By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: The United Kingdom has rolled out a new eVisa system for Pakistani students and workers, replacing physical visa stickers with a digital process designed to simplify immigration and boost security.
Effective July 15, most Pakistani applicants for study or work visas will no longer need a traditional visa in their passports, a move the British High Commission in Islamabad hailed as a leap toward a modernized immigration framework.
The change introduces an eVisa—an online record of a person’s immigration status and conditions, accessible through a UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account.
“The UK Government is replacing physical immigration documents for most student and worker visas with a digital proof of immigration status, an eVisa,” the High Commission said in a statement. The digital system promises a more secure, streamlined process, eliminating the need for applicants to submit passports for visa stickers.
The eVisa rollout targets Pakistani students and workers staying in the UK for more than six months. It builds on a system already in use, with the statement noting that “eVisas are tried and tested, with millions of people already using them on select immigration routes.” The UK plans to eventually extend the eVisa to all visa applications, part of a broader transition to a fully digital immigration system announced in 2024.
British High Commissioner to Pakistan Jane Marriott emphasized the practical benefits of the new system. “The changes to the UK visa system will make it much simpler for students and workers to prove their identity and visa status,” she said. “It also means applicants can hold onto their passports, saving them time.”
The shift allows travelers to verify their status online, reducing reliance on physical documents that can be lost or damaged.
The eVisa applies to main applicants across key visa categories, including students, skilled workers, and temporary work routes. Dependants and those seeking other visa types, like general visitor visas, must still use physical stickers. Existing valid visas remain unaffected, and the switch doesn’t alter immigration status or stay conditions.
Applicants with existing, valid physical visas need not take action, and the switch to an eVisa does not alter anyone’s immigration status or conditions of stay in the UK. The initiative is part of an “enhanced border and immigration system,” according to the statement, designed to be more efficient and secure. “This will eventually be rolled out to all visa routes meaning a more secure and streamlined process for all UK visa customers,” it added.
The digital shift aligns with the UK government’s 2024 pledge to replace physical immigration documents with an online system, a transformation expected to reshape how visa holders interact with authorities.
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