The End of the Visa Sticker
For decades, a UK visa meant a physical sticker (or 'vignette') in your passport or a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) card. That era is now over. As of early 2026, the UK has completed its transition to a fully digital system for all applicants, including
the more than 500,000 Indians who receive UK visas annually. This change is part of a broader strategy to digitise the UK's borders, aiming for a more secure and streamlined immigration process. Instead of a physical document, your permission to travel is now a secure digital record known as an eVisa.
What is an eVisa?
An eVisa is an electronic record of your immigration status held in the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) database. It contains all the information that a physical visa once did: your personal details, the type of visa you hold (e.g., visitor, student, worker), its start and end dates, and any conditions attached to your stay. One of the key benefits is security; an eVisa cannot be lost, stolen, or tampered with like a physical document. It's linked directly to your passport, which is what you’ll use to prove your status.
Your Digital Gateway: The UKVI Account
The UKVI account is the central hub for your new digital immigration status. It’s a free, mandatory online account where you can view your eVisa, check your details, and prove your status to others, such as employers or landlords. After your visa application is approved, you will need to create this account to access your eVisa. It is crucial to set this up, as airlines will digitally verify your permission to travel before you even board your flight from India. Any discrepancy between your account details and your passport could lead to delays or being denied boarding.
Setting Up Your UKVI Account
Creating your UKVI account is a straightforward but vital step. You will need a reliable email address, a phone number, your valid passport, and your visa application number (often called a GWF or UAN). Once you start the process on the official GOV.UK website, you will be prompted to use a smartphone app called 'UK Immigration: ID Check' to scan your passport and verify your identity. After your identity is confirmed, your account will be linked to your eVisa. It's important to note that each individual, including children travelling as dependents, must have their own separate UKVI account.
Travel in the Digital Age
Travelling with an eVisa simplifies the process at the border. You will not need to show any physical visa document upon arrival in the UK. Instead, you simply present the passport that is linked to your UKVI account. The border official will scan your passport, which electronically pulls up your eVisa and confirms your right to enter. Before you travel, it’s highly recommended that you log into your UKVI account to double-check that your passport details are correct and your visa status is active. If you get a new passport, you must update the details in your UKVI account before you travel again.
Important Note for Indian Travellers
It is important not to confuse the new eVisa system with the UK's Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme. The ETA is for nationals of countries who can visit the UK without a visa for short stays, such as citizens of the US, Canada, and the EU. Indian passport holders are not eligible for the ETA and must continue to apply for a standard UK visa for their purpose of travel, whether it's tourism, business, study, or work. The change is that the successfully granted visa will now be an eVisa instead of a sticker.
