Travel Regulations – 22 January update

Travel Regulations – 22 January update

As we said in last week’s newsletter, the travel regulations both to enter Serbia and the UK are liable to change at the last minute. And so it happened, in the last week both countries have made changes.
 
Serbia has introduced a new scheme to make it easier for businesspeople of any nationality to come to the country without having a COVID test in advance. This change came into force on January 21st with just 12 hours’ notice.
 
This new scheme applies to owners, managers and employees coming to Serbia for business purposes. Anyone using the scheme must inform the Serbian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PKS) by e-mail to inocovid19@pks.rs 48 hours in advance of their arrival.  The following information must be provided as a memorandum from the company (on headed notepaper):
 

  1. Full name of the person (or persons) coming to the Republic of Serbia
  2. passport details (passport number and the country of issue)
  3. Purpose of business visit to Serbia
  4. Details of entry:
    1. date and border crossing of entry into Serbia
    2. flight number/car registration number, etc.
  5. Contact and visit details:
    1. accommodation address
    2. duration of stay
    3. contact phone
    4.  e-mail

 
After arrival, they must be tested for COVID in a Serbian reference laboratory and submit the result to the Chamber.  Once/if the test is negative, they will be allowed to carry out their planned activities. 
 
People arriving from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Montenegro and North Macedonia are allowed to enter Serbia without a PCR test, and do not need to comply with these regulations. Full details can be found on the PKS website in Serbian, or on Marko Cadez’s LinkedIn page here in English. We can also provide a copy (in Serbian) of the decree if requested.
 
The UK changes will have less impact on travellers from the West Balkans – all ‘Travel Corridors’ have been suspended. Everyone now arriving in the UK needs to have a negative COVID test (taken 72 hours before departure), to have registered online and has to isolate for at 10 days (or at least 5 days using the Test to Release scheme) as explained in last week’s newsletter.
 
As ever, regulations can change at any time without notice. Whilst the BSCC gives this information in good faith, we do not accept any liability if anyone relies on it – you should always look at and rely on the original documents.
 

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