Serbia has scrapped visa-free entry for Iranian citizens, little more than year after it introduced it to boost tourism, according to a government decree published in the Official Gazette yesterday.
"The Government of the Republic of Serbia has decided to end its previous decision to abolish visas ... for the citizens of the Islamic Republic Of Iran," it said.
In August 2017 Belgrade decided to abolish visas for Iranians, to boost tourism, improve growth and reach out to non-European markets. But authorities say that the number of illegal migrants from Iran who travel to Serbia and then try to cross into the European Union countries rocketed this year and last.
Speaking to parliament, Interior Minister Nebojsa Stefanovic warned that a number of Iranians were "abusing" the visa-free travel, Reuters reported.
