UK eVisas Replace Physical Stickers for Students from July 15

• All student visas issued after July 15 will be fully digital and linked to passports.
• eVisas provide secure, tamper-proof records of immigration status via a UKVI account.
• BRPs will no longer be valid for travel after June 2, 2025 - students must switch to eVisas.

The UK will substitute physical visa stickers with eVisas from July 15. This follows shortly after the replacement of Biometric residence permits (BRPs) with eVisas. As a result of this update, every student visa granted after July 15 will be entirely digital and directly connected to the passport of the visa holder.

All candidates who have received authorization to remain in the UK for over six months or possess a settlement will require an eVisa to verify their identity and status within the UK.

An eVisa is an online record of an individual's immigration status and the conditions of the individual's permission to enter or stay in the UK. Individuals need to create a UKVI account to be able to access an eVisa.

Students can use an eVisa to travel to the UK together with their current passport, which must be linked to their UKVI account.

An eVisa is a digital document detailing an individual’s immigration status and the terms of individual authorization to enter or reside in the UK. To access an eVisa, an individual must create a UKVI account. Students may travel to the UK with an eVisa alongside their valid passport, which needs to be connected to their UKVI account.

A primary advantage of eVisas is security; they cannot be lost, stolen, or altered, unlike a physical document, according to UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI). An additional advantage is that students will not have to wait for or gather a physical document after their application is processed. However, they may still need to submit biometric data in person, and UKVI will inform them if this is necessary.

The eVisas will also facilitate proving status at the UK border more quickly and easily, as well as sharing status with third parties such as employers and landlords.

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Students must first set up a UKVI account, verify their identity, and subsequently connect their account to their eVisa to access it. Students are not required to pay to set up a UKVI account and obtain their eVisa.

Students should also keep in mind that expired BRPs will no longer be valid for travel to the UK starting June 2, 2025. Students must obtain an eVisa to prove their authorization to enter the UK.

Before international travel, students need to establish access to their eVisa by creating a UKVI account and ensuring their active travel document is associated with their UKVI account.

"If you don’t have a BRP, you can use your valid identity document, such as your passport, and your visa application reference number to create your account and access your eVisa," UKVI stated.