UK to Scrap Physical Visa Stickers by 2026 with Full Digital Rollout

The UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) service is developing a fully digitalised immigration system, being rolled out in phases to replace physical documents with a digital record of identity and immigration status—known as an e-visa.

This transition does not alter existing immigration status or entry requirements. Physical visa stickers will be phased out entirely by 2026.

gov.uk official website

E-Visa: Benefits and Implementation

The move to e-visas offers multiple benefits: digital documents are more secure, cannot be lost, stolen, or forged, unlike physical stickers. Applicants no longer need to wait for or retrieve physical documents after a decision—though biometric data may still be required in some cases.

E-visas also streamline border checks and status sharing with employers, landlords, and other third parties. UKVI will continue to share relevant immigration details with government departments upon request.

Check eligibility for an e-visa or set up a UKVI account on the official UK government site at gov.uk. Visa requirements depend on nationality and purpose—such as long-term visits for tourism, study, or business.

Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA)

Eligible travellers may qualify for the faster ETA process instead of a visa. Citizens of EU and US countries can use the ETA for stays of up to 180 days for purposes including tourism, business, transit, conferences, visiting acquaintances, medical treatment, or events. The ETA is valid for two years from the date of issue and allows multiple entries.

From February 1, 2026, eligible travellers must use an ETA as their travel document—not a visa. This requirement was announced in a government press release on November 24, 2025.

Timeline: Phasing Out Visa Stickers

The most significant change is the progressive removal of physical visa stickers in passports.

Full replacement by 2026: All e-visas will replace physical visa stickers starting in 2026.

• Early 2026: Most successful visitors and other applicants—such as those on visitor or certain other routes—will receive both an e-visa and a physical sticker.

• By end-2026: UKVI will stop issuing sticker visas entirely. Applicants will receive only an e-visa.

Key Dates and New Procedures

Several key dates mark the acceleration of this transition:

• From July 15, 2025: E-visas already replaced stickers for certain main applicants on work and study visas.

• From October 30, 2025: If your accepted application for certain work, study, family reunion, or indefinite leave to enter visas does not include a sticker, you must access your e-visa via a UKVI account before travelling. You should check your permission status through your account.

• From November 11, 2025: UKVI began inviting some new visa applicants—who only received a sticker on approval—to create a UKVI account and access their e-visa. Instructions are sent by email. Once the account is created, you can use either your e-visa or sticker to prove status. Travellers without a UKVI email do not need to create an account.

A growing number of travellers can now access their e-visa and create a UKVI account—including those who received a decision form to affix a visa or those who obtained a visa extension but lack a valid identity document like a lapsed passport or biometic residence permit.