Visa requirements for Serbian citizens

Visa requirements for Serbian citizens are administrative entry restrictions by the authorities of other states placed on citizens of the Republic of Serbia. As of 13 April 2020, Serbian citizens had visa-free or visa on arrival access to 135 countries and territories, ranking the Serbian passport 37th overall in terms of travel freedom according to the Henley Passport Index. The Serbian passport is one of 5 passports with the greatest improvement in rating since 2006.
As of May 2019, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brunei, Grenada, Mauritius, Seychelles, Serbia and United Arab Emirates are the only countries whose citizens may travel without a visa to China, Russia and the Schengen Area.
History.
Before Serbia began issuing new biometric passports in 2008, its citizens travelled using old Federal Republic of Yugoslavia passport.
Until the 1990s, the Yugoslav passport has been described as highly sought-after commodity. As part of its non-aligned policies, the Yugoslav government signed numerous mutual agreements on visa-free entry from the mid-1960s. Eventually this applied to most states of the world, promoting the Yugoslav passport to "one of the most convenient in the world, as it was one of the few with which a person could travel freely through both the East and West" during the Cold War. Passport holders only required visas for six countries: the United States, West Germany, Greece, Israel, Albania and the People's Republic of China.
With the subsequent dissolution of Yugoslavia in the 1990s, the period of difficulties related to travel bureaucracy started for all successor states, including Serbia. From the 2000s onward, the situation has been significantly and constantly improving.
Recent.
Serbia and Russia signed visa-free travel agreement in February 2009. Serbia signed a visa-free agreement with Israel in September 2009. The European Union Schengen area countries lifted visas for Serbian citizens in December 2009. Serbia and Turkey mutually abolished visa regime in July 2010. Serbia signed an agreement on the abolishment of visas with Kazakhstan in August 2010. Serbia and Ukraine mutually abolished visas in May 2011. Japan abolished visas for Serbian citizens in May 2011. Serbia and Albania mutually abolished visas in July 2011. In August 2013 agreement on visa-free travel with Brazil came into force. In July 2014 agreement on visa-free travel with Mongolia came into force. In August 2015 agreement on visa-free travel with Moldova came into force. In April 2016 Indonesia abolished visas for Serbian citizens for a maximum stay of 30 days. In January 2017, agreement on mutual visa free travel between China and Serbia entered into force. In November 2017 Iran abolished visas for Serbian citizens but reversed its decision in October 2018. Colombia abolished visas for Serbian citizens in February 2018. Serbia and Kyrgyzstan mutually abolished visas on 8 November 2018. Uzbekistan abolished visas for Serbian citizens on 21 January 2019. United Arab Emirates abolished visas for Serbian citizens on 6 May 2019. Barbados abolished visas for Serbian citizens in May 2019. Suriname abolished visas for holders of Serbian passport in September 2019. Armenia lifted visa requirements for Serbian citizens on 30 January 2020.
Future.
Possible inclusion of Serbia in the Visa Waiver Program of the United States was proposed by Serbia in 2009. Serbian adjusted visa refusal rate remains above the threshold (3%).
The British Embassy in Serbia announced that visas could be abolished for Serbian citizens in 2011. However, in 2013, the Home Office announced it had no intention of abolishing visas for Serbian citizens.
Serbian and Australian officials held talks on facilitation measures for the issuance of Australian visas for Serbian citizens in 2012.
In June 2014 New Zealand announced an introduction of a facilitated visa regime for Serbian citizens.
In November 2016 Serbian foreign minister held talks with Canadian officials on the beginning of visa liberalisation for Serbian citizens.
Serbian authorities have also held talks with several countries on concluding visa abolition agreements in the future including with Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Guatemala, Iran, Jamaica, Kuwait, Oman, Panama, Paraguay, South Africa, Tajikistan, Venezuela and Vietnam but have not yet concluded them. Serbia subsequently abolished visa requirements for some of those countries unilaterally.
Territories and disputed areas.
Visa requirements for Serbian citizens for visits to various territories, disputed areas, partially recognised countries and restricted zones:
Kosovo.
The Constitution of Serbia recognises Kosovo as Serbian sovereign territory. Nevertheless, in reality, the Serbian authorities do not exercise effective control over the territory. In an agreement, facilitating visa free travel to the Schengen area, Serbia agreed with the EU to form the Serbian Coordination Directorate, responsible for issuing Serbian passports to the Kosovo resident Serbian citizens. These passports are treated differently from the regular Serbian passports and their holders are required to obtain entry visas for most territories and countries for which holders of the regular Serbian passport do not require a visa. All Serbian citizens resident in Kosovo, regardless of their ethnicity, are entitled to these special passports.
The UN administration in Kosovo UNMIK used to issue its own travel documents with the last ones being issued in July 2008. This document was recognised by several countries, but was in general refused at borders. The UNMIK travel documents were valid for two years, consequently there are no longer any valid UNMIK travel documents in circulation. Serbia didn't recognise the validity of the UN issued document nor does it recognise the Kosovan passport, which is officially recognised and is de facto accepted by other states.
Serbian Government and the Kosovan Authorities are actively negotiating various issues of mutual importance among which is what travel documents can be used for crossing the Serbia-Kosovo Administrative Line
Serbian ID as optional passport replacement.
Serbian identity card can be used instead of a passport for travel to some neighboring countries of Serbia that have signed special agreements with the Serbian Government: