Dear,

The Administrative Board of the International Bebras (“Dabar”) organization has decided that our country will host the Jubilee 20th International Bebras (“Dabar”) Task Workshop in Vrnjacka Banja from May 13 to 17, 2024. The international event where colleagues from around the world prepare tasks for the competition for the next school year.

The International Bebras (“Dabar”) organization gathers more than 80 member countries worldwide and organizes the International Bebras competition in computational and computer thinking, in which millions of students worldwide participate. We proudly highlight that the competition has been organized in our country for 11 years, with 435,000 students participating so far, and in the school year 2023/2024 alone, 65,000 students from our country participated.

International Bebras (“Dabar”) Organization website: https://www.bebras.org/ Competition website “Dabar” in Serbia: https://dabar.edu.rs/

The Association “Information Technologies – Association of Professors of Serbia” (IT-UPS), based in Krusevac, is an official and licensed part of the International Bebras (“Dabar”) organization, the organizer of the competition in our country, and the host of the Jubilee 20th International Bebras (“Dabar”) Task Workshop in Vrnjacka Banja from May 13 to 17, 2024. The association is officially registered in our country by the Business Registers Agency. Attached is the registration resolution of the association. The project is supported by the City of Krusevac, and a one-day excursion and visit to Krusevac, the City Assembly, and the museum in Krusevac are planned. The project is known to the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Information and Telecommunications.

Colleagues from around the world are currently applying to attend the Jubilee 20th International Bebras (“Dabar”) Task Workshop in Vrnjacka Banja from May 13 to 17, 2024. For colleagues who need to apply for a visa to enter our country, we need the following information from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia and clarification of procedures:

1. Type of Visa:

   Do colleagues apply for a C Visa, considering they will stay in our country for less than 90 days? They will be our guests for a maximum of 7 to 10 days.

   Participants apply for a C visa.

2. Invitation Letter:

   Since it is an educational scientific gathering, and our association is registered by the Business Registers Agency, do we send a business visit invitation letter from a company in Serbia to colleagues?

   Is it sufficient to fill out, stamp, sign, and electronically send the invitation letter to colleagues?

   You should send colleagues a printed and signed invitation letter (which can be in electronic format) along with a letter from the association containing details regarding the organization of the event (time and place of the event, participant accommodation, the reason for organizing the event, etc.).

3. Completed Visa Application Form – (PDF):

   Do we send colleagues the electronic version of this form as on your website, and they fill it out with a pen?

   Participants should submit the application online on the official Government of the Republic of Serbia portal for foreigners – www.welcometoserbia.gov.rs. A visa application form is not required for this type of submission since it is filled out online. When submitting the request, it is necessary to select the diplomatic-consular representation of Serbia where the visa will be collected. Individuals holding a valid Schengen visa or a visa from a European Union member state for multiple entries and exits, or a U.S. or UK visa, do not need a visa to enter the Republic of Serbia.

4. Return Ticket Reservation or Itinerary (copy of driver’s license and insurance if traveling by car):

   Colleagues from countries requiring a visa will mostly arrive by plane; do they need a return airline ticket to apply for a visa, or is a hotel reservation confirmation from the hotel sufficient?

   A return airline ticket is required.

5. Proof of Sufficient Financial Means for Stay in Serbia:

   How do they prove this?

   By providing a bank statement or attaching proof that they possess credit cards with sufficient funds (50 euros per day of stay).

6. How long does it usually take from submitting a visa application to obtaining the visa?

   The deadline is 15 working days, with the possibility of extension to 30 days according to the Law on Foreigners. We suggest submitting applications as early as possible. Also, we suggest providing this department with a list of event participants requiring a visa, including passport numbers and the diplomatic-consular representation where they will collect the visa.

We appreciate your support and assistance in advance.

Krusevac, February 19, 2024

President of the Association “IT-UPS” – Milan Rajkovic

In case of additional information needs, feel free to contact us.

Sincerely,

Visa Policy Department

All the best from Serbia