can serbians travel to uk

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Serbian Passport

The Serbian passport grants access to 85 countries without a visa. It also allows for 44 e-visas and 19 visas on arrival. However, a visa is required for entry into 45 countries.

Serbia is a landlocked country in Southeast Europe. It has a population of approximately 7 million people. The capital city is Belgrade, which is also the largest city.

The Serbian passport is ranked 40th in the world in terms of travel freedom. This is based on the number of visa-free and visa-on-arrival countries Serbians can access.

Visa-free map

Nearby countries.

The nearest visa free countries to visit for Serbian passport holders are Montenegro, North Macedonia, Albania, Hungary, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Bulgaria .

Visa free countries

So, where can Serbians travel without a visa? We have listed all the countries where Serbia citizens can travel visa-free, eliminating the hassle of visa paperwork.

🇦🇱 Albania (90 days)
🇦🇩 Andorra (N/A)
🇦🇹 Austria (90 days)
🇧🇾 Belarus (30 days)
🇧🇪 Belgium (90 days)
🇧🇦 Bosnia and Herzegovina (90 days)
🇧🇬 Bulgaria (90 days)
🇭🇷 Croatia (90 days)
🇨🇾 Cyprus (90 days)
🇨🇿 Czech Republic (90 days)
🇩🇰 Denmark (90 days)
🇪🇪 Estonia (90 days)
🇫🇮 Finland (90 days)
🇫🇷 France (90 days)
🇩🇪 Germany (90 days)
🇬🇷 Greece (90 days)
🇭🇺 Hungary (90 days)
🇮🇸 Iceland (90 days)
🇮🇹 Italy (90 days)
🇱🇻 Latvia (90 days)
🇱🇮 Liechtenstein (90 days)
🇱🇹 Lithuania (90 days)
🇱🇺 Luxembourg (90 days)
🇲🇹 Malta (90 days)
🇲🇩 Moldova (90 days)
🇲🇨 Monaco (N/A)
🇲🇪 Montenegro (3 months)
🇲🇰 North Macedonia (90 days)
🇳🇴 Norway (90 days)
🇵🇱 Poland (90 days)
🇵🇹 Portugal (90 days)
🇷🇴 Romania (90 days)
🇷🇺 Russia (30 days)
🇸🇲 San Marino (N/A)
🇸🇰 Slovakia (90 days)
🇸🇮 Slovenia (90 days)
🇪🇸 Spain (90 days)
🇸🇪 Sweden (90 days)
🇨🇭 Switzerland (90 days)
🇺🇦 Ukraine (90 days)
🇻🇦 Vatican City (N/A)
🇦🇬 Antigua and Barbuda (N/A)
🇦🇷 Argentina (90 days)
🇧🇧 Barbados (90 days)
🇧🇷 Brazil (90 days)
🇨🇱 Chile (90 days)
🇨🇴 Colombia (90 days)
🇨🇷 Costa Rica (90 days)
🇨🇺 Cuba (90 days)
🇩🇲 Dominica (21 days)
🇩🇴 Dominican Republic (90 days)
🇪🇨 Ecuador (90 days)
🇬🇩 Grenada (3 months)
🇭🇹 Haiti (90 days)
Netherlands (90 days)
🇵🇦 Panama (90 days)
🇵🇪 Peru (180 days)
🇰🇳 Saint Kitts and Nevis (90 days)
🇻🇨 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (3 month)
🇸🇷 Suriname (30 days)
🇹🇹 Trinidad and Tobago (30 days)
🇺🇾 Uruguay (90 days)
🇦🇲 Armenia (180 days)
🇦🇿 Azerbaijan (90 days)
🇹🇼 China (30 days)
🇬🇪 Georgia (1 year)
🇮🇷 Iran (15 days)
🇮🇱 Israel (3 months)
🇯🇵 Japan (90 days)
🇰🇿 Kazakhstan (30 days)
🇰🇬 Kyrgyzstan (90 days)
🇲🇳 Mongolia (90 days)
🇴🇲 Oman (14 days / 30 days)
🇶🇦 Qatar (90 days)
🇸🇬 Singapore (30 days)
🇹🇯 Tajikistan (30 days)
🇹🇷 Turkey (90 days)
🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates (90 days)
🇺🇿 Uzbekistan (30 days)
🇸🇿 Eswatini (30 days)
🇿🇲 Zambia (90 days)
🇫🇯 Fiji (4 months)
🇫🇲 Micronesia (30 days)
🇼🇸 Samoa (60 days)
🇻🇺 Vanuatu (30 days)

This data has been sourced from Wikipedia and was last updated on 7/1/2024.

Montenegro visa free countries
Macedonia visa free countries
Albania visa free countries

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Learn About Your Destination

While Abroad

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Travel Advisory July 26, 2023

Serbia - level 2: exercise increased caution.

Reissued with obsolete COVID-19 page links removed.

Exercise increased caution in Serbia due to crime .

Country Summary: Violence associated with organized crime and high-profile sporting events in Serbia is common.

Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Serbia.

If you decide to travel to Serbia:

Be aware of your surroundings.
Do not display signs of wealth, such as expensive watches or jewelry.
Do not answer your door at your hotel/residence unless you know who it is.
Stay alert in locations frequented by Westerners.
Be extra vigilant when visiting banks or ATMs.
Carry a copy of your passport and visa (if applicable) and leave the original in your hotel safe.
Provide your itinerary to a family member or friend.
Monitor local media.
Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program ( STEP ) to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
Follow the Department of State on  Facebook  and  Twitter .
Review the Country Security Report for Serbia.
Visit the CDC page for the latest Travel Health Information related to your travel.
Prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations. Review the Traveler’s Checklist .

Embassy Messages

View Alerts and Messages Archive

Quick Facts

Must be valid at time of entry

One page required for entry stamp

Not required for stays under 90 days

No vaccines are required to enter Serbia.

None, if under 10,000 euros

Embassies and Consulates

U.s. embassy belgrade.

Bulevar kneza Aleksandra Karadordevica 92 11040 Belgrade Serbia Telephone: +(381) (11) 706-4000 Emergency After-Hours Telephone: +(381) (11) 706-4000 Fax: +(381) (11) 706-4481 Email: [email protected]

Destination Description

Learn about the U.S. relationship to countries around the world.

Entry, Exit and Visa Requirements

Visit the  Embassy of Serbia's website  for the most current visa information.

U.S. citizens do not need a visa to enter and stay in Serbia for up to 90 days. 
It is important to enter and exit Serbia using the same passport. U.S. citizens who also hold Serbian citizenship should always enter and exit Serbia on their Serbian passport. 
If you lose your U.S. passport after arriving in Serbia, you must obtain a police report and a new passport prior to departure.
You cannot enter Serbia using an expired passport or one that has previously been reported lost or stolen. Immigration authorities will deny you entry and return you to the city from which you flew to Serbia.
U.S. citizens must register with the local police within 24 hours of arrival.  Hotels or similar accommodation will do this for you.  If you are staying at a private residence, you will need to register in person at the nearest police station.

HIV/AIDS Restrictions:   The U.S. Department of State is unaware of any HIV/AIDS entry restrictions for visitors to or foreign residents of Serbia.

Temporary Residence Permits:  If you wish to stay in Serbia longer than 90 days during any 180-day period, you must apply for a temporary residence permit from the local police with jurisdiction over where you are staying in Serbia. You cannot apply for a residence permit from outside of Serbia.  

For information about how to apply for a temporary residency permit, please visit the Serbian Ministry of Interior’s website .
All application documents submitted for temporary residence will require an ‘apostille’ stamp from the government office where you got the document. To learn more about apostilles and other official documents, please see the  Office of Authentications page .

Special Guidance for Travel to and from Kosovo:  

Serbian border officials do not recognize the authority of Kosovo’s government.
Serbia will not grant entry to travelers who try to enter Serbia from Kosovo without first having previously entered Serbia from another recognized entry point and obtaining a Serbian entry stamp.
Example: A traveler who arrives in Serbia by air and drives directly to Kosovo (not through a third country) will be permitted to re-enter Serbia directly from Kosovo.  
Example: A traveler who arrives in Kosovo by land or air from a third country (not Serbia) and then plans to travel by land to Serbia must first exit Kosovo via its border with either Montenegro or North Macedonia and then proceed to a border crossing with Serbia.

Find information on  dual nationality ,  prevention of international child abduction  and  customs regulations  on our websites.

Safety and Security

Terrorism: Terrorist groups and those inspired by such organizations are intent on attacking U.S. citizens abroad. Terrorists worldwide are increasingly using less sophisticated methods of attack – including knives, firearms, rudimentary Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and vehicles – to more effectively target crowds. Frequently, they target unprotected or vulnerable venues, such as:

High-profile public events (sporting contests, political rallies, demonstrations, holiday events, celebratory gatherings, etc.)
Hotels, clubs, and restaurants frequented by tourists
Places of worship
Shopping malls and markets
Public transportation systems (including subways, buses, trains, and scheduled commercial flights)

For more information, see our Terrorism page.

Anti-U.S. Sentiments: While Serbians can be welcoming to visitors, anti-U.S. sentiment is widespread and can be more prevalent around certain anniversaries and some national holidays, including: February 17 (anniversary of Kosovo’s 2008 declaration of independence), between March 24 and June 10 (the anniversary of the 1999 NATO air campaign against Yugoslavia in response to events in Kosovo), and potentially June 28 (St. Vitus’s Day or Vidovdan).

Sporting Events: There is the potential for violence before, during, and after sporting events. There have been clashes between police and fans in the vicinity of sports venues, which are often located in residential areas. The Embassy considers matches between certain teams, including Partizan, Rad, and Red Star, to be high risk events because of violence at previous games. While U.S. citizens have not been targeted in the past, in a few isolated cases non-Serbians have been the victims of sports-related violence. U.S. Government employees are generally advised to avoid the vicinity of high-profile sporting events.

Night Clubs: As a safety precaution due to xenophobic violence, the following clubs have been declared off-limits for U.S. Embassy personnel in Serbia:

Klub Šlep (Shlep)
Mr. Stefan Braun

Crime:

Violent crime in Serbia is most often associated with organized crime activities and hooliganism surrounding high-profile sporting events.
Although not traditionally the targets of violent crime, tourists and visitors should maintain a heightened awareness of their surroundings, as in all major cities.
Pickpocketing and financial crimes of opportunity are the most common occurrences.
Tourists should pay attention to taxi meters and listed fares as some taxi drivers may try to scam foreigners and charge higher rates.

