Beginning on June 15, 2025, the United Kingdom has formally introduced its e-Visa system for a wide range of non-European visa classes. This adjustment implies that qualified candidates will no longer get physical visa vignette stickers on their passports. Instead, they will obtain a digital visa, described as an e-Visa, which is accessible via a United Kingdom Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account.
The modification is part of the Home Office’s wider plan to digitize the United Kingdom’s immigration system and facilitate foreign mobility.
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Knowing The UK E-Visa
The United Kingdom e-Visa is a digital history of an individual’s immigration status, superseding physical visa stickers and biometric cards. It is accessed via a UKVI account and is required to be connected to an authentic passport for travel, access, or right-to-work reviews.
Who Is Impacted By The E-Visa Rollout
The new e-Visa system presently applies to non-European citizens making an application under the following visa classes:
- Skilled employees who include Health and Care positions
- Global Business Mobility
- Global Talent
- Foreign sportsperson
- Temporary employees such as seasonal, creative, government-authorized exchange,
- Youth mobility program
- Student visa
The people applying via these pathways no longer need to present their passports to visa request centers, which significantly reduces delays caused by courier services and processing bottlenecks.
What Does This E-Visa Mean For Travelers
Below is what candidates are required to do under the new system:
- Generate a UKVI account online
- Connect their present passport to the e-visa
- Confirm private information for correctness.
- Develop an “S” share code to submit immigration status if demanded at the time of travel.
Note: Individuals staying less than 90 days or dependents of primary candidates will still receive traditional visa vignette stickers.
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Furthermore, kids under the age of 18 are required to have their own UKVI accounts, with their guardians handling access and updates as needed.
How Employers Should Get Ready
The change to e-Visas also brings modifications for UK-based employers. Firms are required to:
- Ensure that new employees have fully developed their UKVI account.
- Perform right-to-work reviews online using the e-Visa system.
- Be aware of the various processes for confirming the status of dependents.
This digital policy supersedes the demand to manually check biometric residence permits (BRPs), biometric residence cards (BRCs), or other physical visa documents.
Major Features Of The UKVI Account
The UKVI account currently administers as the major center for all visa-associated matters. Users can:
- Check their visa type, status, and expiration date.
- Share your immigration status with landlords, schools, or employers by using a time-restricted share code.
- Update travel documents and private information.
The Home Office has verified that relocating to an e-Visa does not alter an individual’s immigration status or their right to settle and work in the United Kingdom.
Key Travel Reminders
Travelers to the United Kingdom are required to make sure:
- Their e-visa is accurately connected to an authentic passport before flying
- They carry their passport and UKVI-developed share code when traveling.
- Expired BRPs or BRCs will not be approved for access.
Neglecting to connect the e-visa with the accurate passport can result in boarding refusals at airports.
What About ILR, ILE, And Special Cases
Persons who have physical evidence of Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) or Indefinite Leave to Enter (ILE), like vignette stickers or ink stamps, are motivated to make an application for a No Time Limit (NTL) e-Visa.
Individuals under the Windrush Program or EU Settlement Program are also eligible for e-visas, aligning with the UK’s intention to digitize all immigration histories.
