FAQ · Politics & Government 144

The Republic of Serbia issues visas as a sticker in the passport and, as of 23 April 2025, also issues visas in electronic form called Digital Travel Authorizations. A Digital Travel Authorization is an approval for entry, stay, or transit that a foreign national obtains before entering the territory of the Republic of Serbia. It is issued electronically to holders of national passports from countries for which the service is enabled, when the requirements on a low risk of irregular migration, reciprocity in the visa regime, or protection of the security or interests of the Republic of Serbia are met. An electronic application is filed through the Portal for Foreigners and only with a registered account on the Electronic Identification Portal, and the authorization carries an electronic seal of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that confirms the integrity of the data and the identity of the issuer. A border-check code on the form can be read electronically so that the data and the electronic signature can be validated. General requirements still include a completed application, a passport valid at least 90 days after the intended departure with two consecutive blank pages and issued within the past 10 years, a photograph measuring three and a half by four and a half centimetres, the visa fee, proof of the purpose of stay, and an invitation letter where one is required.

The official tourist registration in Serbia is the white card, known as beli karton. By law a visitor must be registered within 24 hours of arrival. Hotels complete the registration automatically at check-in, and a private host or apartment owner must register the guest within a day. Between 2025 and 2026 Serbia moved almost entirely to the electronic e-Turista system, through which hosts and hotels issue an electronic white card. Travelers no longer need a physical paper slip with a wet ink stamp, since a PDF file or a clear photo of the confirmation on a phone is sufficient. Border officers occasionally check for the white card when a visitor departs and may ask for a paper or digital copy.

The Tax Administration is an administrative body within the Ministry of Finance, and its director is Dragana Markovic. It registers taxpayers by assigning a PIB and keeps a single register of taxpayers. It carries out tax control and tax assessment under the law, and it performs both regular and forced collection of taxes and ancillary taxes. It detects tax criminal offenses and the people who commit them, takes the measures the law prescribes, and may issue misdemeanor orders or ask the misdemeanor court to open proceedings for tax misdemeanors and for misdemeanors under the law on fiscal cash registers. It also applies international agreements on the avoidance of double taxation, keeps a single tax information system and tax accounting, trains staff, and checks the conduct of tax officers. The administration gives taxpayers professional help on the tax rules it enforces and is required to work in public.

The Securities Commission is an independent and autonomous organization of the Republic of Serbia, and it was established in 1990. It has five commissioners, including a president who serves as chairman, and the National Assembly elects and dismisses them on a proposal from the Assembly Finance Committee. The Commission decides at sessions led by the chairman or by a commissioner the chairman authorizes, while a secretary general manages the expert staff. Its role is to keep the capital market orderly, strengthen investor protection, and support the integrity, efficiency, and transparency of the market. It oversees the Law on the Capital Market, the Takeover Law, the Law on Open-End Investment Funds subject to Public Offering, the Law on Alternative Investment Funds, the Law on Commodity Exchanges, the Law on Audit, and the Law on Digital Assets. The Commission is accountable to the National Assembly for the work within its competence, and those laws also set its supervisory, investigatory, enforcement, and remedial powers.

Serbia acceded in 2006 to the Hague Convention that abolishes the requirement of legalization for foreign public documents. Public documents issued in Serbia therefore do not need diplomatic or consular legalization when they are used in other countries that belong to that convention. They do need an apostille stamp from the competent authority in Serbia, and that stamp is what makes them valid in the destination country. The apostille is a rectangular stamp completed in the official language of the issuing authority, and it must carry the French title Apostille, Convention de La Haye du 5 octobre 1961. Serbian courts issue the apostille, and it must be signed by the president of the court or by a judge the president has authorized. Documents meant for further use must be translated by certified court translators, and papers that can receive an apostille include vital records, educational documents, extracts from the Business Registers Agency, court decisions, notarized copies and translations, and commercial documents certified by official registration bodies.

The Medicines and Medical Devices Agency of Serbia issues marketing authorizations for medicinal products and medical devices, and renewals and amendments of those authorizations are also handled there. It performs laboratory quality control of medicinal products and medical devices. It issues authorizations for clinical trials and controls how those trials are conducted. The agency monitors adverse reactions and issues certificates of compliance with Good Manufacturing Practice, Good Laboratory Practice, and Good Clinical Practice. It may authorize import of non-registered medicinal products and medical devices for a particular patient or group of patients or for scientific research, and it classifies those products and devices. It also receives applications from manufacturers of innovative medicinal products whose offices are outside Serbia for phase IIIa, phase IIIb, and phase IV trials, and medical-device authorization procedures follow Good Regulatory Practice and the Law on Medicinal Products and Medical Devices.

The 2026 Investment Climate Statement for Serbia, published by the United States Department of State, says that Serbia does not have a sovereign wealth fund. That statement is the full text under the heading Sovereign Wealth Funds. The section does not name a fund and does not describe assets held in one. State-owned enterprises are covered in the next section as a separate subject, and the report does not call those enterprises a sovereign wealth fund.

Serbia keeps no separate naval branch, because the country is landlocked, and the waterborne force of the Serbian Armed Forces is the River Flotilla of the Serbian Army. That flotilla is a brigade-level brown-water unit whose role is control of inland waterways, and it was founded in 1915 with its present form dating from 2006. It is headquartered in Novi Sad, with further units in Belgrade and Sabac, and it patrols the Danube, the Sava, and the Tisa. Its tasks include environmental policing, counter-terrorism, and border security along the country's international river borders, together with search and rescue on rivers, canals, and lakes. The flotilla is listed as having about 500 personnel and 29 ships and boats. Its anniversary falls on 19 August, and its motto is For Freedom and Honour of the Fatherland.

The Portal for Foreigners, called Welcome to Serbia, was established in February 2024 as the single access point for information and electronic services that foreign nationals need if they intend to stay or work in the Republic of Serbia. It was designed to simplify and speed up immigration, and it accepts electronic applications for temporary residence, a long-stay visa, a short-stay visa, and the combined residence and work permit. Amendments to the Law on Foreigners define this publicly available web portal as the place where those electronic requests are filed, and they also allow a foreigner who holds a D visa or who applies for temporary residence on the basis of employment to receive both a residence permit and a work permit. An employer or another representative may submit the request on behalf of the foreign national. A short guided set of questions points each person to the procedure that fits that person's situation, without requiring advance study of every entry rule. The electronic path covers identification, the application form, upload of documents, payment of fees, status notices, and delivery of official documents to an electronic mailbox, so the applicant can follow the case without a trip to a consulate.

Serbia's interpreter link for deaf and hard-of-hearing people is the service called SOS za gluve, a web and mobile application with the same functions on both. It is meant to remove communication barriers for about 180,000 users of sign language in Serbia. A user can place a free video call to an interpreter of Serbian sign language, who then dials the wanted telephone number and interprets the conversation at the same time. The application also allows written exchange with the interpreter, booking of translation appointments, a review of past communication, and a personal contact list. Before it existed, a deaf or hard-of-hearing person who had no hearing person nearby could not call an ambulance, the police, or the fire service, book a medical visit, or report an emergency. The service runs all day and night, it began on the initiative of the Organization of the Deaf of the City of Belgrade, and it is supported by the Office for IT and eGovernment, the National Translation Center for Sign Language, the Ministry of Information and Telecommunications, and the telecom operators, who made use of the application free, including the internet traffic it needs.

In Serbia the emergency-contraception medicine Escapelle, made by Gedeon Richter and containing one and a half milligrams of levonorgestrel, is authorised and can be bought in a pharmacy without a prescription, according to a pharmacy notice that cites the ALIMS list marked 08/2026. The authorisation was renewed on 7 October 2024, and an orodispersible tablet form also exists. It should be taken as soon as possible, preferably within 12 hours and no later than 72 hours after unprotected intercourse, and if vomiting occurs within 3 hours another tablet is taken at once. No medicine containing ulipristal acetate for emergency contraception is currently authorised in Serbia, ellaOne is not authorised there even though it has a European Union authorisation, and the ulipristal product Alvobella of 30 milligrams ceased to be valid in 2023. At the pharmacy the person should say how much time has passed and which medicines or herbal products, including St John's wort, they use. After the dose, condoms should be used until the next period, and a gynaecologist should be seen if more than 72 hours have passed.

