Serbia, one of the last European countries where Russians can still enter freely, is preparing to join the Schengen Area, which will automatically lead to the introduction of visas for citizens of the Russian Federation. The Moscow Times reports this, UNN writes.
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Belgrade’s goal is to be ready to join the Schengen Area by the end of 2027, the republic’s Minister for European Integration, Namanja Starović, said in an interview with "Radio Belgrade." According to him, the Serbian government has already formed a special working group headed by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and approved a plan for the necessary reforms. At the same time, joining the Schengen Area is planned without full accession to the EU, which, according to Starović, is unlikely by the end of the decade.
Serbia is discussing the issue of changing its visa regime with Russia, Dragan Stanojević, head of the parliamentary committee on the diaspora and Serbs in the region, confirmed to Russian media. He said that the possible introduction of visas is being considered in the context of fulfilling the requirements of the European Union. Currently, Russian citizens can enter Serbia without a visa and stay in the country for up to 30 days. Serbia has been negotiating EU accession since 2014.
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In April 2026, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić said that he intended to fulfill by the end of the year the criteria necessary for further progress toward European integration, particularly in the area of migration and visa policy. In October 2025, he called EU membership the country’s foreign-policy priority. At the same time, Vučić denied reports of the possible cancellation of the visa-free regime with Russia. In June, the president said on the Prva television channel that such an issue had not even been considered in Serbia. "Such a decision will not be adopted; even if someone adopts it, it will be immediately revoked," Vučić said at the time. However, Vučić may soon leave office, and on June 27 he said that he would resign soon.
In November, Montenegro also plans to introduce visas for Russians. The country’s government decided to cancel the visa-free regime for citizens of Russia and Belarus from November 1, 2026. Until October 31, Russians can enter Montenegro without a visa and stay in the country for up to 30 days. The Montenegrin authorities explained the change in visa policy as necessary to bring it into line with EU policy. The country’s government called the decision one of the commitments on the path to membership in the European Union.