Published: 11.06.2026
The European Commission again called on Serbia to further align its visa policy with EU rules, including stricter screening of third-country nationals. The materials also raise concerns about simplified Serbian citizenship procedures for nationals of countries considered to pose migration or security risks to the EU, including Russians who may then obtain visa-free access to the Union.
According to the sources, EU pressure is aimed not at an immediate change to Serbia’s entry rules, but at stronger screening and closer alignment of Serbian visa policy with EU standards. Over time, this could make Serbian visa or citizenship applications more formalized for nationals of countries viewed by the EU as higher migration or security risks. The issue primarily affects applicants seeking citizenship or long-term legalization, as well as visa-free travelers from third countries. Anyone considering Serbia as a route to citizenship or visa-free access to the EU should monitor this closely.