The End of Physical Visa Stickers
The days of receiving a visa sticker (or 'vignette') in your passport are over for Indian travellers to the UK. As part of a major digitisation of its borders, the UK has shifted to a fully electronic visa system, known as the eVisa. This change affects
everyone applying for a UK visa, including tourists, students, and workers. From February 2026, all successful visa applicants from India are issued an eVisa instead of a physical document. This move also means the phasing out of Biometric Residence Permits (BRPs), the credit card-sized ID for those staying in the UK long-term, which are now replaced by this digital status.
What is an eVisa?
An eVisa is not a document you print out, but a secure digital record of your immigration status held in the UK government's database. It contains information on your identity, the type of permission you have to be in the UK (for example, as a visitor or a student), and any conditions attached to your stay, like whether you are allowed to work. This digital record is linked directly to your passport. When you travel, airlines and border officials check your status electronically. This new system is designed to be more secure and efficient, reducing the risk of lost or stolen documents.
Creating Your UKVI Account Is Essential
To access and manage your new eVisa, you must create a UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account. This is a mandatory step. After your visa is granted, you will need to set up this account to view your status, check your visa conditions, and keep your details updated. To create the account, you will need your passport, your visa application number (either a GWF or UAN), an email address, and a phone number. You will also likely need to use the 'UK Immigration: ID Check' smartphone app to verify your identity with a photo of your passport and a selfie. It is crucial to create this account and link your passport before you travel.
How to Prove Your Status for Travel, Work and Rent
Without a physical visa sticker or BRP, you will use your UKVI account to prove your rights. The government’s ‘view and prove’ service allows you to generate a ‘share code’. This code can be given to employers to prove your right to work, or to landlords to prove your right to rent. When travelling, airlines will check your digital status automatically when you check in, using the passport information you provided. However, it is wise to have your UKVI account login details handy. You can also generate a share code for travel, which is valid for 90 days, as a backup to show to carriers or border officials if needed.
Key Steps for Indian Travellers
First, apply for your visa online as usual through the GOV.UK website and attend your biometrics appointment at a VFS Global centre. You will get to keep your passport during the processing time. Second, once your visa is granted, create your UKVI account immediately. Third, double-check that all your personal details, especially your name and passport number, are correct in your UKVI account and match the passport you will travel with. Any discrepancy can cause delays or even result in being denied boarding by the airline. Finally, if you get a new passport, you must update the details in your UKVI account before you next travel to the UK.
Distinction from an ETA
It is important not to confuse the eVisa with the UK's Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme. The ETA is for nationals of countries who do not need a visa for short stays, such as citizens of the USA, Canada, and Gulf countries. Indian citizens are not eligible for the ETA scheme and must still apply for a standard visa for all purposes of travel to the UK, including tourism. Your approved visa will now simply be in the digital eVisa format.
