Beginning in July 2025, the United Kingdom will replace paper immigration paperwork with electronic visas, or eVisas, for Pakistani workers and students.
The majority of workers and students seeking for visas to the UK will now be given a digital proof of immigration status, or an eVisa, according to a government statement released by the UK Home Office.
By creating and logging into an online UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account, one can examine an eVisa, which is an online record of an individual’s immigration permission in the UK and any applicable conditions, according to the statement.
Jane Marriott CMG OBE, the British High Commissioner to Pakistan, described the action as a significant step in streamlining the visa application procedure for Pakistani citizens.
“Students and workers will find it much easier to confirm their identification and visa status thanks to these reforms to the UK visa system. Additionally, it saves applicants time by allowing them to keep their passports,” she noted.
The move to digital paperwork is a component of the UK government’s larger initiatives to update its immigration and border system in order to create a more efficient, digital, and safe procedure. During testing periods, millions of visitors have already used eVisas on specific immigration routes.
Visa classifications
eVisas will be granted to primary applicants for the following categories under the new system:
- Student visa (includes up to 11 months of short-term study)
- Routes for international business mobility include service provider, secondment worker, UK expansion worker, senior or specialist worker, and graduate trainee
- Worldwide Talent
- A global athlete
- route for skilled professionals, particularly those in health and care
- Temporary Employment Paths (Religious Worker, Government-Authorized Exchange, International Agreement, Creative Worker, Charity Worker)
- Youth Mobility Program
Users can connect their UKVI account to their passport or other travel document using the digital system, making it simpler to access services and travel abroad. In England, visa holders can safely disclose their immigration status to employers, educational institutions, and landlords by using the “view and prove” program.
No effect on immigration status
A person’s immigration status and the terms of their stay in the UK remain unchanged when they switch from a physical visa vignette (sticker) to an eVisa. It is not necessary for current visa holders who have appropriate physical documentation to do anything.
But not every candidate for a visa will initially be granted an eVisa. A physical sticker visa will still be issued to applicants who are dependents or who fall under categories not included in the original rollout, such as general tourists. In the future, the UK government intends to expand the eVisa system to include all visa routes.
Future strategies
According to the British government, this action is a component of the immigration services’ long-term digital transformation. According to officials, the eVisa system helps lower administrative complexity and document loss hazards in addition to enhancing security.
It is anticipated that the ruling will help thousands of Pakistanis who apply each year for jobs and educational opportunities in the UK. Pakistan was one of the top nations for student and skilled worker visa applications in 2023, according to data from the UK Home Office.
Future applicants are encouraged to register for a UKVI account in order to manage their travel documents and immigration status online now that the new system is in place.
