From 25 February 2026, the United Kingdom has introduced a major change to the way visitor visas are issued. Applicants who apply and pay for a UK visit visa on or after this date will no longer receive a physical visa sticker (vignette) in their passport.
Instead, successful applicants will be issued a digital eVisa linked to their passport and stored in their online account with UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI).
The change forms part of the Home Office’s broader transition to a fully digital immigration system. Physical visa stickers, Biometric Residence Permits (BRPs), and paper entry stamps are being phased out. The UK is adopting a model similar to that used by Australia, which operates a digital visa system.
Previously, once a visit visa was approved, a visa sticker was inserted into the applicant’s passport at the Visa Application Centre (VAC), requiring the passport to be left there temporarily. Under the new system, all visit visa approvals from 25 February 2026 onward will exist solely as digital eVisas. There will be no physical proof of the visa in the passport, as immigration status will be stored electronically and linked to the passport used in the application.
A transitional period began on 12 January 2026, during which applicants received both a visa sticker and an eVisa. That transition has now ended, and the system has moved entirely to eVisa-only issuance.
Before travelling, visitors must create a UKVI online account using their passport and email address. Through this account, they can access and view their eVisa and confirm that all details are accurate. It is essential that the passport linked to the eVisa matches the passport used for travel.
The Home Office advises travellers to log into their UKVI account at least 24 hours before departure to ensure their immigration details are up to date. If a passport is renewed after the eVisa is issued, the account must be updated immediately, as airlines may refuse boarding if the passport does not match the one linked to the eVisa.
The UKVI account also allows users to generate a “share code” to prove their immigration status to employers, landlords, or border officials, replacing the need for physical documents.
One practical benefit of the new system is that visa nationals will only need to attend the Visa Application Centre once and can keep their passport, as there is no longer a need to insert a visa sticker.
Those who received a visa sticker before 25 February 2026 can continue to use it for travel while it remains valid. However, the Home Office recommends creating a UKVI account to confirm access to the corresponding eVisa. Existing BRP and Biometric Residence Card holders will be migrated to the digital system automatically during 2026, but they are encouraged to create a UKVI account without delay.
Further information is available on the official UK government website.
