UK to issue electronic visas only from February 2026

UK Visa

The United Kingdom has announced that from February 25, 2026, visitors who require entry clearance will be issued electronic visas only, ending the use of physical immigration documents.

The UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) said the change means biometric residence permits and passport visa vignettes will no longer be issued to affected travellers. Instead, successful applicants will receive a digital immigration status, commonly referred to as an eVisa.

Travellers will be required to create a UKVI account to access and manage their digital immigration status before travelling. The electronic visa will be linked to the traveller’s passport and stored online.

The move forms part of the UK government’s transition to a fully digital immigration system, aimed at replacing physical documents with online records.

The update applies to visitors who require entry clearance to travel to the UK.

Chioma Onuh is a journalist, social media manager and SEO specialist with over five years of experience in digital storytelling and audience engagement. She writes clear, human-centred stories and profiles, and currently manages digital content and strategy at BusinessDay.

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