On 26 August 2024 in Belgrade, with support from the European Union, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior Ivica Dacic and Minister of Information and Telecommunications Dejan Ristic signed a memorandum on sending urgent information to citizens when a natural disaster or a technical-technological accident is warned of or occurs. Under that memorandum a system was set to begin on 15 September 2024 and to send automatic text warnings to mobile phones in the affected area. The aim is faster delivery of important information and lower risk to lives and property. Minister Dacic said every mobile phone at a base station in the part of the territory under threat would receive the message, with a hazard warning and instructions on what to do. Minister Ristic said the whole territory of the Republic of Serbia is covered, while messages can be limited to the specific region that is affected. Foreign nationals who are in Serbia and use foreign mobile operators are included as well as Serbian users.

The Belgrade Secretariat for Public Transport set a holiday timetable for the New Year period at the end of 2025 and the start of 2026. On 31 December the city lines follow the workday timetable during the day, while regular night lines except 405N, 493N, 581N and 860N start at 22 hours. A group of daytime lines, including 7L, 12, 15, 16, 17, 27, 29, 33, 40, 48, 53, 84, 88 and 95, keep the workday timetable only until 22 hours, and from 22 hours until 4 hours they run a special New Year pattern in which temporary lines 29A and 40A replace lines 29 and 40. On 1 and 2 January 2026 the Sunday timetable applies, 3 January uses the Saturday timetable, and 4 January uses the Sunday timetable again. On 5 January the workday timetable applies, 6 January uses the Saturday timetable, and 7 January uses the Sunday timetable. Regular service returns on Thursday 8 January 2026.

The United States Department of State travel page for Serbia says to exercise increased caution because of crime, and it notes that the advisory level and the risk indicators were not changed when the summary was updated. Crime can occur anywhere in the country, and police may take longer to respond than they do in the United States. Violence linked to organized crime and to high-profile sporting events is described as common. Petty crime is also common, especially in popular tourist locations, and most crimes against foreigners are crimes of opportunity such as purse snatching and pickpocketing. Anyone who still travels is told to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, to read the Country Security Report and the department's material on crime abroad and on victims of crime, and to be careful when walking or driving at night. The same advice says to stay aware of surroundings, to follow the instructions of local authorities, and to check the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for travel health information on Serbia.

Australia's Smartraveller page for Serbia, still current on 13 November 2026 and last updated on 27 October 2026, rates the country at exercise normal safety precautions and warns that protests can turn violent and may disrupt transport and travel. Visitors are told to avoid protests and large public gatherings. If a protest starts, the advice is to leave the area as soon as it is safe to do so. The page also says foreigners have been detained after attending protests. Travelers are told to monitor local media for updates and to follow the advice of local authorities rather than pushing through a crowd. That guidance is the standing instruction for a blocked street, because the page does not list a permanent set of diversion routes.

A Serbian fine table that follows the Law on Road Traffic Safety sets seven steps for speeding inside a built-up area, and it uses 50 kilometres an hour as the usual town limit. Going 1 to 10 kilometres an hour over that limit draws 3,000 dinars, with no penalty points and no driving ban, 11 to 20 kilometres an hour over draws 5,000 dinars on the same terms, and 21 to 30 kilometres an hour over draws 10,000 dinars, still with no points and no ban. From 31 to 50 kilometres an hour over, the fine is 10,000 to 20,000 dinars, with 4 penalty points and a one-month driving ban. From 51 to 70 kilometres an hour over, the fine is 20,000 to 40,000 dinars, with 7 points and a four-month ban. From 71 to 90 kilometres an hour over, the fine is 100,000 to 120,000 dinars, with 14 points and an eight-month ban. More than 90 kilometres an hour over is treated as violent driving, with a fine of 120,000 to 140,000 dinars, 15 points and a nine-month ban, and the table says a prison sentence is possible.

A Serbia visa photograph used for both the short-stay C visa and the long-stay D visa measures three and a half by four and a half centimetres, according to a guide that cites the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Welcome to Serbia portal. The picture must be in colour, sharp, and clear, and it must have been taken less than six months earlier. Natural skin colour and a light background are required. The mouth is closed and both eyes are clearly visible. The cited guidance uses that same size for visa C and for visa D, rather than a separate size for each. Serbian passport and national identity-card photographs are not given a size on that page, so the measurement above is the visa rule only.

Under the Law on Public Notaries, the notary service in Serbia is a service of public trust, and a notary practises it as an exclusive and permanent occupation, independently and on their own. A notary is a legal specialist appointed by the minister responsible for justice. On the basis of public authority, the notary receives statements of will, puts them into the required written form, and issues papers that count as public documents. The notary keeps the originals and other documents entrusted to the office, issues transcripts, publicly confirms facts, and advises parties on matters inside that work. The law authorizes the notary to draw up, certify, and issue public documents on legal transactions, statements, and facts on which rights rest, to certify private documents, and to take money, securities, papers, and other objects into safekeeping. Notarial papers include records of transactions, minutes of acts the notary performs or attends, certificates of facts, solemnized private documents, and certifications of a signature or of a transcript, translation, or extract.

A guide that cites the Serbian Ministry of Justice says the basic court is competent for a Hague apostille, and the court is the one in whose territory the authority that issued the document has its seat, not the court where the applicant lives. A university diploma issued in Novi Sad is therefore certified by the court in Novi Sad even if the holder lives in Nis. The apostille confirms the signature and the seal, and it does not translate the document. If the foreign authority wants a translation, a permanent court interpreter makes it, and the Ministry of Justice keeps the register of those interpreters. The same guide says a public notary does not affix an apostille. The court fee it quotes is 3,100 dinars per document, or 4,000 dinars when the interpreter's signature is certified as well.

The Ministry of the Interior says a foreign national's short-term residence address is registered either at a police station that is open all day and night in the territory where the accommodation sits, or at the regional police directorate that handles the movement and temporary residence of foreign nationals. When accommodation is provided for a fee, the legal entity, entrepreneur, or natural person who provides it, or their legal representative, must register the address within 24 hours of providing the accommodation. When a foreign national is visiting someone, that host, or the host's legal representative or an authorized person, must register the address within 24 hours of the visitor's arrival. The closer rules are in the rulebook published in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Serbia, number 84, of 2 November 2018. The person who registers fills out the short-term residence form in two counterparts. For inspection, that person shows the foreign national's travel document or other document, plus further papers that depend on whether a business or a private host is making the registration.

A guide for employers in Serbia states that an employment contract must be written in Serbian. The law, as that guide describes it, does not require the employer to hand over a translation. For a foreign employee who does not speak Serbian, a bilingual contract in Serbian and English is described as the usual and advisable practice. If the two versions conflict in a dispute, the Serbian text prevails. The same guide says the contract must be on paper and signed in wet ink, because an electronic signature is not accepted for employment documents. Providing the Serbian text therefore matters even when an English copy is given for the employee to read.

Under Serbian labour law, as explained by a Belgrade law office, an employee is entitled to at least 20 working days of annual leave in a calendar year. That length grows according to work contribution, working conditions, work experience, qualifications, and other criteria set in a general act or in the employment contract. Public holidays that are non-working days, paid leave, and temporary incapacity for work are not counted as annual-leave days, and if the employee falls ill during the leave the remaining days can be used after the incapacity ends. The right to use the leave is acquired after one month of continuous work with that employer, and someone who did not work the whole year gets one twelfth of the annual leave for each month worked. Leave may be taken at once or in parts, but the first part lasts at least two uninterrupted working weeks in the calendar year and the rest is taken no later than 30 June of the next year. The employee cannot waive the leave or have it replaced by money, except when employment ends, in which case unused days are paid as compensation equal to the average salary in proportion to those days.

A commentary on Serbia's Law on Occupational Safety and Health says the law came into force on 7 May 2023 and that employers had to bring their operations into line with it by 7 May 2025, or by 1 January 2026 at the latest. The law states that employers must insure employees against work injuries and occupational diseases so that compensation can be paid. The employer bears the full cost of that insurance, and the type and scope of cover must match the risk assessment for the particular workplace. A legal-entity employer that fails to take out this insurance can be fined from 1,000,000 to 1,500,000 dinars. A separate fine, from 1,500,000 to 2,000,000 dinars, applies if the employer does not produce a written risk-assessment act for all workplaces and does not set the methods, measures, and deadlines for removing or reducing risks. The insurance duty is therefore tied to the safety law rather than left as an optional staff benefit.

The Serbian Labour Law, as summarised in a 2026 employment guide, gives a pregnant employee pregnancy leave that starts between 45 and 28 days before the due date on a medical certificate and lasts until three months after childbirth. Childcare leave begins as soon as that pregnancy leave ends. For a first or second child the two leaves together last 365 days, and for a third or later child they last two years, with compensation during the leave paid in full by the state. The father may use the leave if the mother abandons the child, dies, or cannot use it for a justified reason such as illness or imprisonment. Adoptive parents of a child under five years of age may take up to eight months of leave with salary compensation, and either parent of a child who needs special care because of a serious illness may take full-time or part-time leave until the child turns five, again with state compensation. An employee who returns within one year after childbirth is entitled to a breastfeeding break or to working time reduced by 90 minutes a day, counted as time worked and paid in full.

