The End of the Visa Sticker
For decades, a UK visa was a physical sticker, or 'vignette', placed in your passport. This is no longer the case. As part of a major shift to digitise its borders, the UK has phased out these stickers for all visa applicants, including those from India.
This also applies to other physical documents like Biometric Residence Permits (BRPs) for those residing in the UK, which have also been replaced by a digital status. The goal is to create a more secure and streamlined immigration system where your permission to travel is verified electronically.
What is an eVisa?
An eVisa is not a document you print out. It is a secure, electronic record of your immigration status held in the UK Home Office's database. This digital record is linked to your passport and contains all the details of your permission to be in the UK, including the type of visa, its validity dates, and any conditions, such as the right to work or study. This system is designed to be safer, as a digital record cannot be lost, stolen, or tampered with like a physical document can.
How the New Process Works for Indians
The visa application process itself remains largely the same. Indian nationals must still apply for a visa online and attend a visa application centre to provide biometric information (fingerprints and a photograph). The key difference happens after your visa is granted. Instead of getting a sticker, you will receive a notification that your eVisa has been issued. You will then need to create a UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account online to access and manage your digital status.
Setting Up Your UKVI Account
Creating your UKVI account is a crucial step. You will need to use the GOV.UK website and may have to use the 'UK Immigration: ID Check' smartphone app to verify your identity by scanning your passport and taking a photo. Once your account is active, you can view your eVisa details. It is vital to check that all your personal information, such as your name, date of birth, and passport details, are correct. Any errors could cause significant problems at the border.
What to Show at the Airport and Border
You will not have a sticker to show airline staff or border officials. Instead, airlines will verify your permission to travel electronically before you even board your flight. They do this by checking their systems, which are linked to the Home Office's database. When you arrive in the UK, your passport will be scanned, and the border control system will automatically check your eVisa status. Always travel with the same passport that is linked to your UKVI account. If you get a new passport, you must update your details in your UKVI account immediately, before you travel, to avoid being denied boarding or entry.
Proving Your Status in the UK
An eVisa isn't just for entering the country. If you need to prove your right to work or rent property while in the UK, you will do so through your UKVI account. The system allows you to generate a special 'share code'. You give this code, along with your date of birth, to an employer or landlord. They can then use this code on the GOV.UK website to view the specific details of your immigration status that they are entitled to see. This share code is valid for 90 days.
