UK visas have gone digital: what to check before flying from Serbia

UKVI's updated guidance states that from 1 July 2026, new applicants no longer receive visa stickers after approval. Instead, they receive an eVisa — an electronic record of identity, status and conditions of stay. Before travelling, you must sign in to your UKVI account, view your eVisa and check your permission. UKVI guidance of 1 July 2026.

A digital outcome does not mean the entire process takes place without personal attendance. The authorities may still require biometrics. If an applicant is issued a special Form for Accompanying an eVisa, they must follow the instructions for collecting it: this document is used alongside the electronic visa.

Keep the approval email, but complete your travel preparation by checking the record itself. Make sure you can sign in to your account while travelling, not just from your home computer: you must retain access to the phone and email address.

In practice, the problem is often not the visa decision but mismatched details: a ticket is booked with a new passport while the account is linked to the old one; the name is spelled differently in the form; or email access remains with the person who helped with the application. Our advice is to identify these issues several days before travelling, not at the check-in desk.

The official instructions require you to check personal details, the current passport or travel document and the accuracy of immigration status. The details must match the information given to the carrier. Travel with a valid document that has been added to the account. A mismatch may cause boarding difficulties or delays at the border. Rules for travelling with an eVisa.

For additional proof of status, you can generate a share code; a travel code is valid for 90 days. If you have received a new passport, check the update procedure in advance. Do not assume that replacing a document automatically updates every system.

You need a UKVI account to access an eVisa. If you already have one, do not create a second. The official guidance specifically says that partners and children joining as dependants need their own accounts to access their eVisas. A working phone number and email address are important for creating and using an account. Creating and accessing a UKVI account.

Before travelling, we recommend making a family checklist: whose status has been checked, which passport is linked, where the application number is stored and who manages a child's account. Do not check only the main applicant. A shared itinerary does not replace an individual document check for every passenger.

According to the UK authorities, an ETA is intended for people who do not need a visa for the relevant short visit. An eVisa records granted immigration status. The choice depends on nationality, purpose and individual circumstances; Serbian residence alone does not turn a visa application into an ETA.

Starting with “How do I get an electronic document?” is therefore not enough. First establish which permission you need. Tourism, study and employment have different procedures and supporting documents, even when the resulting status is displayed digitally.

1. Open the decision email and follow the instructions relevant to your application.
2. Sign in to UKVI, check the status and passport, then compare the details with the ticket.
3. Check access to your phone and email while travelling; save application numbers and official support contacts.
4. Check documents separately for every passenger, including return to Serbia and transit.
5. If you find an error, resolve it before travel through the official data-correction procedure.

We will help prepare a UK visa application from Serbia and organise the final checks after the decision. We will review the travel purpose, residence and funding documents, check the consistency of the form and explain the next step. You will receive a clear action list — from preparing the documents to checking digital status before departure.

Prepare your UK visa documents

• UKVI: transition to eVisa · 1 July 2026
• GOV.UK: travelling with an eVisa
• GOV.UK: UKVI account