The National Employment Service told a Serbian newsroom that unemployment cash benefit is claimed only on a personal request, after the person registers as unemployed and files the claim within 30 days of the end of employment or of insurance if the benefit is to run in full. The person needs at least 12 months of insurance, either continuous or with breaks inside the last 18 months, and the employment must have ended for a reason the statute treats as a ground for the benefit, above all without the employee's own will or fault. The branch where the person is registered decides the claim at first instance. Payment lasts three months when the insurance record is from one to five years, six months from five to 15 years, nine months from 15 to 25 years, and 12 months when the record is longer than 25 years, and a year of insurance means 12 completed months. A person who receives the benefit must report in person to the service every 30 days. Any change that affects the right must be reported to the service within five days.

Serbia's Consumer Protection Act, as summarised by a legal guide, covers the relationship between a consumer buying for personal needs and a trader, including complaints and out-of-court dispute resolution. The trader must answer within eight days of receiving the complaint, and the answer must contain the decision, the reasons if the complaint is refused, and a proposal for how and when it will be resolved. The complaint itself is to be resolved within 15 days of filing, or within 30 days for technical goods and furniture, and that period may be extended only once and only with the consumer's consent. If the trader refuses, it must tell the consumer about out-of-court resolution and the competent bodies, and the consumer may reply to the trader's response within three days, during which the resolution clock does not run. Out-of-court proceedings can be opened only after a complaint has already been made, the trader is obliged to take part, and the procedure lasts at most 90 days from the proposal, with one possible further extension of up to 90 days in a complex case. If that route fails, the consumer can still go to court.

The Regulatory Authority for Electronic Communications and Postal Services, known as RATEL, decides requests from end users for out-of-court settlement of a dispute with a provider of a publicly available electronic communications service, under the Law on Electronic Communications published in the Official Gazette as number 35/23. An end user may file that request only after trying to solve the problem directly with the provider, which the law requires. The request should name the provider and the user, and it should give the subscription-contract number or the telephone number when the service is fixed or mobile telephony. It should also state the type of electronic communications service, describe the problem, and describe the attempt to solve it with the provider. The user's address of residence or stay has to be included so that the authority can continue the case. The authority's website also publishes the statute and the related by-laws that set out the rights and duties of users and of providers.

An end customer, or a person authorised to act for that customer, may complain to EPS about an electricity bill because of the meter reading, the calculation, payments, legal enforcement, a suspension of supply, the quality of supply, or another dispute under the full guaranteed-supply contract. A complaint, appeal or similar request is accepted when its subject falls within the competence of EPS. It may be filed through the EPS View Your Bill portal and mobile application, by post to the address printed on the bill, by email to the complaints address published by EPS, by the toll-free number 0800 111 202, or in person at the EPS Belgrade counter whose address is also printed on the bill. The complaint form can be downloaded, and every required detail must be filled in. EPS gives the complainant confirmation of receipt and a registration number, then sends its reply by the same channel within the deadlines set in the applicable regulations. Technical problems with the connection, metering equipment and its accuracy, supply quality, network faults and outages are taken to Elektrodistribucija Srbije in Belgrade, and EPS has also formed a consumer-protection council and a commission that resolves complaints by individual end users entitled to guaranteed supply.

Customers of the Belgrade public utility for water supply and sewerage are billed either directly by that utility or through the joint Infostan payment slip, and a bill complaint is made by sending the completed form together with the bill being disputed. The form may go by email to the service centre, by post to the utility at Kneza Milosa 27 in Belgrade with the note that it is a bill complaint, or in person at a customer centre, including Sindjeliceva 21 in Vracar, Kneza Milosa 27, Svetosavska 58 in Barajevo, Ivana Milutinovica 12g in Borca, and Vojvodjanska 109 in Surcin. The time limit for a complaint is eight days from receipt of the bill, and the time limit for a reply is eight days from receipt of the complaint. Customers on direct billing may also complain through the utility website section for checking and complaining about a bill, using the login details printed on the bill, where they can check the bill and the debt, see the meter state for the connection, enter a self-reading, and submit the complaint. Customers on joint billing may complain about charges for water used at any branch of the Infostan technology utility, through the free call centre 0800 11 00 11, by post, or by email. For a complaint or for information on charges, customers may also call 3402-053 or the officer for their consumer category and the municipality where the water is used.

Srbijavoz, the joint-stock company for rail passenger transport, gives its contact point as Nemanjina 6 in Belgrade. Questions on the timetable, offers, travel conditions, tickets, fare concessions and other travel matters go to the call centre at 011 360 28 99 or to the passenger-information mailbox shown on the company contact page. Complaints about tickets bought at a station counter after their period of validity has begun, and about tickets bought from a ticket machine or on the internet, are sent to the separate ticket-complaint mailbox listed on that page. A request to return a ticket that was bought online must be submitted before the journey starts, in the ticket-return section of the conditions of use, by completing the form at the link given there. The same contact page lists a registry mailbox for ordinary correspondence and a media mailbox for press enquiries and cooperation. The company number marked PIB on that page is 109108438.

The office that receives electronic claims and complaints for the Post of Serbia works on weekdays from half past seven in the morning until half past three in the afternoon, and a message that arrives after those hours, on Saturday or Sunday, or on a national or religious holiday is considered on the next working day. The electronic form requires a first and last name and an email address, and it can also take a contact phone, a place, and a street and number. The street address is required only when the claim is about delivery of a postal item at the customer's address, or about a Post Express item that was not accepted at the address. The form asks for the area of the claim, the service concerned, and a comment of at most five hundred characters, and a file may be added. Depending on the service, a claim about postal and other services can also be handed in at any post office or sent in writing to the Public Enterprise Post of Serbia at Takovska 2, 11120 Belgrade, postal address code 135403. The same page directs users of financial services to a separate notice on how that kind of complaint is submitted.

A traveller can claim compensation when a service inside a package did not match what was agreed, including lower comfort, fewer beds, missing facilities named in the programme, a hotel farther from the city or the sea than the contract said, and other points in the general travel conditions. The problem should be raised with the agency representative immediately, in writing or by email, with evidence such as photographs, video, or signed statements from other travellers, because a complaint made only after the trip can be refused if the representative was not told at the time. That account says the Law on Tourism allows eight days after return to complain to the trip organiser, and it also says a written or email complaint must reach the agency within thirty days of the day the irregularity was noticed. If the agency rejects the complaint or does not answer within eight days, a written report may be sent to the tourism inspection, which will not act unless the agency was contacted first and which cannot order payment or force the agency to accept the complaint, though it can penalise the agency when it finds irregularities. The report should give the traveller's details and the agency's name, attach tickets, vouchers or order forms, state why the report is being made, and include proof that the statements are true. If the organiser is a member of YUTA, that association's arbitration court can decide a claim by the travellers on one travel contract for material damage and a price reduction, the fee given for the procedure is five thousand dinars paid before it starts, and the case is described as usually closing about thirty days after the evidence and other conditions for a decision are complete.

The official English country name is The Republic of Serbia. In its native language, the official endonym is Republika Srbija. This is written in Serbian as Република Србија. While the official name is used formally, the common English country name is simply Serbia. This name is used widely in everyday conversation and international contexts.

The name Matica Srpska can be literally translated into English as Mother Serbia or the Parent body of the Serbs. The term matica is best translated as The Centre, though it can also mean queen bee or parent body. The adjective srpska refers to Serbia and/or Serbs. This institution was the first of all the Slavic maticas to be established in the Habsburg Empire. It played a significant role during the Serb national and cultural awakening.

The capital of the Republic of Serbia is Belgrade. Within the country, there are also two autonomous provinces. The Autonomous province of Vojvodina has its capital in Novi Sad. Additionally, the Autonomous province of Kosovo and Metohija has its capital in Priština. These administrative divisions are part of the Republic of Serbia.

Belgrade features approximately one-thousand sports facilities capable of serving all levels of events. The city includes important recreational areas like Ada Ciganlija island and Košutnjak Park Forest. Belgrade has a rich history of hosting major international sporting events dating back to the 1960s. Since the early 2000s, the city has continued to host major championships nearly every year. It is also home to the famous football clubs Red Star Belgrade and Partizan Belgrade. The rivalry between these two clubs is considered one of the fiercest in world football.

