UK to Go Completely Digital With Visas by 2026: What Travellers Should Know

The United Kingdom will be the first country to modernise its immigration procedures by abandoning the use of physical visa stickers in favour of digital visas (eVisas) by 2026. UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) is undertaking this move as part of a wider strategy to streamline the travel process and enhance border security.

After the transition is achieved, travellers will no longer be given stickers with the visa pasted to their passports. Rather, visa permissions will be stored online and accessed by means of a secure UKVI account.

Gradual Transition Before Full Rollout

The implementation of the digital visa will be in installments. Starting January 12, 2026, the UK will start issuing eVisas with physical visa stickers on most types of visa, such as visitor visas. This will be a transition before the UK completely abolishes physical visa issuance later in the year.

Those travellers possessing valid visa stickers that were issued before this date will continue using the same. Nevertheless, the authorities of the UK will enable such individuals to check their immigration status online through a UKVI account as well.

All physical visa stickers will be phased out by the end of 2026, and eVisas will be the sole permission to immigrate.

Earlier Changes for Certain Visa Categories

The change will occur earlier with some of the visa categories. Work, study, family, and settlement visa applicants whose applications are submitted on or after October 30, 2025, may not have any visa sticker in their passport whatsoever. They will instead be granted their approval in digital form,m and they would have to monitor their visa status online before travelling.

As a matter of fact, as of mid-July 2025, work and study route applications by some primary applicants will need eVisas instead of the traditional visa stickers.

What is an eVisa and How It Works?

An eVisa is an online document for the immigration of an individual. It validates the right of the visa holder to enter, remain, or work in the UK and is electronically tied to their passport.

Visa holders will use their online account (UKVI) to log in and see their eVisa, where they can:

• View visa details
   

• Share immigration status digitally with employers, landlords, or airlines.s
   

• Update personal information such as passport details.
   

Spouses and children are also dependants and will need to develop separate UKVI accounts to access their respective eVisas.

Who Will Need an eVisa

The majority of foreign citizens who plan on travelling into or residing within the UK will need an eVis, including those who have:

• Visitor visas
   

• Work and study visas
   

• Family visas
   

• Settlement or long-term stay permissions
   

UKVI will also provide information to applicants in the process omakingng a decision on the visa, whether it is issued digitally and how to access it.

Who Is Exempt From eVisas

The eVisa is not going to be required by all. The digital system will not apply to:

• Passengers into the UK with an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA).

• People who cannot be controlled by immigration policies, e.g, diplomats

• The immigration permission was restricted to the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man.

Creating or Accessing a UKVI Account

A good number of travellers can already have a UKVI account because they:

• Used the UK Immigration ID Check application.
   

• Used under the EU Settlement Scheme.

Transformed a biometric residence permit (BRP) into a digital residence permit.

UKVI discourages users from forming more than one account. The ones who are not sure should attempt to sign in so that they can confirm the existence of an account.

To make a new account, the applicants are usually required to have:

• An active email address and telephone number.
   

• Reference details in the passport or visa application

• Identity verification, typically via a smartphone application (with others available).

Why the UK Is Making This Change

The transition to the digital visa is expected to help speed up, make the immigration process safer, and more trustworthy. eVisas are not lost, damaged, or tampered with as with physical stickers. The authorities think that the system will help prevent fraud and bring ease in handling travel documents to both travellers and the officials at the border.

In case you intend to travel, work, or study in the UK within the next few years, then it will be necessary to get to know about the UKVI digital visa system. Although physical visa stickers will not disappear at once, eVisas will become the new standard for demonstrating the UK immigration status soon.

For more information, contact Aptech Visa to get started with your UK Visa Application in 2026. 

Call our well-versed team of the best immigration experts at 750 383 2132 / 91310 59075, or you can also write us at info@aptechvisa.com.

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