Following the global Covid 19 virus outbreak, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia Ivica Dacic instructed all diplomatic missions and consular posts of the Republic of Serbia that assistance to and protection of Serbian citizens in affected areas was to be a priority in their work.

The MFA used all available channels (DCMs/diplomatic and consular network, Serbian Orthodox Church, media outlets of the Serbian diaspora, etc.) to distribute abroad the Recommendation issued by the Government of the Republic of Serbia calling on the Serbian citizens staying abroad to delay any inessential travel to the Republic of Serbia until further notice.

The First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs maintains constant contact with fellow Foreign Ministers and representatives of international organizations in efforts to immediately identify solutions for many problems arising due to restrictive measures being imposed by countries in response to the virus, with the majority of problems being related to the limitations on passenger travel and transport of goods.
Based on the Decision of the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia Ivica Dacic, an Emergency Task Force was established at the Foreign Ministry aiming to provide assistance to the citizens of our country abroad.

All diplomatic and consular missions of the Republic of Serbia worldwide have been actively providing consular services, despite the difficulties they have faced due to current working conditions. Since the majority of foreign countries have imposed restrictive measures, a large number of Serbian citizens found themselves stranded at certain destinations unable to continue on their itinerary towards the Republic of Serbia as planned. These are citizens who were in foreign countries on business or as tourists, receiving treatment for malignant diseases and other serious conditions, as university students, etc.

All diplomatic and consular missions have been putting in maximum efforts to resolve the problems experienced by our citizens and make arrangements for their return, if necessary. At the same time, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs takes the opportunity to call once again on its citizens not to travel if they are able to continue their stay in a foreign country.

Since the emergency situation was declared in the Republic of Serbia on 15 March 2020, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been engaged in assisting foreign nationals (and their respective diplomatic and consular missions) who were on the way to their country of origin or at the very Serbian border, at the moment when measures to ban entry into/transit through the Republic of Serbia were imposed.