The modern Principality of Serbia first received an official flag under the provisions of the Sretenje Constitution. This constitution stipulated that the national colours were red, white, and steelish-blue. The coat of arms featured a white cross on a red field with four firesteels and surrounding branches. Although the constitution was later abolished, Prince Miloš Obrenović continued to negotiate for these national symbols. The final tricolour arrangement of red, blue, and white was reportedly accepted after a proposal to use the Russian flag was deemed improper. This arrangement was eventually permitted for use on merchant ships under a decree in December 1835.

Public holidays in Serbia include the religious festivals of Eastern Orthodox Christmas and Easter. Saint Sava's Day is also observed as a working holiday, serving as both a Day of Spirituality and a Day of Education. Adherents of other religions and denominations are legally allowed to celebrate their own religious holidays. The Constitution of Serbia establishes freedom of religion and forbids the establishment of a state religion. This legal framework ensures that religious expression is protected across the country.

The modern Serbian tricolour originated from efforts to secure national symbols for the Principality of Serbia in 1830. Initially, the Sretenje Constitution stipulated national colours of red, white, and steelish-blue. Prince Miloš Obrenović later proposed a white-blue-red arrangement similar to the Russian flag, but this was viewed as an affront. To resolve this, the order was reversed to red, blue, and white. This specific arrangement was reportedly accepted by both the Russian consul and the Ottoman sultan. A decree in December 1835 finally permitted the use of this tricolour flag.

The national anthem of Serbia is titled Bože pravde, which translates to God of Justice. It was originally adopted in 1882 and served as the anthem for the Kingdom of Serbia until 1919. Following the restoration of Serbia's independence, the anthem was re-adopted in 2004 and constitutionally enshrined in 2006. Before this official anthem was established, several other patriotic songs were used unofficially. One such prominent song was Vostani Serbije, which was written in 1804.

The popular motto in Serbia is Only Unity Saves the Serbs, which is known in Serbian as Samo Sloga Srbina Spasava. It is often used as a rallying call during times of national crisis or against foreign domination. While popular mythology attributes the phrase to Saint Sava, the true author is actually the military officer and writer Jovan Dragašević. The motto is an interpretation of four Cyrillic letters for S found on the Serbian cross. This phrase serves as an antithesis to the idea of betrayal and discord that once doomed the nation.

Serbia uses several different international rankings and codes. The ISO country codes for the country are RS and SRB. Additionally, the numeric code is 688. For specific regional information, you can refer to ISO 3166-2:RS. These identifiers are used for official international recognition.

If you need to make an international call to Serbia, you must use the correct calling code. The specific calling code for this country is +381. This code is essential for connecting your call to a Serbian number from abroad. Please ensure you include this prefix when dialing. This will help you reach residents or businesses within the country successfully.

In Serbia, the driving side is the right. This means vehicles stay on the right side of the road while traveling. Drivers should follow this standard rule for all journeys within the country. Understanding this is important for anyone planning to drive locally. It ensures safety and compliance with national traffic regulations.

According to the 1990 constitution of the Republic of Serbia, the Serbo-Croatian language and the Cyrillic alphabet are in official use. Additionally, the Latin alphabet is also in official use in the manner established by law. This follows various historical constitutional provisions regarding language equality in the region. These regulations define how languages and scripts are applied within the Republic.

People from Serbia are referred to by the demonyms Serbs or Serbians. When describing things related to the country, the adjectival form used is Serbian. These terms are commonly used in English to identify the nationality or characteristics of the nation. This follows the official naming conventions for the Republic of Serbia. Understanding these terms helps in correctly identifying the people and culture of the region.

The domestic currency of Serbia is called the dinar. This name was chosen by the Minister of Finance, Mijatović, after Serbia's medieval silver currency. He introduced this new currency when Serbia joined the Latin Monetary Union. This change occurred as part of important reforms during his time in government. The introduction of the dinar was part of a broader effort that included bringing the metric system to the country.

The text describes a transition from a kingdom to a republican form of government. Following World War II, the former royal palace complex was transformed into the administrative seat of the People's Republic of Serbia. During this period, heraldic symbols were replaced with emblems symbolizing the new, republican, form of government. Since 1953, the Novi Dvor building has housed various high government institutions of Serbia. This change occurred under Communist rule after the museum was reassigned in 1948.

Serbia was a pioneer in constitutionalism in Central and Eastern Europe during the 19th century. The country adopted the 1835 Candlemas Constitution, making it one of the first European nations to have a modern constitution. Throughout its history, several other versions were established, including the 1838 Turkish Constitution and the 1869 Regents Constitution. Other notable versions include the 1888 Radical Constitution and the 1901 April Constitution. Following a period between 1918 and 1945 when Serbia was part of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, various constitutions were adopted in 1947, 1963, 1974, and 1990. The most recent version is the 2006 Saint Demetrius Day Constitution.

During the late 1980s, the Serbian branch of the League of Communists experienced a split regarding the situation in Kosovo. Traditional Communists supported President Ivan Stambolić, who advocated for continued neutrality. However, more radical and nationalist-leaning members supported Slobodan Milosević. Milosević eventually utilized public sentiment to overthrow the existing leadership in several regions. Following these events, the Serbian League of Communists selected Milosević as its leader.

The head of government in Serbia is the prime minister, who is formally known as the president of the Government of the Republic of Serbia. This official is responsible for directing the work of the Government and submitting the government's program to the National Assembly. This program includes a list of proposed ministers. The resignation of the prime minister leads to the dismissal of the entire government. In the formal order of precedence, this position is the third highest state office in the country.

The legislative power in Serbia is vested in a unicameral parliament known as the National Assembly. In Serbian, it is called Narodna skupština. This body is composed of 250 deputies who are proportionally elected by secret ballot. The National Assembly holds several important powers, including the enactment of laws and the adoption of the state budget. It also has the authority to declare war or peace and supervise the work of the Government.

The Association of Writers of Vojvodina is a literary umbrella organization located in Vojvodina, Serbia. It became an independent organization in 1976 after previously serving as a section of the Association of Writers of Serbia. The association gathers writers who create in all official languages spoken in the region. It maintains its autonomy while also acting as a collective member of the Association of Writers of Serbia. This relationship allows it to participate fully in the national body while remaining an independent entity.

Serbia possesses a strategic transportation location within the region. The country's backbone is the Morava Valley, which serves as a vital route. This area represents the easiest route of land travel from continental Europe to Asia Minor and the Near East. Because of this position, the country plays a key role in connecting different parts of the world. This geographic advantage supports extensive road and rail networks.

Historical census data shows significant changes in the population of Serbia over time. In the 1834 census for the Principality of Serbia, the total population was 678,192. By the 1895 census for the Kingdom of Serbia, the population had grown to 2,341,675. The 1900 census recorded a total population of 2,754,859. These figures reflect the different historical periods and administrative statuses of the country.

According to the 2022 census, Serbia has a moderate population density. There are 85.8 inhabitants per square kilometre. The total population of the country, excluding Kosovo, was 6,647,003. This figure ranks Serbia 107th in the world. The nation has been experiencing a demographic crisis since the 1990s.

Visitors to Serbia must obtain an e-Visa unless they are citizens of one of the visa-exempt countries. The visa policy of Serbia is similar to that of the Schengen Area. Serbia grants visa-free entry to most Schengen Annex II nationalities, with some specific exceptions, as well as several additional countries like China, Russia, and Turkey. If a visa is required, applications should be submitted to an Embassy or Consulate General of the Republic of Serbia abroad. Applicants must provide documents such as a completed application form, a photo, proof of sufficient funds, and health insurance. Incomplete applications will not be accepted by the Serbian diplomatic mission.

Visitors to Serbia must obtain an e-Visa unless they are citizens of one of the visa-exempt countries. Serbia grants visa-free entry to most Schengen Annex II nationalities, with some specific exceptions. It also grants visa-free entry to several additional countries including Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Belarus, China, Indonesia, Jamaica, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Suriname, and Turkey. If your country is not on the exempt list, you must submit a visa application to an Embassy or Consulate General of the Republic of Serbia abroad. Please note that Serbian diplomatic missions reserve the right to request additional documentation.

Visitors to Serbia must obtain an e-Visa unless they are citizens of one of the visa-exempt countries. To apply for a tourist visa, you must provide an invitation letter for a tourist trip such as a voucher or payment receipt from a travel agency. You also need to submit a completed visa application form, a photo, and a return ticket or itinerary. Additionally, applicants must provide proof of sufficient funds for their stay and health insurance. All visa applications should be submitted to the Embassy or Consulate General of the Republic of Serbia abroad.

