UK launches e-visa facility for Pakistani students, professionals

LONDON/ISLAMABAD: The United Kingdom (UK) has launched a new e-visa system for Pakistani students and professionals, eliminating the need for physical visa stickers on passports for most applicants starting from today (July 15).

Under the new policy, the UK government has replaced physical immigration documents with a digital immigration status (e-visa) for most students and skilled workers.

An e-visa is a secure digital record of an individual’s immigration permission and conditions in the UK. It can be accessed by logging into a UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account.

British High Commissioner to Pakistan Jane Marriott said the reform will make it easier for applicants to prove their identity and visa status.

She added that the process would also allow individuals to retain their passports during application processing, saving time and hassle.

Switching from a physical visa sticker to an e-visa will not affect immigration status or entry and stay conditions in the UK.

The e-visa will initially apply to specific categories including:

• Students, including those enrolled in short-term 11-month courses
• Global Business Mobility Routes (Senior or Specialist Worker, Graduate Trainee, UK Expansion Worker, Service Supplier, Secondment Worker)
• Global Talent, International Sportsperson, Skilled Worker (including Health and Care Workers),
• Temporary Work Routes (Charity Worker, Creative Worker, Government Authorised Exchange, International Agreement, and Religious Worker Routes)
• Youth Mobility Scheme

E-visa holders will be able to link their passports to their UKVI accounts, making international travel easier.

Through the “View and Prove” service, they can securely share their immigration status with UK employers, landlords, or third parties.

However, applicants applying as dependents, or those seeking visas in categories not yet covered by the e-visa system (such as General Visitor Visas), will still require physical visa stickers. Those already holding a valid physical visa do not need to take any action.

The British government says it plans to extend the e-visa system to all visa categories soon, making the UK visa process safer, faster, and more accessible.

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