UK launches eVisas for Pakistani students, workers

Pakistani students and workers traveling to the United Kingdom will no longer need a physical visa sticker in their passports starting Monday, under a new eVisa system launched by the UK government.

The British High Commission in Islamabad announced that most main applicants traveling on study or work-related visas will now receive a digital proof of immigration status, or eVisa. The move is part of the UK’s broader efforts to streamline and secure its immigration system.

What is an eVisa?

An eVisa is an online record of a person's immigration permission in the UK, including any applicable conditions. Users can access and manage their immigration status by creating a UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account.

“These changes to the UK visa system will make it much simpler for students and workers to prove their identity and visa status,” said British High Commissioner to Pakistan, Jane Marriott. “It also means applicants can hold onto their passports, saving them time.”

The British High Commission emphasized that switching from a physical document to an eVisa will not affect a person's immigration status or the conditions of their stay.

The eVisa rollout applies to main applicants under the following categories:

• Students, including those on short-term study visas for up to 11 months
• 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 Worker
• Temporary Work (Charity Worker, Creative Worker, Government Authorized Exchange, International Agreement, Religious Worker)
• Youth Mobility Scheme

Once applicants link their travel documents, such as a passport, to their UKVI account, they can use the “view and prove” service to share their status securely with employers, landlords in England, or other third parties.

Millions of users are already using eVisas through select UK immigration routes, and British officials say the system is secure, digital, and tested.

Dependants of applicants or individuals applying under visa categories outside of work and study — such as general visitors — will still need a physical visa sticker.

Applicants who currently hold valid physical visa stickers do not need to take any action at this stage. The digital visa system is expected to expand to all visa categories over time.

The new process aims to offer a more convenient experience for travelers while reducing administrative burdens and enhancing security.

The change aligns with the UK government’s plan to modernize its borders and immigration services by reducing reliance on physical documents.