To obtain a temporary visa for employment purposes, you must first secure a job offer from a Serbian company, a government department, or a foreign company based in Serbia. The approval criteria include having suitable educational qualifications or work experience and a secured employment contract. You must also provide proof of adequate means of subsistence in Serbia along with a satisfactory medical examination. Additionally, a police confirmation showing you have no criminal record is required. Please note that all official documents must be translated into Serbian.

A digital nomad visa is designed for digital nomads who want to temporarily reside in a country. This type of visa allows individuals to stay while performing remote work. It is distinct from other options like the self-employment visa for entrepreneurs. Other countries such as Estonia have also announced plans for similar programs. This visa type focuses on those working remotely rather than seeking local employment.

Overstaying the period of authorized stay granted by immigration officers is considered illegal immigration. This is viewed as being out of status, even if the visa validity period has not yet expired. An offender may be fined, prosecuted, deported, or even blacklisted from entering the country again. Additionally, undertaking activities not authorized by your entry status can also lead to deportation. These violations are technically considered a violation of status rather than a violation of a visa.

The validity of a regular Serbian passport depends on the age of the holder. Adults receive a passport that is valid for 10 years. For individuals between the ages of 3 and 14, the passport is valid for 5 years. If the passport is issued to a person under 3 years old, it is valid for 3 years. Diplomatic passports are issued based on the nature of the position held, usually covering the holder's mandate in office.

A Serbian passport contains 32 additional pages that are suitable for visas and border stamps. These pages feature a range of light colours, including red, green, yellow, and blue. Each of these pages has the Serbian lesser coat of arms in the centre. They are also perforated with the passport's serial number on the bottom and include watermarks with page numbers.

Serbia has established several free trade agreements with various foreign countries and trading blocs. A significant agreement with the European Union allows for the export of all Serbian products without customs or other fees, though quotas exist for sugar, wine, and baby beef. The CEFTA agreement also enables duty-free exports to neighboring countries like Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro. Additionally, Serbia maintains free trade agreements with EFTA members and has a long-standing agreement with Russia. Trade with the United States follows the Generalized System of Preferences, providing duty-free entry for about 4,650 products. A free trade agreement with China was also signed in October 2023.

Anyone wishing to live and work in Serbia must apply for a temporary residence permit. If you require a visa, you must obtain a temporary residence visa before entering the country. To get an employment visa, you need a job offer from a Serbian company, a government department, or a foreign company based in Serbia. Approval requires a secured employment contract, suitable qualifications, and proof of adequate means of subsistence. You must also provide a police confirmation of no criminal record and a satisfactory medical examination. All official documents must be translated into Serbian.

To live and work in Serbia, you must apply for a temporary residence permit. If you are a national requiring a visa, you must obtain a temporary residence visa before entering the country. You will need to secure a job offer from a Serbian company, a government department, or a foreign company based in Serbia. Approval requires a secured employment contract, suitable qualifications, and proof of adequate means of subsistence. You must also provide a police confirmation of no criminal record and a satisfactory medical examination. All official documents must be translated into Serbian.

To obtain a transit visa, a person must possess an entry visa for the country they intend to enter after Serbia. If a visa is not required for that subsequent country, the applicant must present other documents explaining the purpose of their visit there. General application requirements include a completed visa application form and a photo. Applicants must also provide proof of sufficient funds, health insurance, and a return ticket or itinerary. All visa applications should be submitted to the Embassy or Consulate General of the Republic of Serbia abroad.

In 2015, Hungary built a border barrier on its border with Serbia to ensure security. This fence was constructed during the European migrant crisis to prevent illegal immigrants from entering. The barrier aims to enable people to enter through official checkpoints to claim asylum in accordance with international law. The border between Hungary and Serbia is 175 kilometres long. This construction was intended to reduce illegal entries into Hungary.

The Constitution of Serbia includes a specific chapter dedicated to Human and Minority Rights and Freedoms. It provides special protection for the rights of consumers, mothers, children, and minorities. Additionally, the constitution explicitly forbids capital punishment and human cloning. The document also establishes an Ombudsman to assist with rights and protections. These provisions are part of a framework that includes 206 articles and 11 chapters.

Various political groups have used different slogans during Serbian election cycles. For the 2012 election, the slogan used was Let's Get Serbia Moving – Tomislav Nikolić. In 2014, the slogan was Aleksandar Vučić – Future We Believe In. Subsequent elections featured slogans such as Serbia is Winning in 2016 and For Our Children in 2020. More recent examples include Together We Can Do Everything in 2022 and Serbia Must Not Stop in 2023.

The political slogans used in Serbian elections have varied over the years. In the 2012 election, the slogan was Let's Get Serbia Moving – Tomislav Nikolić. For the 2014 election, the slogan was Aleksandar Vučić – Future We Believe In. The 2016 election used Aleksandar Vučić – Serbia is Winning, while the 2018 Belgrade election used Aleksandar Vučić – Because We Love Belgrade. More recently, the 2020 election slogan was Aleksandar Vučić – For Our Children, followed by Aleksandar Vučić – Together We Can Do Everything in 2022. The 2023 election featured the slogan Aleksandar Vučić – Serbia Must Not Stop.

The timing of upcoming elections varies depending on the specific municipality. For Bajina Bašta, the next election for the municipal assembly is scheduled to take place in 2026. In Kosjerić, the next election is set for 2025. There were no elections held in 2024 for the municipal assemblies of Bajina Bašta, Kosjerić, Požega, or Priboj. These towns had their previous elections in 2022, 2021, 2023, and 2023 respectively.

During this period, the Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS) was a dominant force in the government. The SPS operated in an electoral cartel with the Yugoslav United Left to maintain influence. Although they did not hold a majority in the Serbian or federal parliaments, they controlled key administrative posts and governing coalitions. In opposition, the Democratic Opposition of Serbia (DOS) emerged as a broad coalition of anti-Milošević parties. This coalition supported Vojislav Koštunica during the federal elections in September 2000.

During the period involving King Alexander, the government was shaped by significant shifts in leadership and royal influence. A new government was formed with Vladan Đorđević serving as the prime minister. Former King Milan also played a major role in political life and was appointed as the Supreme Commander of the Active Army. The political landscape was further complicated by tensions between the monarchy and the Radicals. These internal conflicts were often tied to the personal decisions and marriage of King Alexander.

The basic level of local government in Serbia consists of municipalities and cities. There are 145 municipalities and 29 cities that form 29 administrative districts, though Belgrade is not part of any district. In a municipality, the Municipal assembly holds legislative power and is elected every four years. The President of the municipality and the Municipal council hold executive power and are elected by the Assembly. Municipalities manage their own budgets and property, including public service companies. While only cities officially have mayors, municipal presidents are often informally called by that title.

The current Statute of the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina serves as the supreme legal document for the region. It outlines the principles of governing Vojvodina within the framework of the Constitution of Serbia and national laws. This Statute was adopted by the Assembly of Vojvodina with the assent of the National Assembly of Serbia. It delineates the scope of the province's autonomy through specific provisions. The document was enacted in its present form in 2014.

The Constitutional Court of Vojvodina was a judicial body that operated between 1974 and 1990 within the Socialist Autonomous Province of Vojvodina. It exercised powers of judicial review to ensure that provincial legislation remained constitutional. The court could declare statutes, ordinances, and other secondary legislation unconstitutional, rendering them ineffective. Additionally, it reviewed the constitutionality of decisions issued by lower courts within the province. The court also enforced the requirement that normative acts could not take legal effect before their official publication.

Supporters of the proposed laws argue that the efficiency of the judiciary would be increased and improved. Some officials claim the changes would not exceed the legal bounds of the European Union and would not end Serbia's accession process. However, several organizations and experts oppose the amendments, stating they would strengthen government influence over the judiciary. Critics argue the laws do not meet international standards regarding judicial independence. Some experts also noted a lack of public discussion and a failure to consult the High Council of the Prosecutor's Office.

Corruption levels in Serbia are perceived to be high by surveyed residents, and public trust in key institutions remains low. In 2025, Serbia reached its all-time worst score in the Corruption Perceptions Index due to an increasingly authoritarian regime. Sectors such as public procurement, public administration recruitment, mining, and rail operations face serious problems with conflicts of interest. The European Commission has also raised concerns regarding the judiciary, police, health, and education sectors. Corruption is considered the most problematic factor for doing business in the country, followed by inefficient government bureaucracy.

Censorship is prohibited by the Serbian Constitution, and freedom of expression is protected by both national and international law. However, instances of censorship and self-censorship are still reported within the country. Freedom House deems Serbia to be partly free, and the country has seen declines in its Reporters Without Borders Press Freedom Index ranking. Challenges include increased fake news, editorial pressure on media, and highly polarized media environments. The European Union has requested that Serbia improve and guarantee freedom of expression as part of its negotiations.

