London/Karachi( The COW News Digital) The United Kingdom has officially launched its new e-visa system for Pakistani students and professionals, eliminating the need for physical visa stickers on passports for most applicants starting today.
According to a statement from the British High Commission, individuals traveling to the UK under various immigration routes—including students, skilled workers, and professionals—will now be issued a digital immigration status instead of the traditional physical visa. This digital visa, known as an e-visa, will be accessible via the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) online account system.
The transition to e-visas is part of the UK government’s broader effort to modernize and streamline immigration procedures, making them more secure, efficient, and accessible. The system is already in place for millions of users under other immigration categories and is now being extended to Pakistani nationals.
British High Commissioner to Pakistan, Jane Marriott, commented that this move will simplify the process for visa holders, enabling them to keep their passports with them and save time. “These reforms in the UK visa system will make proving identity and immigration status easier for students and professionals,” she added.
The shift from physical to digital documentation will not affect the visa conditions or a person’s eligibility to enter or reside in the UK. It will, however, provide a more user-friendly and tamper-proof solution for verifying immigration status, especially during travel or when dealing with third parties such as employers or landlords in the UK.
The e-visa system covers applicants from a wide range of categories including:
- Students (including 11-month short-term education)
- Skilled Workers (e.g., healthcare professionals)
- Global Business Mobility Routes (e.g., senior/specialist workers, graduate trainees)
- Global Talent Visa
- International Sportsperson
- Temporary Workers (e.g., creative, religious, charity workers)
- Youth Mobility Scheme
Applicants can link their passports to their UKVI account for seamless international travel and use the “View and Prove” service to securely share their status when required.
However, dependents and applicants for other categories like general visitor visas will still require physical visa stickers, as will those who already hold valid sticker visas.
The UK government plans to gradually expand this e-visa system to all visa categories, making the visa process more digitally integrated, secure, and efficient.
