Serbia
Key engagement
Law enforcement cooperation, growing Australian business and investment in Serbia, deep and long-standing people-to-people links.
Bilateral relations
Australia established diplomatic relations with the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in 1966. Australia then established diplomatic relations with each of the former republics after the break-up of Yugoslavia in the 1990s. In 2006, Montenegro's independence from the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro resulted in the establishment of the Republic of Serbia (Serbia).
The bilateral relationship is underpinned by strong people-to-people links with almost 95,000 Australians claiming Serbian ancestry. Australian business activity and investment in Serbia is growing, particularly in the resources sector.
A social security agreement came into effect in February 2024, improving access to pensions for people who split their lives between Australia and Serbia or have moved from one country to the other. Australia and Serbia engage in international organisations and on both bilateral and multinational matters. Australia's embassy in Belgrade is a hub for Australian law enforcement cooperation in the region.
Through its embassy in Belgrade, Australia supports direct aid projects with developmental benefits for local communities. The projects focus on gender, disability and democratic participation, and anti-tobacco initiatives.
Foreign policy
Serbia seeks to build ties with Albania and North Macedonia via the Open Balkans Initiative to facilitate the movement of goods and people across borders.
Serbia is a member of key international organisations, including the United Nations and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. Accession talks to the European Union began in 2014 and are ongoing.
Serbia remains a key player in the Non-Aligned Movement, founded by Yugoslavia in the early 1960s. It is not a member of any military grouping but does cooperate with NATO.
Further information is available at Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia.
Fast Facts
- Serbian visitors to Australia (2022) – 1,320
- Australian visitors to Serbia (2022) – 10,270
- Resident Australian population born in Serbia (2021 census) –25,454
- Australian residents claiming Serbian ancestry (2021 census) – 94,997
- Serbian students in Australia (2022) - 84
High level engagement
- 2017 –Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Hon Julie Bishop MP, visited Serbia
- 2017 –Minister for International Development and the Pacific, Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells, visited Serbia
- 2012 –First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior, Ivica Dačić visited Australia
Agreements with Serbia
- Social Security Agreement
- Air Services
Treaties with the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
- Cultural Cooperation
- Exchange of Official Publications
- Employment of Yugoslav Citizens in Australia
Public diplomacy
The Australian Embassy in Belgrade manages a public diplomacy program to promote Australian innovation and showcase Australian lifestyle and culture, including visual arts, music, and film.
Australian Embassy in Belgrade
8th floor, Vladimira Popovića 38-40,
11070, New Belgrade
- Email: belgrade.embassy@dfat.gov.au
- Website: Australian Embassy in Serbia
- Facebook: Australia in Serbia, North Macedonia and Montenegro
Economic diplomacy
In 2021-22, Australia's goods and services trade with Serbia was $91.1 million. Australia imported $84.9 million worth of items from Serbia. Australia's exports totalled $6.2 million, with the main item being 'education-related travel'.
Australian companies and entrepreneurs are showing growing interest in Serbia and the Balkans, particularly in services and mining. Dozens of Australian-based firms and Australian entrepreneurs operate in Serbia, including global market leaders. The Australian Serbian Commerce Chamber was launched in 2017, with the aim of strengthening bilateral trade and investment.
The Australian Embassy in Belgrade works closely with Austrade's offices in Milan and Warsaw to pursue Australia's economic diplomacy agenda.
More economic and trade information can be found in the Serbia economic fact sheet [PDF].