There are no government restrictions on access to the Internet, e-mail, or Internet chat rooms. Individuals and groups can engage in the peaceful expression of views online. However, there are reports that the government monitors e-mail and selectively monitors communications. While the constitution prohibits arbitrary interference with privacy, police occasionally fail to respect laws regarding warrants and monitoring. Additionally, during a 2014 state of emergency, some websites critical of the government response to flooding were deleted or blocked.

A recent incident involved the government tabloid Večernje Novosti publishing pictures of Croatian passports. These images displayed the names and personal data of two student protesters. The publication claimed the students were spies sent to destabilize the country. In reality, the students were from refugee families holding both Serbian and Croatian citizenship. The students have announced they will sue the tabloid due to this breach of Serbian data protection laws.

Recent demonstrations in Serbia have focused on environmental issues and legislative changes. Protests were held in Belgrade and other locations to oppose the construction of the Belgrade Metro and changes to the Expropriation Law and Law on Referendum. These gatherings involved various civil society organisations and political groups. Some protests resulted in roadblocks at locations like the Gazela Bridge and Mostar interchange. There were also reports of clashes between police and demonstrators, as well as incidents of violence involving masked men in Šabac.

Conscription with six months of mandatory military service was abolished in 2011 when Serbia switched to all-volunteer professional armed forces. However, the reintroduction of conscription is planned for 2027. This planned change would require all males who have reached the age of eighteen and are found fit for service to serve 75 days. Currently, the armed forces consist of about 22,500 active military personnel. The military is also supplemented by an active reserve and a passive reserve of about 600,000 citizens.

The Serbian Police, formally known as the Police of the Republic of Serbia, serves as the national civilian police force. This organization is responsible for all local and national law enforcement duties. It operates under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The force maintains authority across the country to ensure public security. This structure manages both local community needs and national safety requirements.

While the Police Directorate manages affairs through regional directorates and local stations, specialized presence is found in certain areas. In specific tourist locations such as the ski-resorts of Kopaonik and Zlatibor or the spa-resort Palić, a police substation is established. These substations are known as policijska ispostava. There are also police stations across the country that handle community policing and traffic control. These stations provide various administrative services to the public as well.

The Serbian Army's Mixed Artillery Brigade operates at least 24 Nora B-52 M15 self-propelled howitzers. The Serbian government also announced the procurement of 8 additional Nora howitzers in January 2024. This system is capable of firing several different types of ammunition. These include both domestic and foreign 155mm projectiles that are JBMOU-compatible. The maximum range and effects on a target depend on the specific type of ammunition used.

Civil defense was included as part of the Armed Forces of Serbia and Montenegro. This military force was previously known as the Army of Yugoslavia. It consisted of ground forces, naval forces, and air and air defense forces. The organization was established from the remnants of the Yugoslav People's Army. These military structures underwent several changes and renamings following various conflicts and political shifts.

The issuing authority depends on the specific type of passport required. Regular passports are issued to all citizens and have varying validity periods based on age. Diplomatic passports are issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to diplomats, high-ranking officials, and certain family members. Official passports are provided to mid and low-ranking officials as well as non-diplomatic embassy staff. In the event of a lost passport abroad, an emergency travel document is issued by the consulate.

The Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia, also known as RZS, is the government agency in charge of collecting and disseminating official statistics. This institution has deep historical roots, with official statistics being established in 1862. Before the formal foundation, data was collected on taxpayers, livestock, and population as early as 1824 and 1834. The agency has undergone various organizational changes over the years, including periods of subordination to the Statistical Institute of Yugoslavia. Today, it serves as the primary body for national statistical work in the country.

The National Bank of Serbia serves as the central bank of the country. Its primary objective is to achieve and maintain price stability while contributing to the stability of the financial system. The bank holds a monopoly on the issuance of Serbian banknotes and coins and manages cash circulation. Additionally, it determines and implements monetary and foreign exchange policies. The institution is independent and autonomous in its tasks and is accountable to the National Assembly of Serbia.

Historically, Serbia faced significant economic pressure through trade disputes with Austria-Hungary. This conflict led to a customs blockade imposed by Austria-Hungary to pressure the Serbian economy. Such events highlighted the country's dependence on external markets during that period. To counter these challenges, Serbia worked to diversify its trade by strengthening ties with France and Britain. This strategic shift helped the nation navigate its economic vulnerabilities.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is a government ministry in charge of Serbia's foreign relations. Its headquarters are located in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Building. The current minister is Marko Đurić, who has been in office since 2 May 2024. The ministry is organized into various departments, including those for bilateral and multilateral cooperation. It also manages specific areas such as consular affairs, economic diplomacy, and relations with the diaspora.

Milosavljević served as the Minister of Trade, Tourism and Services in the first Serbian democratic government between 2001 and 2004. He also held the position of President of the Serbian Chamber of Commerce starting in 2004. Since December 2004, he has been the President of the Resource Board for Trade, Tourism and Services. His career included various roles in trade and services, such as Minister of Trade and Services from 2008 to 2011. He was also recognized with the 2005 PRO DANUBIO prize for his contributions to the development of Danubian countries.

The Institute of International Politics and Economics is a scientific organization focused on social sciences. It performs research activities that are of general interest to the Republic of Serbia. The institute works on the scientific study of processes in international politics and economics. This research helps create a basis for defining the country's foreign policy priorities. It currently falls under the jurisdiction of the Serbian Ministry of Science and Technological Development.

The healthcare system in Serbia is managed by the National Health Insurance Fund, which covers all citizens and permanent residents. All employees, self-employed persons, and pensioners are required to pay contributions to this fund. These contributions are based on a sliding scale where wealthier members pay higher percentages of their income. While the state remains the dominant provider of health care services, the private sector is steadily increasing. Private health care is mainly offered at the primary level and through specialized services. Private health insurance is also available for those without public insurance or those seeking higher standards.

Željko Vasiljević served as a state secretary in the ministry of labour and social policy. He resigned from the assembly on 27 August 2008 to take on this appointment. Before this role, he was a member of the Socialist parliamentary group in opposition. His appointment followed his service in the assembly after the 2007 and 2008 elections. He later faced criticism regarding comments he made about bringing women from other regions to marry Serbian farmers.

The city of Bor in eastern Serbia has faced significant issues with excessive air pollution. This situation intensified after the Chinese company Zijin Mining took over the copper miner RTB in late 2018. Since January 2019, sulfur dioxide levels in the area have reached over 2,000 micrograms per cubic meter, which is much higher than the allowed limit of 350. Local protesters have demanded that the city government adopt a plan to allow state inspectorates to react to these alarming levels. In April 2019, an inspector ordered the company to take action to protect human health and the environment from excessive emissions.

The National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia is the country's unicameral legislature. It is composed of 250 deputies who are elected for four-year terms. These deputies are chosen through direct, universal, and equal suffrage by secret ballot using proportional representation. The assembly is presided over by the President of the National Assembly. This official is assisted in their duties by one or more vice-presidents. The National Assembly holds supreme legislative power within the state.

The Institute of International Politics and Economics was established on 8 December 1947 by the Government of the Federal People's Republic of Yugoslavia. Its founding was based on the Act on the Establishment of the Institute of International Politics and Economics published in the Official Gazette of the FPRY, number 107/1947. Following the breakup of Yugoslavia, the Institute's status changed as it ceased to function as an institution of federal importance. It eventually came under the jurisdiction of the Serbian Ministry of Science and Technological Development. This transition was guided by the Government Decision on the exercise of founding rights in public enterprises and organizations.

When staying in private accommodation, the owner must register the foreigner with the local police station. Alternatively, the owner can issue a written authorization in advance through a notary. This allows the foreigner to register themselves within 24 hours of entering the country. The registration process involves filling out an online form that is signed and stamped by a police officer. Visitors should keep this form safe as it may be checked by police during their stay or when exiting Serbia.

The province of Vojvodina operates within the framework of the Constitution of Serbia and national laws. While the province has a statute that serves as its highest legal act, this statute focuses primarily on executive power. It does not grant the province any substantive legislative or judicial jurisdiction. The Constitutional Court of Serbia maintains the authority to rule on whether provincial acts conform to the constitution. Therefore, judicial matters are not handled by the provincial government.

Television is a traditional source of news and entertainment where approximately 94% of households use subscription-based platforms like cable, IPTV, or satellite. These platforms carry the public broadcaster RTS along with many domestic and international channels. Radio plays a more limited role, with the public broadcaster operating the Radio Belgrade network and digital audio broadcasting covering most of the population. Print media has seen a significant decline as audiences shift toward digital platforms. While Politika is the oldest newspaper of record, most newspapers now operate primarily through online editions. Leading tabloids like Blic and Kurir are among the most visited news sites, generally relying on advertising rather than subscription models.