Demonstrations occur frequently. They may take place in response to political or economic issues, on politically significant holidays, and during international events.

Demonstrations can be unpredictable, avoid areas around protests and demonstrations.
Past demonstrations have turned violent. Check local media for updates and traffic advisories.
Maintain caution if within the vicinity of demonstrations.
There is often a heavier than usual police presence near demonstrations and traffic may slow or stop until well after the demonstration ends.

International Financial Scams: See the Department of State and the FBI pages for information on scams.

Victims of Crime: If you or someone you know becomes the victim of a crime in Serbia, you should contact the local police. Report crimes first to the local police by dialing 192. Remember local authorities are responsible for investigating and prosecuting crimes. Not all police officers speak English.

See our webpage on help for U.S. victims of crime overseas .

Help you find appropriate medical care
Assist you in reporting a crime to the police
Contact relatives or friends with your written consent
Explain the local criminal justice process in general terms
Provide a list of local attorneys
Provide our information on victim’s compensation programs in the United States
Provide an emergency loan for repatriation to the United States and/or limited medical support in cases of destitution
Help you find accommodation and arrange flights home
Replace a stolen or lost passport

Domestic Violence: U.S.-citizen victims of domestic violence may contact the Embassy for assistance.

Tourism: The tourism industry is unevenly regulated, and safety inspections for equipment and facilities do not commonly occur. Hazardous areas/activities are not always identified with appropriate signage, and staff may not be trained or certified either by the Serbian government or by recognized authorities in the field. In the event of an injury, appropriate medical treatment is typically available only in/near major cities. First responders are generally unable to access areas outside of major cities and to provide urgent medical treatment. U.S. citizens are encouraged to purchase medical evacuation insurance. See our webpage for more information on insurance providers for overseas coverage

Local Laws & Special Circumstances

Criminal Penalties: You are subject to local laws. If you violate local laws, even unknowingly, you may be expelled, arrested, or imprisoned. Individuals establishing a business or practicing a profession that requires additional permits or licensing should seek information from the competent local authorities, prior to practicing or operating a business.

Furthermore, some crimes are also prosecutable in the United States, regardless of local law. For examples, see our website on crimes against minors abroad and the Department of Justice website.

Arrest Notification : If you are arrested or detained, ask police or prison officials to notify the U.S. Embassy immediately. See our webpage for further information.

Counterfeit and Pirated Goods: Although counterfeit and pirated goods are prevalent in many countries, they may still be illegal according to local laws. You may also pay fines or have to give them up if you bring them back to the United States. See the U.S. Department of Justice website for more information.

Faith-Based Travelers: See our following webpages for details:

Faith-Based Travel Information
International Religious Freedom Report – see country reports
Human Rights Report – see country reports
Best Practices for Volunteering Abroad

LGBTQI+ Travelers: There are no legal restrictions on same-sex sexual relations in Serbia or on the organization of LGBTQI+ events. Serbia has active and increasingly-visible LGBTQI+ advocacy groups, and several LGBTQI+ bars operate openly and without problems in Belgrade. Many recent LGBTQI+ public eventshave been held without incident. However, LGBTQI+ travelers should exercise caution when visiting Serbia. Many LGBTQI+ persons in Serbia choose not to openly reveal their sexual orientation or show public displays of affection due to security and safety concerns, and many avoid reporting incidents to police. Similarly, many transgender and gender non-conforming persons often find themselves targets of discrimination and violence and therefore may make the choice to hide or modify their identities when in public spaces. Though a growing number of police officers have received training on how to work with LGBTQI+ individuals, including when they are victims of crime, many have limited experience and knowledge.

For further general information on travel abroad by LGBTI individuals, please read our LGBTI Travel Information page.

Travelers with Disabilities: The law in Serbia prohibits discrimination against persons with physical, sensory, intellectual or mental disabilities, and the law is enforced. Social acceptance of persons with disabilities in public is not as prevalent as in the United States. The most common types of accessibility may include accessible facilities, information, and communication. Expect accessibility to be limited in lodging, and general infrastructure, and common in public transportation.While there is some accessibility for travelers with disabilities in Belgrade and Novi Sad, there are limited to no accessibility in the rest of Serbia.

Rental of aids/equipment/devices is available: There several companies that sell, rent and repair aids/equipment/devices. Among the most known ones are Centar Eliksir and Ortopedija mc .

Students: See our Students Abroad page and FBI travel tips .

Women Travelers: See our travel tips for women travelers .

Bringing Money into Serbia: If you enter Serbia with more than 10,000 euro in cash (or equivalent in other currencies), you must declare it to customs. If you fail to do so, Serbian customs may confiscate your money or levy heavy fines. Please review our customs information for additional details.

Medical Facilities: Many doctors and other health care providers in Serbia are highly trained. Equipment and hygiene in hospitals, clinics, and ambulances are usually not up to U.S. standards. U.S. name-brand medicines are often unavailable in Serbia. You can get many medicines and basic medical supplies at private pharmacies. Medical facilities require payment in cash for all services, and do not accept U.S. health insurance. Please review our travel tips for older travelers .

For emergency services in Serbia, dial 193 (fire-fighters), 194 (paramedics), or 987 (roadside assistance).

Ambulance services are not widely available, and training, availability of emergency responders, and ambulance equipment may be below U.S. standards.

We do not pay medical bills. Be aware that U.S. Medicare/Medicaid does not apply overseas. Hospitals and doctors overseas do not accept U.S. health insurance.

Medical Insurance: Make sure your health insurance plan provides coverage overseas. Most care providers overseas only accept cash payments. See our webpage for more information on insurance providers for overseas coverage. Visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for more information on type of insurance you should consider before you travel overseas.

We strongly recommend supplemental insurance to cover medical evacuation.

Medications: Always carry your prescription medication in original packaging, along with your doctor’s prescription. Check with the Medicines and Medical Devices Agency to ensure the medication is legal in Serbia.

Vaccinations: Be up-to-date on all vaccinations recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Further health information:

World Health Organization
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Air Quality: Visit AirNow Department of State for information on air quality at U.S. Embassies and Consulates.

The U.S. Embassy maintains a list of doctors and hospitals . We do not endorse or recommend any specific medical provider or clinic.

Health facilities in general:

Adequate health facilities are available throughout the country but health care in rural areas may be below U.S. standards.
Some private hospitals may require advance payment or proof of adequate insurance before admitting a patient.
Psychological and psychiatric services are limited, even in the larger cities, with hospital-based care only available through government institutions

Medical Tourism and Elective Surgery

Medical tourism is a rapidly growing industry, especially in dentistry. People seeking health care overseas should understand that medical systems operate differently from those in the United States and are not subject to the same rules and regulations. Anyone interested in traveling for medical purposes should consult with their local physician before traveling and visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website for more information on Medical Tourism.
We strongly recommend supplemental insurance to cover medical evacuation in the event of unforeseen medical complications.
In case of malpractice, you may pursue legal remedies using local attorneys.

Pharmaceuticals

U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Food and Drug Administration are responsible for rules governing the transport of medication back to the United States. Medication purchased abroad must meet their requirements to be legally brought back into the United States. Medication should be for personal use and must be approved for usage in the United States. Please visit the U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Food and Drug Administration websites for more information.

Non-Traditional Medicine

U.S. citizens have suffered serious complications or died while seeking medical care from non-traditional “healers” and practitioners in Serbia. Homeopathy, herbal remedies, and other non-traditional treatments are practiced in Serbia and promoted as natural alternatives to traditional medicine. Ensure you have access to licensed emergency medical facilities in such cases.

Assisted Reproductive Technology and Surrogacy

If you are considering traveling to Serbia to have a child through use of assisted reproductive technology (ART) or surrogacy, please see our ART and Surrogacy Abroad page .
Surrogacy is illegal for foreigners and Serbians in Serbia.

Adventure Travel

Visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website for more information about Adventure Travel.

Travel and Transportation

Road Conditions and Safety: Roads in Serbia are not always well-maintained, especially in rural areas and in southern Serbia.

Exercise caution when driving on roads in southern Serbia in the winter.
Drivers should also be cautious when driving along Serbia’s Ibarska Magistrala, the highway between Belgrade and Čačak, because of the higher rate of accidents.
Winter fog in Serbia is another concern because it significantly reduces visibility and is especially heavy in the Vojvodina region between Belgrade and the Hungarian border.

Roadside assistance is available by dialing 987 locally. The local numbers for the police and ambulance are 192 and 194, respectively.

Traffic Laws:

You may use a U.S. driver’s license together with an international driving permit in Serbia for up to six months, after which time you may have to obtain a Serbian driver’s license.
Drivers with a blood alcohol level higher than 0.02% are considered intoxicated and face arrest, prosecution, and fines.
You must wear a seat belt while driving or riding in a car in Serbia.
You may not use a mobile phone while driving in Serbia except with a hands-free system.

Public Transportation: Belgrade and some other large cities in Serbia have public transportation networks. Buses are often crowded, and some lines and vehicles are poorly maintained. There is also intercity bus and train service for many locations in Serbia.

See our Road Safety page for more information. More specific information concerning Serbian driving permits, vehicle inspection, road tax, and required insurance is available at the Serbian Automotive Association's website .

Aviation Safety Oversight: The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has assessed the government of Serbia’s Civil Aviation Authority as being in compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) aviation safety standards for oversight of Serbia’s air carrier operations. Further information may be found on the FAA’s safety assessment page .

For additional travel information

Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive security messages and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
Call us in Washington, D.C. at 1-888-407-4747 (toll-free in the United States and Canada) or 1-202-501-4444 (from all other countries) from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).
See the State Department’s travel website for the Worldwide Caution and Travel Advisories .
Follow us on Twitter and Facebook .
See traveling safely abroad for useful travel tips.

Review information about International Parental Child Abduction in Serbia . For additional IPCA-related information, please see the International Child Abduction Prevention and Return Act ( ICAPRA ) report.

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UK Standard Visitor Visa for Serbian citizens

The United Kingdom is a country with some of the richest history in the world! If you aim to travel to this destination, your first task will be to apply for a UK Tourist Visa for Serbian citizens .

Also known as the UK Standard Visitor Visa, this document allows you to travel for tourism, business, and visiting friends and family in the UK. Rely on our services to have professional assistance throughout the process and increase your chances of getting a UK Visitor Visa from Serbia . Let’s dive into the details!

Do Serbian citizens need a UK Standard Visitor Visa?

Yes! You’ll need a UK Standard Visitor Visa for Serbian citizens to enter the United Kingdom when traveling for tourist activities, business, or to visit friends and family. Check out the video below for more information on the UK Tourist Visa for Serbian citizens:

How to get a UK Visitor Visa for Serbian citizens with us

Visa applications used to be confusing and time-consuming. We offer professional assistance so you can apply for a UK Standard Visitor Visa for Serbian citizens stress-free. Rely on our services to have all the support you need to get your UK visa approve . Follow these simple steps:

Step 1: Provide your travel details and contact information on either our website or iVisa App . Ensure all details are accurate and pay the visa fees.

Step 2: Fill out the UK visa application form and upload the required documents through our platform. Our team of iVisa Experts will review your form and schedule a visa appointment.

Step 3: Attend the scheduled visa appointment at the UK Embassy or the Visa Application Center (VAC) in Serbia. During this appointment, you must provide biometric data and undergo an interview. Then, wait for the visa decision.

If you still have questions about the UK Tourist Visa for Serbian citizens or other travel documents, please contact our customer service team. Reach us via online chat or [email protected] . We’ll gladly help you!

My experience of London Gatwick Airport: What to expect on arrival

UK Work Visa: Eligibility, Types, and How to Apply

UK ETA for US citizens

ETIAS for Serbians

Europe's travel authorisation requirements for serbians.

This website does not belong to, nor is it affiliated with, the EU. The official website of the European Union is europa.eu.

Serbian citizens can visit countries in the Schenen Area without a visa . Although a European country, Serbia is neither a member of the EU nor the Schengen Area . This means that, starting 2025, Serbians will be able to register online for an ETIAS travel authorisation to visit Europe visa-free.

ETIAS is being implemented by the European Union to improve security in the region. The new programme will require all Serbian citizens wishing to visit Schengen nations to apply for a European visa waiver .

Travelling to the Schengen Area from Serbia

Serbians will need ETIAS to travel to any of the Schengen Area countries without a visa. Visa-free travel with ETIAS is permitted for up to 90 days per 180-day period and for tourism, business, or transit.

The same ETIAS authorisation is valid across the Schengen zone. Serbians do not need a separate permit for each country they will visit.

Serbians will be able to go to the following countries and territories with ETIAS:

Currently, there are 25 european countries that form part of the schengen area:.

Czech Republic
Netherlands
EU Schengen
Non-EU Schengen States

Non-Schengen EU States

Non-eu member states:.

Liechtenstein
Switzerland

Micro-States de facto part of Schengen Area:

Vatican City

ETIAS for Serbians will be 100% online . Serbian citizens can request and receive the travel authorisation on their smartphone, tablet or personal computer. The ETIAS visa waiver for Europe is a multiple-entry travel authorisation with a validity of 3 years (unless the Serbian passport expires sooner).

Serbian citizens with a valid European visa waiver can visit all the Schengen member countries any number of times during this 3-years validity period. The total stay in the Schengen zone must not exceed 90 days per 180-day period.

When either the citizen’s passport or the ETIAS for Serbians expires , travellers will need to apply for a new ETIAS before returning to Europe.

What Do Serbians need to Visit the European Union?

Citizens of Serbia are required to carry a valid passport to travel to EU countries. ETIAS will be operational from 2025. Serbian nationals will have to register online to obtain the ETIAS before departure.

The ETIAS is a visa waiver programme that is being developed by the European Union to improve security within the Schengen borders .

The new system willl register and pre-screen visitors from visa exempt countries —including Serbia— before their departure from their home country. Any applicant determined to pose a threat to the wellbeing of the Schengen Area and its residents will be refused ETIAS.

After the EU visa waiver for Serbian citizens is launched in 2025, all travellers to Schengen countries from Serbia will need to obtain an ETIAS travel authorisation through an online application. The ETIAS application form will be quick and straightforward to complete. Filling out the traveller’s personal, passport and travel information should take no more than 10 minutes to complete.

The ETIAS requirements for Serbian citizens are simple and applicants will only need to provide the following:

Passport —passport number, issue date, and expiry date are required
Personal information —including full name, date and country of birth
Contact details —including a valid email address to receive status updates
Credit or debit card —to pay for the ETIAS processing fees

ETIAS Application for Serbians

Serbian citizens travelling to Schengen countries from their home country will need an ETIAS visa waiver even though they are travelling within Europe. The travel authorisation will be necessary for short-term stays in Schengen member states.

The ETIAS will be easy to obtain online through a straightforward ETIAS application form. Since the entire process takes part online , Serbian citizens will not need to visit an embassy or consulate in order to obtain the travel authorisation.

Eligible citizens from over 50 countries —including Serbia— will need to complete a short application form. Applicants will also answer some security questions regarding their immigration and travel history and health information.

With this data, the ETIAS application for Serbians will be screened against security databases and the approved ETIAS visa waiver will be sent to the email address supplied by the applicant.

Serbians are reminded to check the ETIAS application carefully before submitting their request. Any spelling errors or missing information could result in processing delays.

Most Serbians will receive their approved ETIAS travel authorisation soon after applying. In most cases, approval will be granted following automatic screening. In rare cases, applications may be reviewed manually by the ETIAS National Unit. Serbians are advised to apply for ETIAS as soon as possible for their trip.

ETIAS for Serbians is not available yet. The system will be fully implemented by 2025.

ETIAS for Serbians - FAQ

How can i get a job in the eu with a serbian passport.

Serbian nationals are allowed to visit all Schengen countries without having to apply for a visa for business, tourism short-term studies, or transit purposes.

Starting 2025, Serbians visiting Schengen member nations for business stays of up to 90 days may do so visa-free with an ETIAS visa waiver .

If a Serbian passport holder wishes to look for a job in a Schengen nation but is yet undecided upon the country in which they wish to reside, they may visit multiple countries with an ETIAS.

Once the traveller has decided in which European city they would like to seek employment, the next step would be to visit an embassy or consulate for this country to request a work visa .

Unlike the ETIAS —which grants Serbians entry into all Schengen nations, visas are country-specific. Requirements and processing times may vary from one country to another.

Please note that the ETIAS does not permit Serbian holders to seek employment nor work in the EU. Serbian ETIAS holders found working in Europe may face serious consequences such as fines, deportation or the revocation of their travel authorisation.

What are the visa requirements for Serbian citizens to visit Schengen countries in Europe?

Serbian passport holders do not need to obtain a visa in order to visit the Schengen member nations for 90 days or less .

The visa waiver agreement between the European Union and Serbia means that travellers may enter the EU just by presenting their passport to border control officials upon their arrival. This is the case when Serbians visit for short-term stays of up to 90 days for tourism, leisure, business, or transit .

From 2025 , the ETIAS visa waiver is scheduled to be operational. Serbian nationals will need an approved ETIAS travel authorisation.

The ETIAS will allow Serbians to visit Schengen nations for up to 90 days per 180-day period.

The visa waiver requirements for Serbian citizens visiting the European Union are:

A current passport
A valid email address
A credit or debit card

Skilled Worker Visa (Formally Tier T2 general)
Tier 2 Work Visa Extension
Tier 2 minister of religion Visa
Tier 2 Sportsperson
Tier 5 Temporary work visa
Tier 5 Youth mobility visas
Partner and Spouse Visas
Spouse Visa Application
Spouse Visa Extension
Spouse Visa Requirements
Fiance Visa Application
Unmarried Partner visa
Civil Partner Visa
Study Visas
Student visa
Child student visa
Short term study
Post study work
Settlement and UK Citizenship
Indefinite leave to remain (ILR)
British Naturalisation
British Citizenship
British Citizenship by marriage
British Citizenship by birth
Business Services (for hiring foreign nationals)
Sponsor Licence Application
Sponsor licence renewal
Short Visit Visas
Tourist Visa
Family visit visa
Business Visa
UK Visit Visa
Other Visas
Innovator Application
Tier 1 investor Visa Application

View More...
Entry Requirements
Visa Extension

Previous travel to Kosovo

Registration after Entering
Customs Regulations
Travel Documents

Everything You Need To Know About A Serbian Visa

Passport requirements to avail visa-exemption

Your British passport should be valid for at least six months and should contain a minimum of two blank pages in order to be granted entry into Serbia.

You should carry a national passport or valid UK residency permit or a UK visa which specifies re-entry into the UK.

But you must ensure that your stay period in Serbia does not exceed the time frame, stamped on your UK residency permit/passport/visa after arrival.

The immigration authorities will ask you to present your residency permit card or your passport once you land in the country. Again, if your residency permit does not contain your photo, you need to apply for a visa.

However, if you hold UK travel documents but staying as an alien or refugee in the UK, you might need an entry visa to enter the Republic of Serbia.

You can find the detailed guidelines on the visa application process and documentation requirements on the official site for the Embassy of Serbia in Great Britain.

Additional requirements to gain visa-free entry into Serbia

Apart from your passport, there are some additional criteria that you need to fulfil in order to avail the visa-exemption facility.

You must present proof of sufficient funds that will sustain you during your stay in Serbia.

This amounts to 50 Euros per day of stay, which can be proved via possession of cash, bank statements, traveller's cheques, credit cards or a letter of guarantee.

You should carry necessary vaccination certificates when arriving from a country or region affected by a contagious disease. You can get the required information on vaccinations from the Ministry of Health website.

Children under 18 years, travelling without their parents, must present a certified authorization from either of their parents. Even when traveling with a third person, underage children require to carry the authorization, signed by their parent(s) or guardian.

It is strongly advised to have a health certificate that covers your stay period in Serbia. It should cover medical costs, amounting to at least a sum of 20,000 Euros.

If your travel itinerary includes onward travel to another country, you must showcase the necessary documentation that grants you entry into the next destination.

Once you arrive in Serbia, you should be able to prove your intended purpose during the specified period of stay -- which must include only business or tourist activities.

Sometimes, border authorities request for a tourist travel voucher issued by a travel operator or a certified letter of invitation from the sponsoring company in Serbia.

Other proofs of purpose include return flight tickets, hotel bookings or reservations, and verification of the private residence where you plan to stay.

Before planning your travel to Serbia, please crosscheck with your airlines if they allow boarding without a visa.

Also, ensure if there are overseas connecting flights that might need you to carry a separate, country-specific transit visa.

After you arrive in Serbia, the immigration officials will put an entry stamp in your passport. If you are a temporary resident, you will need to have an exit-entry visa along with a residence stamp.

Failure to follow these rules can result in charges of illegal immigration, a hefty fine and sometimes, even imprisonment.

Visa extension in Serbia

You can extend your stay in Serbia only once you are within the country’s borders. For this purpose, you have to submit an application for temporary residence status. Please remember that you need to make this request at least 30 days in advance, prior to the expiry of the granted 90 day stay period on your passport. The application needs to be made in the police station where you registered your stay after arriving in Serbia.

You must enter Serbia only through designated border crossing points. Although Kosovo shares its borders with Serbia, it is not considered as an official ‘international’ border crossing point by the Serbian authorities. Hence, if you have any entry or exit Republic of Kosovo stamps in your passport, you might be denied entry into the nation.

However, if you travel from Serbia to Kosovo and then re-enter through the same route, you won’t face many problems. You can easily gain entry to Serbia if you are traveling from Albania, Macedonia or Montenegro.

Registration after entering Serbia

You must register yourself within a day of your arrival in Serbia. You can carry out the registration process in the nearest local police station. However, if you are planning to stay in a hotel, the staff members will automatically do your registration once you complete the check-in formalities.

Registration is a legal requirement and failure to do so can lead you to be fined, detained or made to appear in court.

Customs regulations

If you enter Serbia, carrying cash or cheques, amounting to more than €10,000, you need to declare it at the immigration counter by filling in a declaration form issued by customs officers. You need to submit a receipt of purchase for Dinars bought from a foreign bank.

When you exit Serbia, you have to return a certified copy of this declaration to the customs department -- in order to be granted permission for carrying out money exceeding €10,000 outside Serbia. Failure to do so may result in the confiscation of your money.

Again, you should declare items of value (for example, jewellery, photographic gadgets, and computing equipment) after arriving in Serbia -- to avoid customs charges.

UK Emergency Travel Documents

You can use UK Emergency Travel Documents to enter, exit, or transit from Serbia. You can even use ETDs as a valid ID document in the country. Your ETD should be valid for not less than 7 days and not more than 180 days throughout your stay in Serbia.

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Passports, travel and living abroad
Travel abroad
Foreign travel advice

Entry requirements

This information is for people travelling on a full ‘British citizen’ passport from the UK. It is based on the UK government’s understanding of the current rules for the most common types of travel.

The authorities in Serbia set and enforce entry rules. If you’re not sure how these requirements apply to you, contact the Serbian Embassy in the UK .

COVID-19 rules

There are no COVID-19 testing or vaccination requirements for travellers entering Serbia.

Passport validity requirements

Your passport must have an ‘expiry date’ at least 90 days after the date you plan to leave Serbia.

Check with your travel provider that your passport and other travel documents meet requirements. Renew your passport if you need to.

You will be denied entry if you do not have a valid travel document or try to use a passport that has been reported lost or stolen.

Visa requirements

You can visit Serbia without a visa for up to 90 days within a 6-month period, for business or tourism.

For details about employment visas and long-stay visas, check the information from the Serbian Embassy in the UK .

If you want to extend your stay while you are in Serbia, you can apply at the police station where you’re registered at least 30 days before the 90-day period expires. For more information visit the website of the Serbian Ministry of Foreign Affairs .

Make sure you get your passport stamped.

When entering Serbia, make sure border guards stamp your passport. If you try to leave Serbia without an entry stamp you could face charges of illegal immigration, a heavy fine and a prison sentence.

Land border crossings

Only enter Serbia by land through recognised border crossings. Serbian borders remain open for entry and exit, subject to any entry requirements currently in place in neighbouring countries.

Travelling between Serbia and Kosovo

The authorities in Serbia do not consider the designated crossing points with Kosovo to be official international border crossing points.

It is possible to travel from Serbia to Kosovo, and back again.

To travel from Kosovo to Serbia, you must have a Serbian entry stamp from Belgrade, Niš or Kraljevo airports, or from one of Serbia’s land border crossings with:

Bosnia and Herzegovina
North Macedonia

You are likely to be refused entry into Serbia from Kosovo without a valid Serbian entry stamp. We are also aware of isolated incidents where Serbian authorities have cancelled Kosovo stamps in passports of foreign nationals or denied foreign nationals entry to Serbia if they have Republic of Kosovo stamps in their passports.

If you are planning to travel between Serbia and Kosovo, see the Kosovo travel advice .

Tensions between Serbia and Kosovo can cause difficulties at border crossings with Kosovo.

Registering with the police

You must register with the local police where you’re staying within 24 hours of your arrival in Serbia. If you’re staying in a hotel, check-in staff will register you automatically. If you do not register, you could get a fine, and face arrest and a court appearance.

Vaccine requirements

For details about medical entry requirements and recommended vaccinations, see TravelHealthPro’s Serbia guide .

Customs rules

There are strict rules about goods that can be brought into and out of Serbia . You must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty.

You must declare personal items of value you’re carrying – for example, jewellery, cameras and computing equipment. These are exempt from customs duties.

Taking money into and out of Serbia

If you are carrying cash or travellers cheques worth more than 10,000 euros, you must:

complete a declaration form at customs on arrival in Serbia – a customs officer will certify this by signing or stamping the form
keep a copy of the certified form while you are in Serbia
show the certified form when you leave Serbia

If you are taking any Serbian dinars into the country, you must show the receipt from the bank where you bought them.

Customs officers may seize your money if you do not follow these rules.

You should exchange any unwanted dinars before you leave Serbia. British banks do not normally exchange dinars. Do not use street dealers. Only change money through banks or official exchange offices.

It is not possible to exchange Scottish and Northern Irish banknotes in Serbia.

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UK Travel & Entry Rules for Russian Citizens

Anne morris.

11 January 2024

IN THIS SECTION

If you are a Russian citizen looking to travel to the UK, either now or in the future, you will need to know whether this is possible and what type of visa you will need. Below we look in detail at the rules on Russian citizens travelling to the UK, providing up-to-date and practical advice in response to the frequently asked question: “Can Russians travel to UK?”

In all cases, however, not least given the current difficulties in getting flights to the UK, you are strongly advised to seek expert advice from an immigration specialist prior to applying.

Can Russian citizens travel to UK?

Although direct flights are not currently available (at the time of writing), so you should plan any travel arrangements accordingly, it is still possible for Russian citizens to travel to UK destinations. However, as a visa national, you will first need to apply for a suitable visa, even if you are only planning a short stay in the UK. This is because under “Appendix Visitor: Visa national list” of the UK’s Immigration Rules, the list of nationalities requiring entry clearance prior to travelling to the UK includes those of Russian nationality.

Importantly, the UK does not offer visa-free travel to Russian nationals. This means that if your passport shows that you are Russian, you will need a UK visa for Russian citizens, where you must apply for entry clearance in advance. This is regardless of the purpose or length of your proposed UK visit, or if you travel to the UK via another country.

UK visitor rules for Russian citizens

The basic UK entry requirements for Russian citizens can be found in “Appendix V: Visitor” of the UK’s Immigration Rules, where any Russian national who would like to visit the UK for the purposes of tourism, or any other permissible activities, will need to apply prior to travel for a Standard Visitor visa. The relevant entry requirements include:

genuinely seeking entry to the UK for any one of the purposes permitted under the Rules
not intending to undertake any prohibited activities during your stay in the UK
being able to financially support yourself for the duration of your stay
being able to pay the reasonable costs related to your UK visit, without doing paid work or accessing public funds in the UK, including the cost of your return/onward journey
intending to leave the UK, without overstaying, at the end of your authorised stay
not be intending to live in the UK for an extended period of time, either through frequent or successive visits, nor be trying to make the UK your main home.

A Standard Visitor visa will typically be granted for up to 6 months. However, it is possible to apply for a visit visa with a validity period of 2, 5 or 10 years. This will enable you to visit the UK multiple times over the validity of your visa, although each stay in the UK must not be longer than the permitted length of stay endorsed on that visa (usually 6 months).

What activities can Russian citizens undertake as a visitor?

If you are a Russian citizen travelling to the UK on a Standard Visitor visa, you can only engage in those activities permitted under the Visitor Rules. These are set out under “Appendix Visitor: Permitted Activities”. These activities include visiting the UK for purposes such as tourism, visiting friends or family, or undertaking a short course of study. You can also carry out unpaid business activities, where permissible activities can include:

attending meetings, conferences, seminars and interviews in the UK
giving a one-off or short series of talks and speeches, provided these are not commercial events or arranged to make a profit for the organiser
negotiating and signing commercial deals or contracts in the UK
attending UK trade fairs to promote an overseas business, although this can only be for promotional work, where you will be prohibited from directly selling in the UK
carrying out UK site visits and inspections related to your overseas business
gathering information in the UK for your overseas employment
being briefed on the requirements of a UK-based customer, although any work for that customer can only be undertaken outside of the UK
undertaking activities relating to your employment overseas remotely from within the UK, provided that this is not the primary purpose of your visit.

With the exception of the permitted activities listed under the Rules, a business visitor must not usually engage in any other employment-related activities in the UK. However, this list is not exhaustive, where other activities, including paid engagements, may be possible.

Can Russian citizens undertake paid engagements on a UK visit?

If you are looking to come to the UK to undertake paid work as a business visitor, you may be able to travel as a Permitted Paid Engagement (PPE) Visitor. The PPE Visitor route merged into the Standard Visitor route in January 2024, meaning that all visitors can now undertake permitted paid engagements in the UK without the need for a special visa.

To be eligible as a PPE Visitor under “Appendix V: Visitor” of the UK’s Immigration Rules, you must be an expert in your profession who is being paid by a UK-based organisation or client to attend a pre-arranged engagement, or series of engagements, directly relating to your area of expertise and occupation in Russia. As a PPE Visitor, any engagement must be arranged prior to you travelling to the UK and evidenced by a formal invitation.

Under the Visitor Rules, a permitted paid engagement can include:

giving a one-off or short series of talks and speeches at a conference or other event
examining or assessing students in the UK as a highly-qualified academic
giving a lecture or series of lectures in your specialised subject area
assessing UK-based pilots as an overseas pilot examiner
providing advocacy as a lawyer for a UK-based client in the context of legal proceedings
carrying out an activity relating to your profession as an artist, entertainer or musician
carrying out an activity as a professional sportsperson.

If granted a visa as a PPE Visitor, you may undertake the permitted paid engagements for which your visa is approved, provide these are completed within 30 days of your entry to the UK. This will be the case, even if your Standard Visitor visa is valid for up to 6 months.

UK work visa options for Russian citizens

If you are coming to the UK for a purpose not permitted under the Visitor Rules, the relevant entry requirements will depend on the purpose of your visit. In addition to the Standard Visitor visa, there are various other visa options available to Russian citizens.

Below we set out some of the most popular options when applying for a UK visa:

A Global Business Mobility visa

There are various visa options available to Russian nationals looking to come to the UK to undertake temporary work assignments, including the different visa routes under the Global Business Mobility (GBM) umbrella of the UK’s Immigration Rules. These include:

Senior or Specialist Worker visa : for senior managers and specialist employees being assigned to a UK business that is linked to their employer’s business overseas
Graduate Trainee visa : for those on a graduate training course leading to a senior management or specialist position and who are required to do a UK work placement
UK Expansion Worker visa : for senior managers or specialist employees being assigned to the UK to assist with the expansion of their employer’s business overseas
Service Supplier visa : for contractual service suppliers employed by overseas service-providers, or self-employed independent professionals based overseas, looking to provide services in the UK covered by one of the UK’s international trade agreements
Secondment Worker visa : for those being seconded to the UK as part of either a high-value contract or investment by their employer overseas.

There are several general and route-specific requirements for each of the different GBM routes, although these are all sponsored work routes. This means that you must have been assigned a valid Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) by an UKVI-approved sponsor prior to applying. Your CoS will contain a unique reference number, providing proof that you meet the relevant requirements for a temporary work assignment on the GBM route in question.

If approved for a GBM visa, the length of time that you will be allowed to stay in the UK will vary, depending on the route for which you are approved for a visa. You may also be able to extend your stay, up to the maximum length of time permitted under each route. The GBM routes do not provide a path to permanent settlement in the UK, although you may be eligible to switch to a different visa route, depending on your circumstances.

The Skilled Worker visa

The Skilled Worker visa is one of the most popular options for those looking to work in the UK but where that employment is not linked to any existing employment overseas. As with each of the GBM routes, the Skilled Worker route is also a sponsored work route. To apply for a Skilled Worker visa, this means that you would need to be assigned a valid CoS as evidence of a suitable job offer meeting minimum skill and salary requirements.

If approved for a Skilled Worker visa, this can be granted for up to 5 years before you need to extend it. If you want to stay on longer in the UK, you can apply to extend your visa an unlimited number of times, provided you meet the requirements. As a route to settlement, you may also be eligible to apply for indefinite leave to remain after 5 years.

The Innovator Founder visa

If you are looking to come to the UK to set up a business, where you intend to oversee the running of that business, you will need to apply for an Innovator Founder visa . The business must be different from anything else on the market. It must also be viable (with potential for growth) and scalable (with the potential to create jobs). Equally, even though this is an unsponsored work route, your business idea must be endorsed by an approved body.

If approved for an Innovator Founder visa, you will be allowed to run that business for up to 3 years. You can also apply to extend your stay for another 3 years once your visa is due to expire. There is no limit on the number of times you can extend, provided you liaise at regular intervals with your endorsing body to show that you are making progress with your business. Alternatively, you may be able to apply for settlement after 3 years on this route.

UK visa for Russian wife or girlfriend

If you are living in the UK and looking for a visa for your Russian wife or girlfriend, there are again various options available, depending on the reason for your loved one coming to the UK and your own immigration status. A UK visa for Russian wives, as well as a UK visa for Russian girlfriends, could come in the form of a Standard Visitor visa if your loved one is only looking to visit you. They may also be able to apply for a dependant or family visa.

Dependant visas

A dependant visa is a derivative visa that will allow the dependent spouse or partner of a primary applicant or principal visa-holder to apply for entry clearance to come to the UK, provided they meet the relevant requirements. This means that if you are an overseas national looking to come to the UK for the purpose of work, or you are already in the UK on a valid work visa, a dependant visa will allow your spouse, civil partner or even an unmarried partner to accompany or join you in the UK. Unmarried couples must have lived together prior to applying for a dependant visa for a period of at least 2 years.

If approved for a dependant visa, for example, as the dependant of a GBM Worker, your loved one’s leave will expire at the same time as yours. However, if you are a Skilled Worker or Innovator Founder applying to settle in the UK, your loved one can also apply.

Family visas

The family visa is a possible long-term option for the Russian wife or girlfriend of either a British citizen or an overseas national already settled in the UK, and is again intended for the spouse, civil partner or unmarried partner of the UK sponsor. Your loved one may also be able to apply for a fiancé(e) or proposed civil partner visa, provided you plan to marry within 6 months of their arrival in the UK. Once the wedding or civil partnership ceremony has taken place, they can then apply to switch to a spouse or civil partner visa.

When applying for a family visa from outside the UK, this will be granted for a period of 2 years and 9 months, or 2 years and 6 months from inside the UK (if switching from a fiancé(e) visa). There is also an option to renew and apply for settlement after 5 years.

Need assistance?

Contact DavidsonMorris’ UK immigration specialists for expert guidance on your UK immigration options and Home Office applications.

Last updated: 12 January 2024

Founder and Managing Director Anne Morris is a fully qualified solicitor and trusted adviser to large corporates through to SMEs, providing strategic immigration and global mobility advice to support employers with UK operations to meet their workforce needs through corporate immigration.

She is a recognised by Legal 500 and Chambers as a legal expert and delivers Board-level advice on business migration and compliance risk management as well as overseeing the firm’s development of new client propositions and delivery of cost and time efficient processing of applications.

Anne is an active public speaker, immigration commentator , and immigration policy contributor and regularly hosts training sessions for employers and HR professionals

Anne Morris https://www.davidsonmorris.com/author/anne/ Transitioning to an eVisa for UK BRP Holders
Anne Morris https://www.davidsonmorris.com/author/anne/ New Fire & Rehire Code of Practice in Force
Anne Morris https://www.davidsonmorris.com/author/anne/ King's Speech 2024: Employment Law Reforms
Anne Morris https://www.davidsonmorris.com/author/anne/ Self Sponsorship Visa UK

About DavidsonMorris

As employer solutions lawyers, DavidsonMorris offers a complete and cost-effective capability to meet employers’ needs across UK immigration and employment law, HR and global mobility .

Led by Anne Morris, one of the UK’s preeminent immigration lawyers, and with rankings in The Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners , we’re a multi-disciplinary team helping organisations to meet their people objectives, while reducing legal risk and nurturing workforce relations.

Legal Disclaimer

The matters contained in this article are intended to be for general information purposes only. This article does not constitute legal advice, nor is it a complete or authoritative statement of the law, and should not be treated as such. Whilst every effort is made to ensure that the information is correct at the time of writing, no warranty, express or implied, is given as to its accuracy and no liability is accepted for any error or omission. Before acting on any of the information contained herein, expert legal advice should be sought.

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My holiday flight was cancelled due to the Crowdstrike IT outage – can I claim compensation?

Over 700 flights to, from and within the UK were cancelled by dozens of airlines between Friday 19 and Sunday 21 July.

Problems began at dawn on Friday when the CrowdStrike IT update failure knocked out key airport and airline systems. More than 400 flights were cancelled on the day. The knock-on effects are continuing, especially for the package holiday company, Tui .

On Saturday and Sunday, there were hundreds more flight cancellations – blamed by easyJet on “a combination of staffing and capacity constraints and adverse weather”.

The airline’s chief executive Johan Lundgren said on Monday: “This cannot go on. Urgent reform alongside additional resilience and staffing need to be put into place so passengers don’t have to suffer the consequences of lengthy delays or the risk of their flight being cancelled.”

The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) says: “When flights are delayed and cancelled, we expect airlines to minimise the overall impact on passengers by keeping them informed, looking after them, and advising them of their rights.”

But there is still much confusion among the 100,000 passengers stranded when their flights were grounded about their exact entitlements – and what compensation , if any, they may claim.

These are the key questions and answers.

If my flight is cancelled, what must the airline do?

For passengers on UK or European airlines, or those flying from a British or EU airport, the airline’s obligations are clear under European air passengers’ rights rules .

These were introduced in 2006 and are known as EC261. They were devised to require airlines to do the right thing for their passengers. They specify the care and compensation you can expect when your plane is delayed or cancelled. After Brexit, the UK copied and pasted the same rules.

For many people the most important right is replacement transport.

Whatever the cause of a cancellation, and regardless of the amount of notice that is given, the airline must get you to your destination as soon as possible if that is what you want. The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) says that means if a flight is available on the original day of travel, you must be booked on it – even if it is on a rival carrier.

The exact legal phrase is “re-routing, under comparable transport conditions, to their final destination at the earliest opportunity”. The term “re-routing” is unhelpful, since it implies finding a different route to the destination. On a link such as Manchester-Dublin or Barcelona- Gatwick , with around a dozen flights a day on multiple airlines, there should be no need to change the route.

What if I am flown to a different arrival airport?

That happens quite a lot, and the airline must meet reasonable onward travel costs. If you are flown to Bristol rather than Gatwick, or Manchester instead of Birmingham, you could claim the onward train fare – but not a taxi, unless there are several of you and the cost per person is cheaper than a rail ticket, or if it is the middle of the night.

Does my replacement transport have to be a plane?

No. On occasion a train (eg Eurostar from Amsterdam, Brussels or Paris to London) or even a rental car may be more appropriate.

But the airline says it can only book me on one of its flights?

Unfortunately, I have heard that more than once during the present crisis – with multiple passengers waiting days to be flown, rather than departing no later than the day after the cancellation. If you are told this, say politely that this is not the case, and that you will go ahead with booking alternative transport and claim it back later.

The CAA says: “We expect [airlines] to promptly reimburse passengers for the reasonable costs they incur making their own arrangements.”

If you are told “you can only fly with us”, try to get it in writing – that may make it easier subsequently to recoup your spending. If the alternative travel is expensive (eg only business class is available) you will need to be able to show evidence – with screenshots of the flights on offer at the time you tried to book.

Any other options?

Yes. The first is an alternative flight at a time to suit you in the future. This may well suit someone on a city break that was rendered non-viable but who still wants to travel.

Suppose you were heading for Rome on Friday morning, but the outbound flight was cancelled and the next available one was Saturday evening; you might just want to reschedule for a later weekend. In such a case, the cancelling airline can reasonably require you to travel on one of its services.

The other is a full refund, including any return segment if it is on the same ticket. Do not accept a voucher unless there is a benefit to you – eg a 25 per cent uplift in the value of the ticket, offering you £500 worth of future travel for a £400 fare.

I had to stay overnight…

In its “Guidance to Industry”, the CAA says: “Passengers whose flights are delayed, and those awaiting replacement flights, should be looked after and provided with meals, refreshments and hotel accommodation proportionate to the length of the delay.

“Particular attention should be given to those who require special assistance, and passengers who are vulnerable or require more practical assistance.”

This should include transport between the airport and the accommodation. In practice, you may be told “sort yourself out”.

What happens if I have to find my own hotel?

You claim it back, along with meals (but not alcohol). You must keep all your receipts, and these should be itemised rather than a random credit card receipt.

Do I get cash compensation?

You are due hundreds of pounds in compensation if the airline is responsible for the cancellation – ie it cannot plead “extraordinary circumstances” as causing the grounding of the flight. In the case of the IT outage, the CAA wrote to airlines saying: “The disruptions directly caused by the global IT issue are likely to be viewed as ‘extraordinary circumstances’. As a result, passengers are unlikely to be entitled to fixed-sum compensation.”

But the CAA adds that its view does not preclude passengers from seeking compensation, including through the courts, “if they disagree with the Civil Aviation Authority’s interpretation.”

What are the chances?

If your flight was cancelled, or you missed it, due to airport failures (eg a non-functioning baggage system or security snarl-up) then the airline cannot be held responsible.

Consider the case of Tui, whose crewing rosters were undermined by the CrowdStrike failure. A lawyer might argue that the software chosen was within the control of the firm. This could be the subject of a test case – and if it is, there will be plenty of publicity to enable other passengers to claim.

In addition, it is the passenger’s right to be given a clear explanation of the reason for a cancellation. If, for example, a technical issue with a plane was involved, that could provide grounds for a successful claim.

Initially, you should apply direct to the airline, but if your claim is rejected you can consider a legal approach – or going through Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), which has the advantage of being free.

Does it make any difference if I am on a package holiday?

Yes, if your holiday is curtailed because you arrived a day or two late, then you should get a proportionate refund from the tour operator (the company that put your trip together). But the firm is allowed to deduct the value of the flight from the calculation.

For example, suppose you paid £1,000 for a one-week package, and lost two days of it. The company could claim that the air fare element comprised £300. Your compensation would then be based on a holiday element of £700, and you would get £200 (two-sevenths of that £700).

Some tour operators are automatically refunding the value of the lost portion of the trip, others you may need to chase.

The Independent is aware that some online travel agents that sold package holidays (flights and accommodation in the same transaction, with an Atol certificate to prove it) are telling customers that only the cancelled flight and, possibly, accommodation are refundable – and that if the inbound flight is still going, it will not be refunded. This is nonsense; if the package is cancelled, you get all your money back.

What if I am flying from outside Europe on a non-UK/European airline?

These rules do not apply.

The Independent is the world’s most free-thinking news brand, providing global news, commentary and analysis for the independently-minded. We have grown a huge, global readership of independently minded individuals, who value our trusted voice and commitment to positive change. Our mission, making change happen, has never been as important as it is today.

2,600+ US flights canceled: United, American Airlines resume service after global outage

What we know about CrowdStrike’s update fail that’s causing global outages and travel chaos

Person looking at monitors with overlaid Crowdstrike and Microsoft Windows logos (Image Credits: Bryce Durbin / TechCrunch)

A faulty software update issued by security giant CrowdStrike has resulted in a massive overnight outage that’s affected Windows computers around the world , disrupting businesses, airports, train stations, banks, broadcasters and the healthcare sector.

CrowdStrike said the outage was not caused by a cyberattack, but was the result of a “defect” in a software update for its flagship security product, Falcon Sensor. The defect caused any Windows computers that Falcon is installed on to crash without fully loading.

“The issue has been identified, isolated and a fix has been deployed,” said CrowdStrike in a statement on Friday . Some businesses and organizations are beginning to recover, but many expect the outages to drag on into the weekend or next week given the complexity of the fix. CrowdStrike CEO George Kurtz told NBC News that it may take “some time for some systems that just automatically won’t recover.” In a later tweet , Kurtz apologized for the disruption.

Here’s everything you need to know about the outages.

What happened?

Late Thursday into Friday, reports began to emerge of IT problems wherein Windows computers were getting stuck with the infamous “blue screen of death” — a bright blue error screen with a message that displays when Windows encounters a critical failure, crashes or cannot load.

The outages were first noticed in Australia early on Friday, and reports quickly came in from the rest of Asia and Europe as the regions began their day, as well as the United States.

Within a short time, CrowdStrike confirmed that a software update for Falcon had malfunctioned and was causing Windows computers that had the software installed to crash. Falcon lets CrowdStrike remotely analyze and check for malicious threats and malware on installed computers.

At around the same time, Microsoft reported a significant outage at one of its most used Azure cloud regions covering much of the central United States. A spokesperson for Microsoft told TechCrunch that its outage was unrelated to CrowdStrike’s incident .

Around Friday noon (Eastern time), Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella posted on X saying the company is aware of the CrowdStrike botched update and is “working closely with CrowdStrike and across the industry to provide customers technical guidance and support to safely bring their systems back online.”

What is CrowdStrike and what does Falcon Sensor do?

CrowdStrike, founded in 2011, has quickly grown into a cybersecurity giant. Today the company provides software and services to 29,000 corporate customers, including around half of Fortune 500 companies, 43 out of 50 U.S. states and eight out of the top 10 tech firms, according to its website .

The company’s cybersecurity software, Falcon, is used by enterprises to manage security on millions of computers around the world. These businesses include large corporations, hospitals, transportation hubs and government departments. Most consumer devices do not run Falcon and are unaffected by this outage.

One of the company’s biggest recent claims to fame was when it caught a group of Russian government hackers breaking into the Democratic National Committee ahead of the 2016 U.S. presidential election. CrowdStrike is also known for using memorable animal-themed names for the hacking groups it tracks based on their nationality, such as: Fancy Bear , believed to be part of Russia’s General Staff Main Intelligence Directorate, or GRU; Cozy Bear , believed to be part of Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service, or SVR; Gothic Panda , believed to be a Chinese government group; and Charming Kitten , believed to be an Iranian state-backed group. The company even makes action figures to represent these groups, which it sells as swag .

CrowdStrike is so big it’s one of the sponsors of the Mercedes F1 team , and this year even aired a Super Bowl ad — a first for a cybersecurity company.

Who are the outages affecting?

Practically anyone who during their everyday life interacts with a computer system running software from CrowdStrike is affected, even if the computer isn’t theirs.

These devices include the cash registers at grocery stores, departure boards at airports and train stations, school computers, your work-issued laptops and desktops, airport check-in systems, airlines’ own ticketing and scheduling platforms, healthcare networks and many more. Because CrowdStrike’s software is so ubiquitous, the outages are causing chaos around the world in a variety of ways. A single affected Windows computer in a fleet of systems could be enough to disrupt the network.

TechCrunch reporters around the world are seeing and experiencing outages, including at points of travel, doctors’ offices and online. Early on Friday, the Federal Aviation Administration put in effect a ground stop, effectively grounding flights across the United States, citing the disruption. It looks like so far the national Amtrak rail network is functioning as normal.

What is the U.S. government doing so far?

Given that the problem stems from a company, there isn’t much that the U.S. federal government can do. According to a pool report, President Biden was briefed on the CrowdStrike outage, and “his team is in touch with CrowdStrike and impacted entities.” That’s in large part because the federal government is a customer of CrowdStrike and also affected.

Several federal agencies are affected by the incident, including the Department of Education , and Social Security Administration, which said Friday that it closed its offices as a result of the outage.

The pool report said Biden’s team is “engaged across the interagency to get sector by sector updates throughout the day and is standing by to provide assistance as needed.”

In a separate tweet, Homeland Security said it was working with its U.S. cybersecurity agency CISA, CrowdStrike and Microsoft — as well as its federal, state, local and critical infrastructure partners — to “fully assess and address system outages.”

There will no doubt be questions for CrowdStrike (and to some extent Microsoft, whose unrelated outage also caused disruption overnight for its customers) from government and congressional investigators.

For now, the immediate focus will be on the recovery of affected systems.

How do affected customers fix their Windows computers?

The major problem here is that CrowdStrike’s Falcon Sensor software malfunctioned, causing Windows machines to crash, and there’s no easy way to fix that.

So far, CrowdStrike has issued a patch, and it has also detailed a workaround that could help affected systems function normally until it has a permanent solution. One option is for users to “reboot the [affected computer] to give it an opportunity to download the reverted channel file,” referring to the fixed file.

In a message to users , CrowdStrike detailed a few steps customers can take, one of which requires physical access to an affected system to remove the defective file. CrowdStrike says users should boot the computer into Safe Mode or Windows Recovery Environment, navigate to the CrowdStrike directory, and delete the faulty file “C-00000291*.sys.”

The wider problem with having to fix the file manually could be a major headache for companies and organizations with large numbers of computers, or Windows-powered servers in datacenters or locations that might be in another region, or an entirely different country.

CISA warns that malicious actors are ‘taking advantage’ of the outage

In a statement on Friday, CISA attributed the outages to the faulty CrowdStrike update and that the issue was not due to a cyberattack. CISA said that it was “working closely with CrowdStrike and federal, state, local, tribal and territorial partners, as well as critical infrastructure and international partners to assess impacts and support remediation efforts.”

CISA did note, however, that it has “observed threat actors taking advantage of this incident for phishing and other malicious activity.” The cybersecurity agency did not provide more specifics, but warned organizations to stay vigilant.

Malicious actors can and will exploit confusion and chaos to carry out cyberattacks on their own. Rachel Tobac, a social engineering expert and founder of cybersecurity firm SocialProof Security, said in a series of posts on X to “verify people are who they say they are before taking sensitive actions.”

“Criminals will attempt to use this IT outage to pretend to be IT to you or you to IT to steal access, passwords, codes, etc.,” Tobac said.

What do we know about misinformation so far?

It’s easy to understand why some might have thought that this outage was a cyberattack. Sudden outages, blue screens at airports, office computers filled with error messages, and chaos and confusion. As you might expect, a fair amount of misinformation is already flying around , even as social media sites incorrectly flag trending topics like “cyberattack.”

Remember to check official sources of news and information, and if something seems too good to be true, it might just well be.

TechCrunch will keep this report updated throughout the day.

TechCrunch’s Ram Iyer contributed reporting.

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Faulty CrowdStrike update causes major global IT outage, taking out banks, airlines and businesses globally

Security giant CrowdStrike said the outage was not caused by a cyberattack, as businesses anticipate widespread disruption.

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Mass IT outage: here's a list of companies and operations affected

A huge global IT outage is disrupting flights, banks, retailers, and media outlets.
The widespread disruptions have been linked to an issue with the cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike.
Operations affected include airlines in the US and Europe, supermarkets, and some 911 lines.

A mass IT outage has hit flights, banks, retailers, and media outlets around the world.

The issues appear to be linked to the cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike .

Microsoft also acknowledged the issue in an X update early Friday, writing, "Our services are still seeing continuous improvements while we continue to take mitigation actions."

Here are some of the companies and operations affected.

Numerous airlines grounded flights early Friday morning, including the big three US carriers: United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and American Airlines. In statements, they all cited technology issues.

Delta and American had both canceled their ground stops by 7 a.m. ET.

A United spokesperson told Business Insider that it was holding all aircraft at their departure airports while it works to restore systems. "Flights already airborne are continuing to their destinations," they added.

American has blamed the issues on CrowdStrike, saying they were because of a "technical issue with Crowdstrike that is impacting multiple carriers," according to BBC News.

The budget airlines Frontier, Allegiant, and Spirit also issued ground stops which were later canceled.

Frontier's was issued on Thursday night. "Flight operations are currently being impacted by a major Microsoft technical outage," it said in a statement.

Spirit said it was unable to rebook affected customers because of the outage.

Disruption also extended to Europe. The continent's largest airline, Ryanair, advised passengers to arrive early as the outage caused "disruption across the network."

CNN values your feedback

The 10 senate seats most likely to flip in 2024.

The past three weeks have shaken up the race for the White House, further complicating things at the Senate level.

Democrats faced a challenging path to holding their Senate majority even before President Joe Biden ’s disastrous debate performance and the assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump – and they still do. But this year’s Democratic candidates, many of them well-known incumbents, have so far been able to create some separation from the top of the ticket. The question going forward, regardless of what Biden does, is whether they can sustain it.

Nine of the top 10 seats on CNN’s latest ranking of the Senate seats most likely to flip are held by Democrats (or independents who caucus with them). And assuming Republicans flip West Virginia, where Sen. Joe Manchin is retiring, the GOP just needs to win the White House or pick up one more Senate seat to win the majority.

That’s a tough landscape for Democrats – especially when they’re defending seats in states that either twice voted comfortably for Trump (Montana and Ohio) or are presidential battlegrounds, and when Biden is so far defying intraparty warnings that his candidacy could cause a GOP “ landslide .” Montana Sen. Jon Tester and Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown – the two most vulnerable incumbents running for reelection – said this week that Biden should exit the race .

There’s been limited public polling of Senate races since the increasing Democratic consternation in the debate’s aftermath and virtually none since the attack on Trump in Pennsylvania last week. There has, however, been some slippage in Biden’s numbers, and Democrats are bracing for Trump, who officially claimed the GOP nomination in Milwaukee this week, to receive a post-convention polling bump.

All of that raises the stakes for Senate Democrats to keep doing what they’re doing: touting their legislative accomplishments without invoking the Biden administration and using their fundraising edge to try to define their GOP challengers – often by mining their business backgrounds and out-of-state ties. Democrats have also been hitting back on attacks over the southern border by highlighting their support of bipartisan immigration legislation that Republicans killed in Congress this year.

Attendees recite the pledge of allegiance on Day 2 of the Republican National Convention (RNC), at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S., July 16, 2024. REUTERS/Brian Snyder

Related article Republican Senate candidates take the spotlight at Milwaukee convention as GOP eyes expanded map

But the risk for Democrats is that as their Republican challengers become better known, GOP campaign spending increases and more voters tune in, any separation from the top of the ticket will erode. Ticket-splitting isn’t as common as it once was, as CNN political analyst Ronald Brownstein wrote recently.

One change to this month’s CNN ranking is reflective of that challenge. Two Democratic-held seats are trading places: Michigan, an open seat, moves above Pennsylvania, where there’s a three-term incumbent on the ballot. But otherwise, the list remains unchanged from April, when Maryland was first included due to Republican former Gov. Larry Hogan ’s candidacy and when Florida fell off. That leaves Texas as the only Democratic target in the top 10.

Meanwhile, Biden’s recent struggles have raised questions about whether the list of GOP targets will grow longer – a source of enthusiasm for attendees at this week’s Republican National Convention. Virginia GOP nominee Hung Cao addressed the delegates just as new polling from The New York Times/Siena College showed a margin-of-error presidential race in the Old Dominion. (Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine, however, led Cao 53% to 36% among likely voters in that survey.)

And Montana Sen. Steve Daines, the chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, talked up the prospects of New Mexico nominee Nella Domenici, the daughter of the late Sen. Pete Domenici. Incumbent Martin Heinrich, who on Friday morning became the third Democratic senator to call for Biden to step aside, launched an ad earlier this week accusing Domenici of trying to buy the seat.

Democrats, however, still feel confident about their incumbents in states Biden won by 10 points (Virginia) and 11 points (New Mexico), given that some of their candidates in much tougher states are, for now, still holding their own.

The rankings below represent a snapshot of where the race for the Senate stands and not necessarily where it may be heading, so we’ll check back on the following contests next month.

1. West Virginia

Both Democrats and Republicans have essentially been treating this seat as a GOP pickup since Sen. Joe Manchin announced he wasn’t running for reelection . The onetime Democratic senator tried last month to put to rest chatter that he could run as an independent against Republican nominee Jim Justice, the current governor, in the Trump-friendly state. “I’m not running for any office, political office,” Manchin told CNN’s Manu Raju in June shortly after registering as an independent . He did, however, leave a little bit of wiggle room ahead of the August 1 filing deadline, adding, “You always have options, because life is full of surprises.”

Justice, a former Democrat, has had his share of troubling headlines – about his business practices , for example – but he’s a popular and well-known second-term governor who easily dispatched Rep. Alex Mooney in the May Republican primary . And Manchin, the most conservative member of the Senate Democratic Caucus, was clear about the challenge of running in a state that’s moved so sharply to the right, noting that the “D” brand in West Virginia had grown “toxic.”

Sen. Jon Tester during a hearing on Capitol Hill on September 12, 2023 in Washington, DC.

Biden’s struggles only exacerbate Sen. Jon Tester’s challenge of overperforming the top of the ticket in a state that has twice backed Trump by double digits. Tester has won tough elections before – including in 2018, when Trump was in the White House – but this is the first year he will be on the same ballot as the former president.

While Republicans run ads attempting to tie Tester to the president and attacking him on the border , Democrats are trying to play up the contrast between the seven-fingered dirt farmer and his GOP opponent, Tim Sheehy, a wealthy businessman and retired Navy SEAL. Last Best Place PAC, a Democratic-aligned group, has run ads poking fun at what they call Sheehy’s “hobby ranch” and attacking him as a “millionaire out-of-stater driving up housing costs.” Democrats have also seized on Washington Post reporting about Sheehy’s changing account of a gunshot wound sustained roughly a decade ago to raise questions about his credibility.

The relevance of Sheehy’s relatively recent arrival in the state – he settled there in 2014 after leaving the military – has become a key question in this race. Democrats are trying to make it a weakness after using a similar argument to discredit Republican nominee Matt Rosendale in his 2018 challenge to Tester. But Republicans argue that post-pandemic Montana is filled with conservative transplants from bluer states and that Sheehy, who recently stepped down as CEO of Bridger Aerospace, has been a job creator.

Tester raised $10.6 million in the second quarter – about double Sheehy’s haul, which included a million dollars in personal loans. The senator spent more than he took in those three months, but he still started July with a healthy cash-on-hand advantage over Sheehy – $10.9 million to his opponent’s $3.2 million.

U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) qustions Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chairman Gary Gensler, during a Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee oversight hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., September 15, 2022. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein

Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown is the second-most vulnerable incumbent, facing reelection in a state that Trump has twice carried by 8 points. His path to reelection, like Tester’s, runs through distancing himself from the top of the ticket while trying to paint a character contrast with his GOP opponent to localize rather than nationalize the race. Democrats got their preferred opponent in Bernie Moreno , a Cleveland car dealership owner whom they boosted in a three-way primary by highlighting his backing from Trump.

Brown, a progressive populist who’s been in Congress since 1993, raised more than any other incumbent in the second quarter and is spending heavily – a whopping $18.1 million during that three-month period – to shape that contrast with Moreno. His ads feature a Republican sheriff vouching for him and tout successful legislation to lower the cost of insulin (without mentioning that this was a Biden priority). A Democratic-aligned outside group has highlighted legislation he has pushed that Trump signed. Democrats have been working to define Moreno – Brown’s campaign uses his background as a car dealer to attack his credibility, for example. Democrats have also seized on a New York Times story that poked holes in the personal narrative the Colombian-born Moreno presents on the trail.

Brown is the known commodity in this race – a recent ad about his gravelly voice underscores that familiarity – but Republicans think Ohio voters will eventually come their way given the state’s increasing redness. Moreno, who’s playing up his ties to Trump’s running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, is trying to tether his opponent to an unpopular president with one ad featuring two men, supposed to be Biden and Brown, riding a tandem bicycle to make the argument that they’re pedaling together in Washington.

A Marist poll released in early June hinted at the ticket-splitting Democrats are banking on for Brown to prevail. (While Trump led Biden by 7 points among registered voters, Brown led Moreno by 5 points.) Brown raised $12.8 million in the second quarter and ended June with $10.7 million in the bank. Moreno raised $4.4 million and ended the quarter with $4.5 million on hand.

Democratic Sen. Jacky Rosen is running for a second term in a state that, on paper, would seem to lean more comfortably blue (Biden carried it by 2 points) than a few others on this list. But the first-term senator, who’s up against Republican Sam Brown , may be in a more vulnerable position than some of her fellow battleground state incumbents in part because of the state’s shifting demographics.

Rosen led Brown 47% to 40% in a Times (UK)/SAY24/YouGov survey released this week. Before that, the most recent poll that met CNN standards – from The New York Times/Siena College in early May – had each Senate candidate at 41%.

Rosen, who raised $7.6 million in the second quarter and spent nearly $4 million more than that, is touting her work to lower prescription drug costs (again without mention of Biden). But she doesn’t have the same established brand as her Montana or Ohio colleagues. She’s trying to tar Brown as a “MAGA extremist” – specifically attacking inconsistencies in his abortion position, which Democrats see as an especially salient issue in the Silver State. Brown, who told NBC News earlier this year that he’d “close the door” on backing a national abortion ban and that he supported Nevada’s law allowing the procedure up to 24 weeks, once backed a more restrictive abortion bill when running for office in Texas. His support for that legislation, and its effect on one woman named Valerie, was the subject of one of Rosen’s first ads against the Army veteran after he won the GOP nomination last month.

Brown, who got a shout-out from Trump during his keynote speech at the Republican convention this week, is focused on the border and the economy , promising to build Trump’s wall and extend his tax cuts. He raised $4.1 million in the second quarter, ending with $3.1 million in the bank to Rosen’s $9.5 million.

WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 29: U.S. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) speaks at a news conference after the Senate passed the Respect for Marriage Act at the Capitol Building on November 29, 2022 in Washington, DC. In a 61-36 vote, the measure would provide federal recognition and protection for same-sex and interracial marriages. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

While Arizona looks favorable for Republicans at the presidential level, their liability at the Senate level is their leading candidate. Kari Lake , who lost the 2022 gubernatorial election and continues to make false claims about that defeat and the 2020 election, is all but guaranteed to win the GOP nomination in the August primary to succeed retiring independent Sen. Kyrsten Sinema.

Lake would then be up against Democratic Rep. Ruben Gallego , who significantly overperformed Biden in the Times (UK)/SAY24/YouGov poll conducted after the presidential debate but before the assassination attempt on Trump. While Trump led the president 44% to 37% among registered voters, Gallego led Lake 48% to 41%. Gallego, a Marine veteran, went up on TV early, giving him an advertising advantage that’s been fueled by his strong fundraising. He brought in nearly $10.5 million in the second quarter to Lake’s $4.3 million and started July with $9.2 million in the bank to his opponent’s $2.8 million.

A former member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, Gallego is attempting to cut a more moderate profile in this race, with ads that tout his military service, his humble upbringing and his work to lower costs for families. Lake has run ads with the NRSC that feature women talking about their fears of the border and immigrants. Another one showcases footage of Biden at the presidential debate and links Lake to Trump. But she’s faced concerns from within her own party – including from Trump, according to The Washington Post – that she’s traveling the country too much instead of campaigning in the state she’s trying to win. If Trump does well enough in Arizona, however, he may be able to carry Lake to victory with him.

6. Michigan

WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 17: Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Chairwoman speaks at a press conference on the introduction of legislation to help Americans with the nationwide baby formula shortage at the U.S. Capitol Building on May 17, 2022 in Washington, DC. Later this month the House Appropriations Committee will be holding two hearings to examine the recall of infant formula produced at an Abbott facility, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) handling of the recall, and the subsequent nationwide infant formula shortage. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

The race to replace retiring Democratic Sen. Debbie Stabenow in Michigan – where Republicans haven’t won a Senate race in 30 years – moves up one spot on the ranking this month. That’s largely because it’s an open seat, which is typically harder for the party in power to defend while facing a troubling national environment.

Democratic Rep. Elissa Slotkin , who’s all but guaranteed to win next month’s primary, is a strong recruit and fundraiser – she raised $6.5 million in the second quarter and ended June with $9.6 million in the bank. But her comments on a donor call, obtained earlier this month by The New York Times , crystalize Democratic fears about how the top of the ticket could jeopardize such a crucial battleground race. Slotkin said that Trump was leading in her state and that the Senate race was a toss-up. “It wasn’t good, so it certainly didn’t help,” she told CNN’s Annie Grayer when asked about the impact of the presidential debate on her race.

Polling from the Times (UK)/SAY24/YouGov showed her holding her own against the likely Republican nominee, former Rep. Mike Rogers – 48% to 39% among registered voters. (The same poll showed no clear leader between Biden and Trump.)

Notably, both candidates have national security backgrounds – Slotkin as a former CIA analyst and Rogers as the former chairman of the House Intelligence Committee. Slotkin has made her public service a cornerstone of her campaign and advertising , touting her experience in Democratic and Republican administrations.

With the primary still looming, Rogers’ allies are leaning into his endorsement from Trump . A recent ad from the Great Lakes Conservatives Fund, for example, almost exclusively features the former president praising Rogers. Rogers raised $2.1 million in the second quarter, ending June with $2.5 million banked.

7. Pennsylvania

PHILADELPHIA, PA - SEPTEMBER 21: Senator Bob Casey (D- PA) addresses supporters before former President Barack Obama speaks during a campaign rally for statewide Democratic candidates on September 21, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Midterm election day is November 6th. (Photo by Mark Makela/Getty Images)

Democratic Sen. Bob Casey , a three-term incumbent with a well-known name in the state, is facing wealthy Republican Dave McCormick – a matchup that both sides are trying to milk for the political contrast that suits them. For Democrats, that means painting McCormick, a onetime hedge fund executive, as a rich guy who regularly flies back to Connecticut, has had business ties to China and opposes abortion rights .

For Republicans, it’s about portraying Casey as a career politician who answers only to Washington and an unpopular Democratic president and who is weak on the border . Democrats have been trying to counter that message. For example, one ad from Duty and Honor sounds like it could be a GOP spot, opening with “Fentaynl and crime, they’re coming from our southern border.”

For much of the race, Casey has been able to hold his own, even as the numbers for Biden – who narrowly carried the state in 2020 – have been more precarious. A New York Times/Siena College poll conducted after the presidential debate but before the assassination attempt found Casey leading McCormick 50% to 42% among likely voters while Biden and Trump were locked in a close race.

Casey raised $8 million in the second quarter, entering July with $8.4 million on hand. McCormick raised $6.7 million, which included $2.1 million in personal loans, ending June with $8 million. But he has plenty more of his own money to spend, as well as a supportive super PAC, and the Senate Leadership Fund recently announced a $24 million investment in the state beginning in September – a sign that Republicans see this as a winnable contest.

8. Wisconsin

U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) speaks ahead of the signing of

Sen. Tammy Baldwin is another Democrat in a so-called blue wall state trying to defy whatever happens to the top of the ticket. Biden barely won the Badger State in 2020 after Trump had carried it by a similarly narrow margin four years earlier. Despite those thin margins, Democrats are heartened that Baldwin, a two-term senator with a known statewide brand, will likely be up against Republican Eric Hovde, the favorite in the August primary.

Hovde has made a string of controversial comments that have provided fodder for Democrats as they rush to define him. Baldwin’s campaign has run ads with people responding to a remark he made during a 2012 Senate run that those who are overweight need to pay more for health care and to a more recent comment that most nursing home patients aren’t in a condition to vote .

Hovde, the CEO of Sunwest Bank who bought a house in Laguna Beach, California, after losing the 2012 Senate primary, has responded to Democratic attacks about his out-of-state ties with an ad that showcases where he grew up and went to school in Wisconsin. Hovde is trying to tie Baldwin to Biden, including in a new spot that says “voters deserve answers” from the senator about whether she still believes he can still be president. (Asked about that by CNN, Baldwin said Friday that she was hearing “legitimate and serious concerns” about the president from her constituents and relaying them to the White House and the Biden campaign.) She has also been on the air touting her work to cap insulin prices and crack down on fentanyl .

Pointing to Hovde’s early spending, Daines, the NRSC chairman, said at an RNC event this week that the Wisconsin Republican has closed the gap with his Democratic opponent more than any other GOP challenger. That’s where self-funding comes into play. Hovde’s second-quarter haul was just slightly less than Baldwin’s – $7.3 million to $7.5 million – but his total included a $5 million loan. Baldwin ended June with $7.3 million in the bank, while Hovde had $5.4 million.

While Trump led Biden 43% to 38% among registered voters in the Times (UK)/SAY24/YouGov poll , Baldwin led Hovde 50% to 43%. A Marquette Law School poll from mid-June showed the senator up 52% to 47% over Hovde among both registered and likely voters. Notably, however, Hovde was still largely unknown – 44% of registered voters said they hadn’t heard enough about him to form an opinion, which means he likely has room to grow his support.

9. Maryland

Angela Alsobrooks shook up the political world this spring when she defeated self-funding Rep. David Trone for the Democratic nomination to succeed retiring Democrat Ben Cardin. She’ll now face Republican former Gov. Larry Hogan, who’s the only reason a seat in a state Biden carried by more than 30 points is even competitive.

While Alsobrooks, the executive of Prince George’s County, doesn’t bring the personal resources that Trone would have, she has proved to be a strong campaigner and has raised significant money. She narrowly outraised Hogan in the second quarter, raking in $5.3 million to his $5.1 million, and ended up with more money in the bank. Alsobrooks’ potential to become the first Black senator from Maryland and just the third Black woman elected to the Senate carries appeal for some voters – especially against a White Republican opponent whom Democrats are attacking on abortion.

Hogan has tried to distance himself from his party – “In the Senate, Republicans can’t count on my vote,” he says in one spot . After winning his primary, he told The New York Times that he’d support federal legislation to codify Roe v. Wade – which Alsobrooks immediately criticized, citing his previous veto of a state law to expand abortion access. Hogan has also tried to disavow his June endorsement from Trump, saying he had “no interest” in it. But Trump’s embrace of the former governor – who has said he isn’t backing the former president – may be a gift for Democrats trying to defend this seat.

WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 09: Committee Chairman Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA) (R) listens as ranking member Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) (2nd R) speaks during a hearing before Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee at Russell Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill February 9, 2023 in Washington, DC. The committee held a hearing on

Knocking off Sen. Ted Cruz in Texas was already a tough proposition for Democrats, and Biden’s stumbles could make it even harder for them to put GOP-held seats in play this year. That’s particularly acute in Texas, where Democrats have not won a statewide election since 1994. Still, Texas Democrats have a strong recruit in Dallas-area Rep. Colin Allred , who first came to the House by unseating a Republican congressman in 2018.

Allred’s campaign pulled in more than Cruz’s principal campaign account in the second quarter, although the senator still ended with more cash on hand. Allred brought in $10.5 million, spent about as much and ended June with around the same amount in the bank. Cruz raised $7.9 million and ended the period with $12.7 million banked.

Despite Texas voting reliably red, polling of the Senate race has shown a close contest – 47% of likely voters backed Cruz and 44% backed Allred in a recent University of Houston/YouGov poll .

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