Visas from Serbia: comparison of all countries

Comparison of visas by country from Serbia: how and where to apply, visa processing times, and approval/rejection statistics based on community members' experience. The table can be filtered by Schengen and sorted by approval percentage.

Clicking a row opens a detailed article for the country (documents, nuances, exact submission address with route). Statistics are collected from community members' experience and updated.

## Community experience: what you need to know

### General changes in visa procedures (2026)
- Many countries have tightened requirements for Russian citizens. Processing times can reach 45 days (Germany) and up to a month (Spain).
- Biometric passports are mandatory in several countries (Germany, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania). Passports without biometrics older than 5 years are not accepted.

### Electronic visas (eVisa)
- The United Kingdom has fully moved to an online system: after a positive decision a UKVI Account is created, and the passport chip is scanned through the *UK Immigration: ID Check* app.
- Other countries are also introducing eVisas, but the details vary.

### Schengen visas - general rules
- The basic document package is the same for all countries: passport with Serbian residence permit (minimum 3 months after the trip), photo 3.5 × 4.5 cm, insurance ≥ 30 000 EUR, proof of accommodation, transport documents, financial guarantees.
- The 90/180-day rule applies to all Schengen visas.
- When entering the Schengen area with a visa from another country, border officers may ask questions - it is advisable to have an explanation for any change of plans.

### Common mistakes
1. Choosing a country without considering the actual length of stay.
2. Insufficient financial guarantees, especially when sponsoring.
3. Late submission of documents, not taking the new processing times into account.
4. Incomplete package (especially for Germany).
5. "Visa shopping" - obtaining a visa in one country for a trip to another without supporting documents.
6. Ignoring the 90/180-day rule.
7. Creating the eVisa account late (for the United Kingdom - after approval).

### Financial issues
- A sponsorship letter can cover the whole family; minimum €50 per day per person.
- For sole proprietors (ИП) you need decisions from APR, invoices for the last 3 months, and a bank statement.
- Employees need a certificate from the employer and a statement from the PIO fund.

### Current contacts and resources
- VFS Global Serbia: https://visa.vfsglobal.com/srb
- Visametric: https://visametric.com/Serbia
- Germany: https://belgrad.diplo.de
- United Kingdom: https://gov.uk/evisa
- Bulgaria: https://mfa.bg

### Processing times (as of 2026)
- Bulgaria - 6-9 days
- Hungary - 1-2 weeks
- Germany - up to 45 days
- United Kingdom - 2-4 weeks
- Croatia - 15-45 days
- Slovenia - 1-2 weeks
- Spain - up to a month

### Recommendations for choosing a country
- **For the first Schengen**: Bulgaria (high chance of multi-entry visa), Hungary (fast processing), Slovenia (lenient approach).
- **With an existing visa history**: the same country where visas were previously obtained; Germany (if you are ready to wait); France (stable timelines but slots are needed).
- **For urgent trips**: Bulgaria, Hungary (direct submission in Subotica), Croatia.