Guidance on UK Entry Permission Application from 30 October 2025:
The UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) is transitioning to a new digital immigration system to verify your identity and immigration status, replacing traditional physical documentation such as BRP cards, visa vignettes, and wet-ink stamps. They aim to enhance security and efficiency while aligning the UK immigration system with international standards.
Updating your existing physical document to an eVisa will not affect your current immigration status or the conditions of your permit to enter or stay in the UK.
Key Benefits of switching to an eVisa:
Switching to an eVisa offers enhanced security because, unlike traditional physical documentation, eVisas cannot be lost, stolen, or tampered with. Once your application is approved, you’ll not need to wait or pick up a physical document; you’ll receive your eVisa instantly. However, you may still need to provide biometric information in person; UKVI will notify you if this is necessary. The eVisa system now makes it easier to prove your immigration status at the UK border and share it with third parties, like your employer or landlord, airline and public services.
Digital Transition of UK Visa Applications:
The UK visa application process is transitioning towards digitalisation. On or after 15 July 2025, if you are applying for permission to enter the UK, you will no longer need a physical visa in your passport. Instead, you will be required to access your eVisa through your UKVI account before travelling to the UK, marking the beginning of a digital-driven process for visa holders. Nevertheless, if you attended a visa application centre and had your fingerprints and photograph taken. When you apply for a dependent visa or as a main applicant for a visa other than for work and study, you’ll still get a vignette.
Starting from 30 October 2025, if you submit a new application to enter the UK on or after this date, you or your dependents may not receive a vignette if you make successful applications for certain work, study, and family visas, or for indefinite leave to enter (settlement) across any route. Instead, you’ll need to access your eVisa through the UKVI account before travelling to the UK, rather than a physical vignette.
What This Means For You:
The UKVI has expanded access to eVisas, allowing more people to create a UKVI account. You can now create a UKVI account to access your eVisa if you were issued with a Form for affixing a visa (FAV) or granted an extension to your visa but do not have a valid identity document, such as a passport or expired biometric residence permit (BRP).
By: Sooz Salihi
29/10/2025