VISA REGIME
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For holders of diplomatic and official passports: |
Visa is not required for stays of up to 90 days in a six-month period |
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For holders of national passports and other travel documents: |
Visa is not required for stays of up to 90 days in a six-month period* |
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Note: |
*Visa-free regime does not apply to holders of passports issued by the Coordination Directorate of Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Serbia Visa is required for holders of an emergency travel document in transit |
ENTRY REGIME FOR CITIZENS OF THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC
The rules that previously applied to travelers entering France no longer apply, which means that travelers no longer have any formalities to complete before arriving in France (the presentation of a health pass is no longer required, no need for additional proof of urgent travel, and there is no longer need for passengers to make a declaration that they are not contaminated and that they will be tested upon arrival in France).
ENTERING AND LEAVING THE COUNTRY
From 19 July 2013, to enter the Republic of France (or any EU member state), citizens of the Republic of Serbia are required to have a travel document issued in the last ten years, which must be valid for minimum three months after the planned date of departure from the territory of an EU member state.
Citizens of the Republic of Serbia holding biometric passports do not need a visa for stays of up to 90 days in a six-month period. The visa-free regime does not apply to the holders of travel documents issued by the Coordination Directorate of the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Serbia.
In addition to a valid passport, border authorities also require:
1. Evidence of the reason and conditions under which a person will reside in the country, evidence of having funds for the entire period of stay in France, and evidence of ensured return to the country from which they came. Estimation of funds for a stay (cash, travel checks, credit cards, statement that all costs will be borne by the person (host) inviting the traveller) is made in relation to the length of and reason for the stay, and is calculated on the basis of the cost of average accommodation.
2. In case minors are accompanied by a person, border services may check whether the person has parents’ consent to accompany the minors on the trip. If minors are travelling alone, border services may check whether minors have their parents' consent.
3. Travel health insurance. Persons insured with the National Health Insurance Fund of the Republic of Serbia (NHIFRS) have the right to emergency medical care during their temporary stay abroad. They must bring a NHIFRS certificate to ensure reimbursement of treatment costs, should they need any treatment.
Citizens of the Republic of Serbia holding biometric passports issued by the Coordination Directorate of the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Serbia, may stay in France only on the basis of a previously obtained visa at the Consular Department of the Embassy of the Republic of France in Belgrade. They must also have international health insurance, valid for all Schengen countries, for the duration of the requested visa. The insurance is submitted after receiving oral notification that the visa has been approved. Obtaining a visa or tourist pass at border crossings is practically impossible.
Visa is required for holders of an emergency travel document who are in transit, unless transit is done through airports with international transit areas which travellers will not leave.
In addition to short-stay visas, there are several types of the so-called long-stay visa for France:
• Visa for language-learning students
• Study residence visa valid as a residence permit
• Long-stay visa for the education of a minor
• Temporary residence visa for visitors
• Long-stay visa for the parent of a minor French national who lives in France
• Long-stay visa for a minor alien whose parent is a French national or for an adult alien who is at the expense of their parent of French nationality
• Long-stay visa valid as a residence permit for spouses of French nationals.
All the information related to the procedure for obtaining these types of long-stay visa for France, as well as application forms, are available on the website of the Embassy of the Republic of France in Belgrade: www.ambafrance-srb.org.
Funds in the amount of up to 10,000 euros may be brought into or taken out of France.
Competent border authorities require that a person has the following funds when entering France:
• 65 euros per day, while in France, for a person who has proof of hotel booking,
• 120 euros per day, while in France, for a person who does not have proof of hotel booking (or stays in private accommodation in which case an accommodation certificate and a letter of guarantee is required).
A foreigner who travels to France for private or family reasons, for a period under 3 months, is obliged to present an accommodation certificate (attestation d'accueil) to border authorities at the external borders of the Schengen zone. The accommodation certificate must be obtained by the person providing the accommodation to the foreigner during their stay in France, by submitting a request to the municipality of their residence for the issuance of this certificate. It is necessary to submit to the municipality a completed form cerfa n°10798*03, with information about themselves and the foreigner to whom they are providing accommodation, the accommodation itself and its characteristics, etc., and to enclose appropriate documentation (personal identification document, proof of being an owner, tenant or user of the apartment in which they intend to accommodate the foreigner, proof of income, proof of residence – electricity, telephone or utility bill, proof of accommodation capacity). The municipality will issue the certificate, if it assesses that the person receiving the foreigner meets the requirements. The certificate issuance fee is 30 euros. For more information on the accommodation certificate, go to: https://www.service-public.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F2191and https://www.justice.fr/printpdf/77178.
