploded ordnance left over from the 1999 conflict in Kosovo and in Serbia. The majority of affected areas are in the mountainous regions to the north and east of Kosovo. Special care should be taken in all these areas and you should keep to marked roads. Most of the remaining dangerous zones are in high mountainous regions covered with dense vegetation. If you see anything suspicious, DO NOT TOUCH IT, and report it immediately to the police.

Road Travel

You must have a valid international driver’s licence to drive in Serbia. If you are taking your car, you must have vehicle registration/ownership documents and a locally valid insurance policy. European green card vehicle insurance is now valid in Serbia. If you do not have a green card valid for Serbia - denoted by SRB - you will be charged a border insurance fee, the price of which depends on your vehicle. You are advised to confirm that your insurance company recognises that your policy covers Serbia. You are required by law to wear a seatbelt. You are advised to drive defensively and to avoid confrontation with other drivers.

You should be aware that many Serbian car hire firms will not allow their vehicles to be driven in Kosovo, Albania or Bulgaria due to concerns about the security situation. There have been some incidents where Serbian registered cars have been targeted in more isolated areas of Kosovo.

The general standard of roads is fair to poor with conditions worsening in rural areas, especially in and after bad weather. One particularly notorious road is the Ibarska Magistrala (linking Belgrade, via Čačak and Užice, to Montenegro). Bad conditions and overcrowding can make it dangerous.

Roadworks on the main highways across Serbia (from the Croatian and Hungarian border to Bulgaria and Macedonia) may cause delays.

There are several toll booths along motorways. Toll charges vary from 20 - 200 Euros depending on the size of your vehicle. Foreign registered vehicles are charged a higher toll than those registered locally. You are advised to have sufficient cash (Dinars preferred, although Euros are accepted) to pay these toll charges.

You should also be aware that some parts of the motorway between Novi Sad and Belgrade have two-lanes with a hard shoulder on only one side. Some drivers use the ‘middle’ lane to overtake, thus forcing the ongoing traffic onto the hard shoulder. We advise you to take additional care when driving on these stretches.

Public transport is outdated and overcrowded although there have been improvements in the major cities. When using taxis, it is possible to negotiate fares where a meter is not in use. You should only use taxis that are officially registered (look out for a municipal registratioin number in addition to the cab number). For further information on using public transport and general driving conditions visit the website of the Belgrade Tourism Organisation

For more general information see Driving Abroad.

Rail Travel

Trains can be slow, particularly in winter when there are often long delays. On overnight trains, sleeping berths can be locked. Each carriage has an attendant on watch for the journey.

Air Travel

Belgrade airport has a single modern terminal handling all international arrivals and departures. For more information on what can be taken on board see Airline Security.

Local laws and customs

Drugs laws are similar to those in the UK. Possession or trafficking of drugs will be met with strict penalties and usually a lengthy prison sentence.

There are no laws against homosexual activity and same-sex couples are tolerated, but the nature of society makes public displays of affection inadvisable.

Please note that taking photographs of military and police installations and/or personnel or vehicles anywhere in Serbia may lead to difficulties with the authorities.

For more general information for different types of travellers see Travel Advice Relevant to You.

Entry requirements

Visas

Visit Visas are not required for entry to Serbia for British passport holders for stays of up to 90 days. For further information on entry and exit requirements and exactly what will be required at immigration, please contact the Serbian Embassy in London.

On entering Serbia, make sure you get an entry stamp in your passport from the border police. Temporary residents (in the country for more than 90 days) should have exit-entry visas as well as residence stamps in their passports. If you try to leave Serbia without an entry stamp or exit-entry visa you may face charges of illegal immigration, a heavy fine and possible imprisonment.

You should only enter Serbia through recognised border crossings. The Serbian government does not recognise entry points from Kosovo or those on Kosovo's external borders with Albania, Macedonia or Montenegro. You should not attempt to enter Serbia from Kosovo, unless you initially travelled into Kosovo via Serbia. For more information please visit the website of the Serbian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

UNMIK exit/entry stamps were replaced by Republic of Kosovo stamps on 27 June 2008. These stamps are not recognised by the Serbian government and will be cancelled on entry into Serbia and replaced with a Serbian border stamp. This official decision was taken by the Serbian government on 17 July 2008.

