UK Goes Digital: eVisas Now Mandatory for International Students and Workers from July

The UK government is requiring all international students and skilled foreign workers to apply for eVisas starting July 15, 2025. The eVisa replaces the traditional passport vignette (sticker) and is an important step towards a digital immigration system.

The eVisa is part of the phased digitization of their immigration processes supported by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI).

What is an eVisa?

An eVisa is a digital record of your immigration status in the UK, which replaces the vignette sticker and Biometric Residence Permit (BRP). The eVisa is linked to your UKVI account and must be viewed before you travel.

Who Is Affected?

International Students
Skilled Workers applying from July 15, 2025, onwards

Not applicable for dependants or applicants under other visa categories – they will still receive a vignette.

What’s New in the Process?

No more passport stickers for work and study visas
One-day visa process: you’ll submit biometrics and get your passport back on the same day
You’ll have to create a UKVI account to enable the retrieval of your digital visa
It will be easier to monitor your visa status online without needing physical documentation

How to Access Your eVisa

To access your eVisa, you must:

Create a UKVI account: This is mandatory
Link your identity using a valid passport, FAV (Form for Affixing a Visa), or an expired BRP
Log in and check your visa status whenever you need to

Why This Matters

“For students and skilled professionals, the digital visa process offers a simpler and more transparent experience,”

— Aritra Ghosal, Founder & Director, OneStep Global

This change brings more speed, transparency, and convenience to the visa process, eliminating the risks of lost or damaged physical documents.

What Stays the Same?

You must still go through the regular visa application process.
The requirements to qualify are still the same.
Those not in the student or skilled worker categories will continue to receive vignettes.

If you’re travelling to the UK for work or study, set up your UKVI account now. From July 15, your eVisa will be your official permission to enter and stay in the UK.