Kozarev: Serbian passport ranked among the 35 most powerful in the world by strength index

The Serbian passport allows visa-free entry to 140 countries, and negotiations are currently underway to establish visa-free regimes with an additional 30 countries, which could soon rank it among the most powerful passports globally, stated Dušan Kozarev, Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Serbia. He clarified that, according to the Henley Passport Index, the Serbian travel document is currently ranked among the top 35 most powerful passports in the world, RTV reports.

"We are exploring the possibility of abolishing visas with around thirty more countries. If we reach that 'magic number'—adding several dozen more to the 140 countries we already have visa-free access to—our passport would become one of the most powerful in the world," Kozarev told Tanjug.

He further specified that, based on the Henley Index—measuring how many "doors" worldwide a passport opens without a visa—the Serbian passport holds the 35th position.

"This is also the highest rank our red passport has ever reached. It currently allows holders of regular Serbian passports visa-free access to 140 countries worldwide," Kozarev said, adding that negotiations are ongoing with several traditionally popular and significant destinations for Serbian citizens.

Among the negotiating partners on the so-called "white list" are around thirty countries from various parts of the world, including the United Kingdom, Kozarev noted. He emphasized that according to the Henley Index, the top-ranked passport is Singapore's, whose citizens can travel visa-free to 193 countries. The U.S. ranks 10th, China 64th, and Russia and Turkey share 49th place.

He expressed particular satisfaction that a visa-free regime with Venezuela came into force in the past month, leaving only Guyana and Paraguay in South America as countries where Serbian citizens still need visas.

"In the Central American region, we are dealing with countries that don’t require visas for entry into the EU, which are on the Schengen white list. We implement the same white Schengen list and practically need to establish bilateral relations with them on that basis," said Kozarev.

He emphasized that the upcoming Summit of the Organization of American States—where Serbian Foreign Minister Marko Djuric will participate—will be a good opportunity to establish visa-free regimes with certain countries.

In the coming weeks, he added, Serbia expects to finalize several agreements within bilateral talks with countries in the Central American and Caribbean regions.

The Secretary General said that he would not disclose details for now so the outcome would be a pleasant surprise for citizens and expressed hope that the agreements would exceed expectations.

Kozarev recalled that the old red passport of the former Yugoslavia was at its peak strength in the mid-1980s and did not require visas for a number of countries with which Serbia still has traditionally good relations—primarily due to the Non-Aligned Movement. This was also confirmed by last year’s major conference attended by representatives from nearly all African nations and hosted by the President of Serbia.

"These ties still exist—they are traditional, especially in terms of strong interpersonal and business relations. Politically, we are usually on the same side in international organizations. However, due to the wars and sanctions of the 1990s—when visas were imposed on Serbs and Yugoslavs—we now need to resolve the remnants of that era. Of course, we must do so in a way that protects our friendships, national interests, and people-to-people connections, while also not jeopardizing our path toward full EU membership and our obligation to align with the EU’s visa policy," said Kozarev.

He added that what once characterized the Yugoslav passport—visa-free travel throughout Africa—is no longer the case, as not all African countries are on the Schengen white list.

"But wherever possible, we are striving to establish or renew visa-free regimes," he said, noting that with countries already on the Schengen white list, the goal is to affirm that there is no reason for mutual travel restrictions.

Kozarev highlighted that Serbia has made significant progress with the implementation of e-visas, noting that the first travelers—citizens of Lesotho—arrived at Nikola Tesla Airport with e-visas earlier this week.

He explained that the e-visa system currently applies to citizens of 46 countries worldwide, and he expressed confidence that the list will expand so that more travelers can apply online for entry into Serbia.

"A great start to the implementation of the new system—beyond expectations," said Kozarev.

The new e-visa system, he added, will help Serbia make a "quantum leap" forward, significantly benefiting tourism, attracting those who want to visit, stay, or work, and supporting the upcoming EXPO 2027.

He also stated that citizens of 83 countries currently enter Serbia without a visa, including holders of Schengen, UK, and U.S. visas, as well as those with regulated residency in the Schengen area, EU, or U.S.