President of the Republic of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic announced on Marh 15th, that due to the coronavirus situation, a decision was made to declare a state of emergency throughout the Republic of Serbia.
President Vučić said at a press conference that the decision was made after meeting of the Covid-19 crisis response team and the crisis team for eliminating the possible and harmful effects of the coronavirus on the economy at the Palace of Serbia, which he chaired.
The state of emergency came into force immediately after the decision is published in the Official Gazette, after which a government session was held to adopt a decree on emergency measures.
Accordingly, the borders of the Republic of Serbia are closed to all foreign nationals, with the exception of diplomats accredited in Serbia and foreigners with a residence permit or permanently resident in Serbia.
Citizens of the Republic of Serbia, as well as accredited diplomats and foreign nationals residing in the Republic of Serbia, who enter the Republic of Serbia, are under criminal responsibility for at least 14 days in self-isolation.
This measure will be strictly controlled and its violation will be most severely sanctioned. Citizens will be provided with a legally binding solution upon entering the country. Imprisonment for violation of this provision is up to three years in prison.
This is very important to reduce the movement of citizens, which is one of the main reasons for introducing a state of emergency in order to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
For citizens of the Republic of Serbia and foreign nationals residing in the Republic of Serbia who come from the Swiss Confederation, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Romania, the Kingdom of Spain, the Federal Republic of Germany, the French Republic, the Republic of Austria, the Republic of Slovenia and the Republic of Greece isolation for 28 days.
These measures do not apply to:
Crews of freight motor vehicles when performing international road transport. In the case of international road traffic burden, the stay is limited to a period of no longer than 12 hours from the moment of entry into the territory of the Republic of Serbia;
Crew of freight ships carrying goods into one of the domestic ports. In the case of transit sailing on the international water road on the territory of the Republic of Serbia, it is limited to a period of no longer than 90 hours for ship's supply and 60 hours for self-propelled vessels from the moment of entering the territory of the Republic of Serbia in the event of water sailing. In the case of downwater, the stay in the waters of the Republic of Serbia is limited to the period not longer than 72 hours for ship's supply and 54 hours for self-guiding vessels from the moment of entry into the territory of the Republic of Serbia;
Driving staff of railway vehicles entering the zone of border stations established by intergovernmental agreements;
Crew and cabin staff of aircraft whose ultimate destination is the Republic of Serbia or in transit through international airports of the Republic of Serbia;
Persons who received the consent to enter the Republic of Serbia from the government's working body, consisting of representatives of the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Interior Affairs and the Ministry of Construction, Transport and infrastructure.
The humanitarian convoys contracted by diplomatic way (under compulsory escort).
Having in mind the above mentioned, all diplomatic missions and consular posts of the Republic of Serbia abroad will suspend their activities regarding the visa applications for foreigners, beside the above mentioned categories, who intend to enter the territory of the Republic of Serbia.
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The special portal of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Serbia explains in detail the procedure at border crossings when passengers entering the Republic of Serbia.
