15/02/2026
UK will officially stop issuing physical visa documents for visitors, replacing them with a fully digital eVisa system. This transition marks the end of paper vignettes, biometric residence permits (BRPs), and wet-ink passport stamps for all visitor-visa nationals.
Key Changes to the UK Visa System
Mandatory eVisa Issuance: From this date, anyone successful in applying for a Visit Visa, Seasonal Worker visa, Overseas Domestic Worker visa, or EU Settlement Scheme Family Permit will receive a digital status instead of a physical sticker.
UKVI Account Requirement: Travellers must create a UKVI account to view and manage their digital immigration status. This account must be linked to your current valid passport before travel.
Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA): Coinciding with this change, the ETA requirement becomes mandatory for all remaining visa-exempt nationalities (except British and Irish citizens) on February 25, 2026.
Digital Verification: Airlines and border officials will verify your permission to travel in real-time via the linked to your passport.
Proving Your Status: For employment or renting, you will now generate a "share code" through the View and Prove service rather than showing a physical card.
Transition Timeline
January 12, 2026: Most new visitor visa applicants began receiving both an eVisa and a physical sticker as part of a final hybrid testing phase.
February 25, 2026: Full enforcement begins; physical documents are no longer issued for new successful applications in these categories.
Do you currently hold a physical BRP or passport sticker that you need to transition to a digital account before your next trip?
UK confirms full switch to eVisas for all visitor-visa nationals from 25 February 2026
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