The Yugoslav Film Archive, known as Jugoslovenska kinoteka, serves as the central institution for preserving film heritage through its archive and museum. For historical documents and military items, the Military Museum at Kalemegdan Fortress holds rich collections including weapons and flags. The National Museum of Serbia is the oldest museum institution in the country and contains over 400,000 items. Various other institutions like the Museum of Yugoslavia and the Museum of the City of Belgrade also preserve significant legacies. These institutions collectively protect the diverse cultural and historical heritage of the region.

Branko Ružić is a notable figure who graduated from the University of Belgrade. During his time at the university, he served as a dean student of the faculty from 1996 to 1999. He later went on to have a significant political career in Serbia. His background includes serving as the minister of education from 2020 to 2023. He was officially dismissed from this position by the National Assembly in May 2023.

The Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts is the highest academic institution in Serbia. It was founded by law as the Serbian Royal Academy on 1 November 1886. The academy originally consisted of four sections known as specialised academies. These sections included the Academy of Natural Sciences, the Academy of Philosophy, the Academy of Social Sciences, and the Academy of Arts. The institution is currently located in a magnificent building at 35 Knez Mihailova Street in the city centre.

The history of weather observation in Serbia is closely linked to Vladimir Jakšić, who founded the first meteorological station network and the first weather statistics department. He began making instrumental meteorological measurements in 1848 at his estate in Topčidersko Brdo. Through his research in the archives of Vienna and his own data compilation, he helped establish a center for environmental information. This center provides current and historical weather data that represents the longest continuous observation reaching back to 1768. Jakšić worked extensively to establish reliable statistical data in the archives of Serbia.

The origins of modern tourism in Serbia can be traced back to the 19th century. The Serbian government actively participated in developing spas by hiring foreign geologists to survey waters and sending medics to new centers. Some of the oldest spas include Vrnjačka Banja, Sokobanja, and Ribarska Banja. Other popular locations that emerged before World War I were Banja Koviljača, Niška Banja, and Vranjska Banja. Additionally, Mataruška Banja was founded in the late 19th century as one of the latest discovered sites.

A WHO-supported survey found that one third of rural water systems in Serbia do not meet microbiological drinking-water quality standards. This issue has led the Serbian government to revise some of its regulations. Additionally, many cities, towns, and villages have arsenic levels in their water that exceed both legal limits and WHO recommendations. The province of Vojvodina faces the most significant arsenic pollution, with some areas reaching 27 times the legal limit. Frequent floods also contribute to water contamination in the country.

One notable historical example involves the 1899 patent for loading coils, also known as Pupin coils. This invention was developed by Pupin and followed the earlier work of Oliver Heaviside. The patent became immensely valuable because it could greatly extend the range of long-distance and submarine telephones. American Telephone and Telegraph eventually acquired the American rights to this patent. This acquisition made Pupin wealthy despite the company having its own competing developments. The patent's importance was tied to its critical role in telecommunications technology.

The European Food Safety Authority provides independent scientific advice regarding risks in the food chain. This agency cooperates with national food safety authorities in the 27 EU member states, Iceland, and Norway. It also works with observers from Switzerland and EU candidate countries through its Focal Points. These Focal Points assist in the exchange of scientific information and experts. They also promote training in risk assessment and increase scientific visibility in Member States.

The history of Serbian polities includes maritime regions known as Pomorje. This maritime area consisted of several territories including Dioclea, Zachlumia, Pagania, and Travunia. These regions were part of the various polities established by the Serbs by the 10th century. The historical records mention these areas alongside the hinterland region of Serbia or Zagorje. This geographical structure was part of the early development of the Serbian people.

The history of electricity in Serbia began on 6 October 1893 with the first power plant in the Dorćol neighborhood of Belgrade. Early developments included the first alternating current hydroelectric plant in Užice in 1900 and the first alternating current transmission line in 1903. Following the Second World War, several hydroelectric and coal power plants were constructed between 1947 and 1950. The two largest power plants, the HPP Đerdap I hydroelectric plant and the TENT coal power plant, both began operations in 1970. This long history includes the establishment of Električno preduzeće Srbije in 1945 and Naftagas in 1949.

Serbia undertook to build a section of the Vienna-Constantinople railway line as part of its commitments from the Berlin Treaty. Because the country could not finance the project alone, a Parisian financial society called Union Général was selected in 1881. This society faced bankruptcy in early 1882, which nearly caused a disaster for Serbian finances. Minister Mijatović eventually found a solution through Austro-Hungarian diplomacy in Paris. A different financial house, Comptoir national d'escompte de Paris, took over the projects without harming Serbia.

The Assembly serves as the supreme body of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia and consists of 144 members. These members are elected based on region, territory, branch, and section. The Assembly is responsible for adopting the Statute, work programs, financial programs, and membership dues. Additionally, the Chamber provides directions to authorities regarding economic development and international economic relations. A Regulatory Board of seven members also exists to control the legislation, budget, and professional departments of the Chamber.

The Belgrade Stock Exchange, also known as BSE or BELEX, is located in Belgrade, the capital of Serbia. It was originally founded in 1894 and operated continuously until 1941. After being closed by the communist regime in 1953, it was re-established in 1989 as the Yugoslav Capital Market - Belgrade. The institution was renamed back to its original name in 1992. Currently, the exchange consists of two indices and uses the ATHEX trading platform.

Serbia is a member of several prominent international organizations. This includes the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. The country also maintains membership in the United Nations and the International Criminal Court. Other memberships include the Council of Europe and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. These affiliations are part of Serbia's broader international relations.

The cultural heritage of Serbia represents the totality of national cultural heritage as defined by the Law on Cultural Goods. It is primarily divided into two main groups consisting of tangible and intangible cultural heritage. Tangible heritage includes items such as works of art, historical monuments, archaeological sites, and museum artifacts. This category is further classified into immovable and movable heritage. Intangible heritage encompasses elements like folklore, traditions, language, and knowledge.

The Serbian language and Cyrillic script are the official ones according to the Constitution. In municipalities inhabited by ethnic minorities, their own languages and scripts are also officially used as established by law. In Vojvodina, the Hungarian, Slovak, Romanian, Croatian, and Rusyn languages are used alongside Serbian in provincial bodies. However, the language of the Romanian/Vlach community in the Timok Valley is not officially recognized as Romanian by the Serbian state but as the Vlach language. The National Council of the Romanian National Minority includes a department that analyzes and promotes the official use of the Romanian language.

Human rights in Serbia reflect the country's social norms, political processes, and relations with parties like the European Union. While there has been the adoption of progressively inclusive legislation and national strategies for gender equality, several areas of concern remain. Reports highlight persistent issues such as the systemic exclusion of the Roma minority and discrimination against LGBTI and HIV+ persons. Additionally, there are noted flaws regarding press harassment, faulty protection for asylum seekers, and a lack of legal protection for people with disabilities. Efforts continue to incorporate global norms into the legal system to hold duty-bearers accountable.

Many Romani people flee Serbia and other Balkan countries for EU countries due to a record of discrimination. The United Nations has reported concerns regarding persistent discrimination and social exclusion. These issues often stem from inequitable access to education, housing, employment, and legal protections. Additionally, poor birth registration and identity documentation for citizens remain significant challenges. There are even cases where children from Serbia have been granted refugee status in Ireland due to persecution based on their Roma identity.

In 1896, the Border Guard was replaced by the Border Gendarmerie. This new force consisted of cordon commands that were distributed across five different border sections. However, this arrangement was abolished only three years later. Following this change, the responsibilities were taken over by the newly-formed Border Troops. This transition marked a significant shift in how the borders were managed during that period.

The search for a permanent seat for the city administration was a contentious issue involving numerous plans throughout the early 19th century. Many early records and plans were lost during the Bombing of Novi Sad in 1849. Political disputes over the building's location delayed construction for many years. In 1869, a specific committee was established to oversee the construction of the new city hall. After various rejected designs and competitions, the committee eventually purchased plans from György Molnár in 1874. Later, in 1885, the Novi Sad City Administration organized another public competition for the building.

Serbia has a universal health care system that is largely financed by public health insurance. The public healthcare network is fairly robust and includes 306 institutions such as general hospitals and specialized hospitals. There is also a growing private healthcare sector consisting of clinics and community healthcare centers. These private providers include various clinics and small private practices. This dual system provides both public and private options for medical needs.

