UK Makes eVisas Mandatory for International Students and Workers

• From July 15, 2025, UK student and work visas are fully digital via UKVI eVisa.
• Physical visa vignettes eliminated; faster processing and streamlined identity verification.
• New rules include shortened post-study work visa, tougher English tests, and increased conduct oversight.

From July 15, 2025, the UK will start to issue fully digital visas (eVisas) to international students and skilled workers, instead of the traditional physical vignette in their passport. To obtain an eVisa, applicants will have to set up a UKVI account, submit biometric data, and then use the UKVI account to access the eVisa prior to traveling. Dependants and visitors who are applying for non-study/work visas will still receive a physical sticker in their passport.

This move fits within the wider programme of digital transformation by the UK Home Office to improve security, efficiency, and to reduce fraud. Students may benefit from  faster visa decisions,  same day submission of their biometrics, and a student has the ability to collect their passport at the same time and making it easier for universities, landlords, and employers to verify their visa status. 

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The reform operates in concert with additional immigration policy changes presented in the Labour government white paper “Restoring Control over the Immigration System”. Proposed changes include the down-side revision of the Graduate Route post-study work Visa from two years down to 18 months, tightened English Language standards, and increased checks for compliance from sponsoring institutions. Other changes will involve cost increases for visa applications, and eligibility conditions for dependants are more strict with impending costs.

While the digital eVisa will move the UK slightly towards being a more tech-based study destination, universities will have to navigate new processing and compliance procedures. The increased maintenance fund, and the Graduate route change with the digital element requires the campus-wide student support services to work collaboratively and effectively.