Excise goods may be brought into France in the following quantities: perfumes ― 50 ml, eau de toilette ― 250 ml, coffee ― 500 g, alcoholic beverages ― 2 litres (less than 22% alcohol), cigarettes ― 200 pcs. (1 box), cigarillos ― 100 pcs, cigars ― 50 pcs, tobacco ― 250 gr. In the case of bring hunting weapons in France, it is necessary to obtain a permit from the competent French authority.
Pets from non-EU countries may only be brought into France if they have been vaccinated against rabies, microchipped or marked by a tattoo, and if they have the right sanitary certificate from a laboratory with an EU licence (not older than three months).
SOCIAL SECURITY AGREEMENT
The Convention on Social Insurance concluded between France and the SFRY in 1950 is still in force, and it envisages social insurance for Serbian citizens who are or have been employed abroad, in case of illness, disability, and pension benefits. For more information, contact the National Health Insurance Fund of the Republic of Serbia (www.rfzo.rs).
USEFUL INFORMATION
HEALTH SITUATION — Persons insured with the National Health Insurance Fund of the Republic of Serbia (NHIFRS) have the right to emergency medical care during their temporary stay abroad. They should bring an NHIFRS certificate to ensure they receive reimbursement of costs any treatment they may need. In order for the insured to receive an NHIFRS certificate, they need a health certificate from their doctor, which is then certified by the medical commission of the parent branch of the NHIFRS.
Current information on the health situation in this country is available on the World Health Organization website: https://www.euro.who.int/en/countries/france.
SECURITY SITUATION — Earlier terrorist attacks did not give rise to a state of emergency in France. However, citizens of the Republic of Serbia who intend to travel to France are advised to stay cautious and up to date on the security situation.
France has a strong anti-terrorism policy. Strict control measures have been established at all border crossings and airports, railway and metro stations. At a time of increased security risks, the French government reinforces the police with armed forces.
Although demonstrations in the streets are rarely violent, it is recommended to avoid street demonstrations, especially if police forces are sent to break them up.
France has a relatively low violent crime rate. However, a number of settlements in major French cities require extra caution. The most common targets of thieves are vehicles with non-local licence plates. Thieves and pickpockets most often operate in the metro and on RER lines in Paris, and near tourist attractions. Travellers should keep a close eye on their luggage, and keep copies of travel documents and credit cards separate from the originals, along with important phone numbers.
TRANSPORT — The largest and the busiest airport in France is Paris-Charles de Gaulle, where most of the traffic with foreign countries, including traffic with Serbia, takes place. There are also Orly and Beauvais airports in the vicinity of Paris with international flights. There are also Bordeaux, Clermont Ferrand, Lille, Lyon, Marseille, Nantes, Nice and Toulouse in other parts of France. France has several large ports, the largest of which is Marseille, and the most important are Le Havre, Dunkerque, Rouen, Nantes and Bordeaux. The road infrastructure is of high quality, with a dense network of motorways and local roads. The French railway is very advanced, and it is considered one of the fastest in the world.
During their tourist stay in France, citizens of the Republic of Serbia, in addition to the Serbian driver’s licence, also need a valid international one. An agreement was made with France on mutual recognition and replacement of driver's licences, which allows a person with a regulated stay in France to replace the Serbian driver's licence with a French one, without re-taking the driving test.
OTHER INFORMATION — The local currency is the euro. Credit cards such as Mastercard, Visa, American Express are widely accepted.
The call number for all emergency services in France (police, ambulance/medical service, fire brigade, and rescue service) is 112.
Contact information:
For consular assistance and protection while in the Republic of France, you may contact:
• The Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in Paris (address: 5, Rue Leonard de Vinci, 75116 Paris), at the following telephone numbers: 00 (33) 1 40 72 24 24, 00 (33) 1 40 72 24 17, or e-mails: ambassade.paris@mfa.rs, konzularno.pariz@mfa.rs,
• The Consulate of the Republic of Serbia in Strasbourg (address: 26, Avenue de la Forêt Noire, 67000 Strasbourg), at the following telephone number: 00 (33) 3 88 35 39 80, and e-mail: consulate.strasbourg@mfa.rs.