Passport validity

Before you travel, you should ensure that your passport is undamaged and valid for at least the duration of your stay in Serbia (but preferably for six months beyond your length of stay). The British Embassy in Belgrade only issues emergency passports. For information on standard passports please visit British Embassy website.

Registration

It is essential that you register with the local police in the town/city where you are staying within 24 hours of your arrival in Serbia, unless you are staying in a hotel where you will be registered automatically on checking-in. If you do not register you may be fined, detained or face a court appearance. You are also advised to register online with, or make your presence known to, the British Embassy in Belgrade and/or with the Honorary Consul in Nis as appropriate. Contact details are below.

Travelling with children

Single parents or other adults travelling alone with children should be aware that some countries require documentary evidence of parental responsibility before allowing lone parents to enter the country or, in some cases, before permitting children to leave.

Customs declarations

You will be required to declare money (including travellers’ cheques) in excess of €10,000 (or equivalent in other currencies) that you bring into Serbia. Customs Officers hold declaration forms and will require a receipt of purchase for Dinars bought from a foreign bank. On departure, you will need to return a certified copy of this declaration to customs so that money (up to the amount brought in but not exceeding €10,000 in value) can be taken out again. If you fail to comply with these rules, your money may be confiscated.

In order to avoid customs charges, you will be required to declare items of value (eg. jewellery, photographic and computing equipment) that you are temporarily importing into Serbia. These items should be intended for your own personal use and you must take them with you on leaving the country. For more information on declaration of money and the importation of goods please visit the Serbian Ministry for Foreign Affairs.

Health

There is a reciprocal healthcare agreement for British nationals, which entitles you to free treatment in Serbia for genuine emergencies. However, the health system in all parts of Serbia is suffering from widespread shortage of medicines and other essentials. Payment in cash is normally required for treatment and you are advised to take out comprehensive travel insurance to cover medical evacuation.

Rabies is common in Serbia, largely in parks and the outskirts of major cities, including in areas that have been rabies free for decades.

On 2 November 2007 Serbia's Health Ministry declared an outbreak of hepatitis A (food and waterborne hepatitis) in South Serbia. You should take necessary food and water hygiene precautions including boiling water before drinking, or using bottled water.

In the 2008 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic the UNAIDS/WHO Working Group estimated that around 6,400 adults aged 15 or over in Serbia were living with HIV; the prevalence rate was estimated at around 0.1% of the adult population. This compares to the prevalence rate in adults in the UK of around 0.2%. You should exercise normal precautions to avoid exposure to HIV/AIDS. For more general information on how to do this see HIV and AIDS.

You should seek medical advice before travelling to Serbia and ensure that all appropriate vaccinations are up-to-date. For further information on vaccination requirements, health outbreaks and general disease protection and prevention you should visit the websites of the NaTHNaC and NHS Scotland’s Fit for Travel or call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.

For general medical information in-country, visit the website of the Belgrade Tourism Organisation.

For more general health information see Travel Health

A (H1N1) (Swine Flu)

There are confirmed human cases of A (H1N1) -Swine Flu in Serbia. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has raised its Pandemic Threat Alert Phase to Level 6. The WHO website at: www.who.int has further details. You should also check media reports for further developments in Serbia. There is a dedicated Swine Flu page on this website. Guidance on Pandemic Flu is available on the UK Department of Health website at http://www.dh.gov.uk.

Avian Influenza (Bird Flu)

The Serbian Ministry of Agriculture confirmed on 9 March 2006 that the H5N1 form of avian influenza (bird flu) was found in a dead swan in the Veliki Backi canal near Sombor in north eastern Serbia. The Serbian authorities have declared a 10-kilometre infected zone and took measures to prevent any spread, including isolating domestic poultry and disinfecting access roads and paths. No human infections or deaths have been reported.