The entry requirements depend on your specific nationality and travel history. Certain citizens from African countries and Mercosur full members must provide a current International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis. This requirement applies to all incoming passengers between the ages of nine months and one year. Other countries may only require vaccination if you are arriving from or have recently visited an infected area. Some travelers might also need proof if they have transited through such an area for 12 hours.

Slivovitz is a fruit spirit or fruit brandy that is made from damson plums. It is often referred to as plum spirit or plum brandy. This spirit is produced both commercially and privately in Central and Southeastern Europe. Serbia is listed as one of the primary producers of this drink. In the Balkans, slivovitz is considered a kind of rakia.

In 2021, the animal rights group Leviathan organized an operation against the largest animal shelter in Serbia. The group claimed that the owner of the shelter had allowed dogs to die. However, the owner, Dejan Gačić, claimed the attack was actually intended to force him out. He stated this was due to the large amount of foreign donations he had received prior to the raid. Leviathan is described by observers as a vigilantist group with neo-Nazi and far-right nationalist views.

On 25 April, university students began a relay race from Novi Sad to reach the European Parliament. High school pupils from various cities joined large protests in Novi Sad to support this movement. In Sremska Mitrovica, citizens held a silent vigil and blocked a local road for five hours. Students also organized a blockade at the Faculty of Sports, which led to confrontations with riot police using pepper spray. Following these actions, student protesters announced the end of their blockade of RTS facilities. On 1 May, these student protesters were joined by several trade unions including the SSSS and Nezavisnost.

A visa run occurs when a visitor leaves a country for a short period to get a new entry stamp and extend their stay. This is often done with a passport that allows entry without a visa to reset the clock on permitted stay. However, immigration authorities often frown upon this practice because it may suggest an intent to reside or work permanently. Officers may deny re-entry to visitors suspected of these prohibited activities, especially if they have performed repeated visa runs. In some cases, leaving and returning is necessary to activate a newly issued work visa.

The Ministry of Finance has worked to modernize the Tax Administration through various reforms. These efforts include the implementation of digital tools such as e-invoices and e-fiscalization to improve the economic environment. A new set of laws was passed to reduce the tax burden on labour and provide incentives for business beginners. These measures aim to contribute to a better economic climate and support overall growth. Such reforms are part of a broader strategy to maintain macroeconomic stability in Serbia.

The law authorizes the government to provide social and health insurance and fund retirement plans only for religious clerics of registered groups. Unregistered religious organizations are treated as informal groups and do not receive these legal benefits. Registration is necessary to access such state-funded protections. Only registered religious groups are eligible for these specific social and health insurance provisions. This distinction is part of the legal framework governing religious communities in Serbia.

In early 1989, the Assembly of Serbia proposed constitutional amendments to significantly reduce the autonomous status of SAP Kosovo. The 47th amendment changed the constitution so that the Assembly of Serbia only needed to seek the opinion of autonomous province assemblies rather than their approval for future amendments. Other controversial changes allowed the Constitutional Court of Serbia to intervene in the constitutional courts of autonomous provinces before their proceedings concluded. These moves led to large demonstrations and the detention of many prominent Kosovo Albanians. Ultimately, the Serbian parliament approved these constitutional changes on 28 March 1989.

During the late 1980s, Slobodan Milosevic pressured the Yugoslav government to grant him emergency powers. He intended to use these powers to deal with Kosovo Albanian separatists. This period was marked by significant political shifts within the League of Communists of Serbia. Milosevic also used this time to reduce the autonomy of the provinces of Kosovo and Vojvodina. He installed loyal politicians to serve as representatives in these autonomous regions.

Censorship is prohibited by the Serbian Constitution, which protects freedom of expression and information through national and international law. However, instances of censorship and self-censorship are still reported within the country. Serbia is deemed partly free by Freedom House and has seen declines in its Press Freedom Index ranking over recent years. Challenges include increased fake news, editorial pressure on media, and highly polarized media environments. While the law allows for certain restrictions to protect national security or the rights of others, the European Union has requested that Serbia improve and guarantee these freedoms. Additionally, while there is no specific provision on hate speech, inciting national, racial, or religious intolerance is a criminal offense.

Serbia operates under two different time zones depending on the time of year. The country uses Central European Time, which is UTC+01. During the summer, it switches to Central European Summer Time, which is UTC+02. This ensures the time remains consistent with seasonal changes. Visitors should keep these offsets in mind when planning their schedules.

Serbia joined the United Nations on November 1, 2000, as the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. This occurred after the ousting of President Slobodan Milošević from office. Previously, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia had been unable to automatically continue the membership of the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. The United Nations had decided that the state should apply for membership instead of continuing automatically. Following the independence of Montenegro in 2006, Serbia continued the membership of Serbia and Montenegro in the UN.

The concept of Old Serbia was introduced in the early nineteenth century by Vuk Karadžić in his various publications. He initially defined the area as including the Morava-Vardar river valley, specifically covering parts of the Kriva, Pčinja, Bregalnica, Vardar, and Morava rivers. Over time, the usage of the term widened and changed, eventually denoting Raška during the 1860s. Following the Serbian-Ottoman Wars, the term became synonymous with the Ottoman Vilayet of Kosovo. By 1912, the claims associated with the term were narrowed to include only Kosovo.

The National Library of Serbia is the largest library and oldest institution in the country, located in Belgrade. It was established in 1832 by bookbinder Gligorije Vozarović in his bookstore. Throughout the last two centuries, the library has been destroyed multiple times. During World War I, collections were moved to Niš and Kragujevac for protection due to bombing damage. Later, the library building in Kosančićev Venac was completely destroyed by Luftwaffe bombing in April 1941. This destruction resulted in the loss of hundreds of thousands of volumes and many invaluable manuscripts.

The Serbian eagle, a white two-headed eagle standing for the dual power and sovereignty of monarch and church, was the coat of arms of the Nemanjić dynasty. The Serbian cross is based on the Byzantine cross, whose four Greek letters meant King of Kings ruling over kings, but those letters were restyled as four Cyrillic letters S. The resulting motto is traditionally given as Samo sloga Srbina spasava, meaning Only Unity Saves the Serbs. Shown on a field, the cross is traditionally placed on red, although it may also be used with no field at all. Both the eagle and the cross have been the basis of Serbian coats of arms through history and of symbols used by Serbian organisations, political parties, institutions and companies.

Serbia uses Central European Time at UTC+01 during the standard period and Central European Summer Time at UTC+02 when summer time applies. The time zone label attached to the country is Europe/Belgrade. A geographic outline lists Central European Time (UTC+01) and Central European Summer Time (UTC+02) as the country's zones. Separate reference data again place Europe/Belgrade with Central European Time, UTC+01:00 and UTC+02:00. Clocks in Serbia are therefore one hour ahead of UTC in winter and two hours ahead of UTC in summer.

Holders of a valid multiple-entry visa issued by any Schengen Area member state, Cyprus, Ireland, the United Kingdom or the United States may enter Serbia without a Serbian visa for a maximum stay of 90 days within any 180-day period, if that visa stays valid for the whole stay. Holders of a residence permit issued by any Schengen Area member state, Cyprus, Ireland or the United States may also enter without a Serbian visa for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. A tourist visa for Serbia allows only a tourism trip or a visit to relatives or friends. Holders of that tourist visa are prohibited from business or work activities in Serbia. The listed tourist-visa requirements include a passport valid at least 90 days from the visa issue date and a letter of invitation.

Serbia visa applications are expected to include a return ticket or an itinerary, and people traveling by car are asked for a copy of the driving license and insurance. The same list asks for an invitation letter or proof of payment for a tourist trip, a completed visa form, a photograph sized three and a half by four and a half centimetres, proof of sufficient funds, health insurance and the visa fee. Those papers are submitted to an embassy or consulate general of Serbia abroad, and incomplete applications are not accepted. For a transit visa, the applicant should hold an entry visa for the country entered after Serbia, or present other documents explaining that onward visit if no visa is required. Visitors must obtain an e-Visa unless they are citizens of a visa-exempt country.

Đuro Macut succeeded Miloš Vučević as prime minister of Serbia on 16 April, after Vučević announced his resignation on 28 January and the National Assembly acknowledged that resignation on 19 March. The resignation followed student-led protests that included a general strike on 24 January 2025 and came after a group of students was attacked in Novi Sad. Aleksandar Vučić, who earlier served as prime minister, was elected president of Serbia in 2017 and re-elected in 2022. He resigned the presidency in order to run for prime minister in the 2026 parliamentary election. A presidential election is to be held by 27 December 2026, and he cannot run for president again after two consecutive terms.