Moving to a digital immigration system

UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) are developing a digital immigration system. This means we are replacing physical documents with a digital record of your identity and immigration status. This is known as an eVisa. We are doing this in a phased approach to manage the transition.

Find out more about eVisas and how to use them.

Since 2018, millions of people have received an eVisa. We regularly publish statistics on the number of accounts created.

Updating your existing physical document to an eVisa does not affect your immigration status or the conditions of your permission to enter or stay in the UK.

The benefits of an eVisa include:

• they are secure and cannot be lost, stolen or tampered with, unlike a physical document

• you will not need to wait for, or collect, a physical document after your application is decided – you might still need to provide biometric information in person, and we will tell you if you need to do this

• it will be quicker and easier to prove your status at the UK border, and share your status with third parties like employers and landlords

We’ll continue to share relevant information about your immigration status automatically with some government departments and other public authorities, if they request it, which will mean you don’t have to.

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What you need to do

What you need to do depends on your circumstances.

Check if you can get access to an eVisa.

Updates

Making a new application to enter and stay in the UK from 15 July 2025

You may not get a vignette if you apply for a work or study visa on or after 15 July 2025. Instead, you will need to create a UKVI account to get access to your eVisa before you travel to the UK. You’ll be told what to do when you get your decision.

You’ll still get a vignette if you apply as a dependant for any visa or as a main applicant for visas other than work or study.

More people can now access their eVisa

You can now create a UKVI account to access your eVisa if you were:

• issued with a Form for affixing a visa (FAV)
• granted an extension to your visa but do not have a valid identity document, such as a passport or expired biometric residence permit (BRP)