The United Kingdom has taken a decisive step towards a fully digital border, with the official launch of its eVisa system for millions of visa holders. From 12 January 2026, a significant change comes into effect for travellers and residents alike.
What is Changing with UK Visas?
Starting this week, the majority of individuals holding visitor visas and several other visa categories will be granted access to a digital version of their permission to enter or stay, known as an eVisa. This digital document will exist alongside the traditional physical visa sticker placed in passports. The move is a core part of the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) plan to modernise and secure the nation's immigration framework by moving it entirely online.
This initial phase is a precursor to a more complete transition. Later in 2026, UKVI will stop issuing physical visa stickers altogether. From that point, all successful applicants will receive only an eVisa. The digital system is championed for its enhanced security, reducing risks associated with loss, theft, or forgery of paper documents. It also promises to cut down on administrative delays, such as waiting for documents to be delivered or collected.
How the New Digital System Works
An eVisa is a secure online record of a person's identity, their immigration status, and the specific conditions attached to it. For example, it will clearly show an individual's rights within the UK, including the right to work, rent property, or access public benefits.
To prove their status to employers, landlords, or during travel, individuals will simply generate a share code from their UKVI account. This code allows third parties to view the necessary immigration details without seeing the person's full personal information. The rollout has already seen Biometric Residence Permits (BRPs) replaced by eVisas. The next stage will focus on phasing out wet ink stamps and the remaining visa stickers in passports.
Who Needs an eVisa and How to Get One
Not everyone will be required to use the new system. Three key groups are exempt from needing an eVisa: those visiting the UK with an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA); individuals exempt from immigration control, such as diplomats; and people with permission to stay in the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man.
Access to an eVisa will be available to people who have:
- Any visa permitting a stay of more than six months.
- Settlement status (Indefinite Leave to Remain).
- Permission to stay for six months or less on a visit, work, study, or transit visa.
- Permission to stay for six months or less on most types of family visa.
Travellers will be notified if they can access an eVisa when they receive their initial visa decision. To view it, you must have a UKVI account. Each dependent will need their own separate account. The government has reported that between March 2024 and July 2025, some 4.5 million people registered UKVI accounts to access an eVisa.
Many may already have an account that was created automatically during a visa application, particularly those who applied to the EU Settlement Scheme or have already swapped a physical document for an eVisa. If you believe you already have an account, you should not create a new one but attempt to log in online using your existing details.