The risk to humans from avian influenza is believed to be very low. As a precaution you should avoid visiting live animal markets, poultry farms and other places where you may come into close contact with domestic, caged or wild birds; and ensure poultry and egg dishes are thoroughly cooked.

You should read this advice in conjunction with Avian and Pandemic Influenza, which gives more detailed advice and information.

Natural disasters

During especially hot and dry periods there is a danger of forest fires. Please take care when visiting or driving through woodland areas; ensure that cigarette ends are properly extinguished, and do not light barbecues.

Serbia lies in a seismically active zone, and earth tremors are common. Serious earthquakes are less frequent but do occur.

General

Insurance

We recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for the activities you want to undertake. For more general information see Travel Insurance.

If things do go wrong when you are oversees then this is How We Can Help.

Registration

When you arrive in Serbia you are advised to register with, or make your presence known to the British Embassy in Belgrade. You may register with our on-line registration system called LOCATE to tell us when and where you are travelling abroad or where you live abroad so our consular and crisis staff can provide better assistance to you in an emergency. More information about registering with LOCATE can be found here.

Passport

You should carry your passport at all times. We therefore advise that you keep a photocopy of your passport in a safe place. This will help you to obtain a replacement, in case your passport is lost or stolen.

The loss or theft of a British passport should be reported immediately to the local police and the British Embassy in Belgrade, or Honorary Consular Agent in Nis, as appropriate. The Honorary Consular Agent in Nis cannot issue new passports but can assist with the arrangements to apply for a new passport via Belgrade.

For further information on passports, please visit the Identity and Passport Service website.

If you lose your passport, exit visas are required in your replacement travel documents as your original entry stamp will have been lost with your passport. It is sometimes possible to obtain these from the local Police, but you can also receive one at the Foreigners’ Police Department of the Serbian Interior Ministry in Belgrade.

If your passport is lost or stolen the British Embassy in Belgrade can issue you an Emergency Passport or a Temporary Passport only. Applications for new standard passports are accepted at the British Passport Processing Centre in Northern Europe, at the British Consulate-General in Dusseldorf. For full details on applying please visit website www.ukingermany.fco.gov.uk.

Money

The official currency of Serbia is the Dinar. Credit cards and travellers’ cheques are now accepted in many of the larger hotels and shops, and ATMs increasingly also accept international bank cards. There are many money exchange machines in Belgrade (including at Belgrade Airport) that accept Sterling, US Dollars and Euros and will give back Dinars.

Please be aware that British banks do not generally exchange Dinars. You are advised to exchange any unwanted Dinars before you leave Serbia. You should only change money through banks or official exchange offices and not through street dealers. The British Embassy in Belgrade cannot exchange currency. You will be unable to exchange Scottish and Northern Irish bank notes in Serbia.

Consular Services

A full consular service is available in Belgrade at the British Embassy. Emergency consular services (passport and notarial services are not provided) are also available from the Honorary Consular Agent in Nis.

Contact Details

British Embassy Belgrade

Address:
British Embassy
Resavska 46
11000 Belgrade

Website: http://ukinserbia.fco.gov.uk

Telephone:
(381) (11) 2645 055
(381) (11) 3615 660
(381) (11) 3060 900

Facsimile:
(381) (11) 2659 651
(381) (11) 3061 089 Chancery
(381) (11) 3061 072 Consular/Visa
(381) (11) 3061 059 Commercial
(381) (11) 3061 077 Information

Email:
mailto:belgrade.man@fco.gov.uk General Enquiries
mailto:belgrade.com@fco.gov.uk Commercial Enquiries
mailto:belgrade.ppd@fco.gov.uk Information Enquiries
mailto:belgrade.visa@fco.gov.uk Visa Enquiries
mailto:belgrade.consular@fco.gov.uk Consular Enquiries

Office Hours:
GMT:
Mon-Thurs: 0700-1530
Fri: 0700-1200

strong>Local Time: Mon-Thurs: 0800-1630
Fri: 0800-1300

Honorary Consular Agent in Nis

Telephone:
(381) 18 221 469
(381) 63 408 224