The United Kingdom has launched an electronic visa (eVisa) system for Pakistani nationals applying to study or work, as part of a broader effort to modernize and streamline its immigration processes. The British High Commission in Islamabad announced the new system on Tuesday.
Effective July 15, physical visa stickers will no longer be required in passports for most primary applicants traveling to the UK for education or employment. UK High Commissioner to Pakistan, Jane Marriott, confirmed the change and described it as a step toward a more secure and efficient visa framework.
The UK is launching eVisas in Pakistan for most students and workers applying for more than 6 months! It will make it simpler and safer, and you can hold on to your passport.
To find out more on eVisas and see whether you’re eligible, go to https://t.co/AHI9nWSoxw pic.twitter.com/tlZNSs2NpD
— Jane Marriott (@JaneMarriottUK) July 15, 2025
An eVisa serves as a digital record of an individual’s immigration status, accessible through a UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) online account. This shift to digital documentation aligns with the UK’s goal of enhancing border management by making the system more accessible and secure.
According to the British High Commission, millions of travelers using select immigration routes have already benefited from the eVisa system. The expansion to Pakistani applicants is a continuation of this digital transition.
Marriott emphasized that the updated system will simplify identity and visa status verification for students and workers, allowing them to retain their passports during processing and saving valuable time.
The embassy clarified that the move to eVisas will not alter anyone’s immigration status or the terms of their entry or stay in the UK.
Initially, the eVisa system will apply to main applicants in the following categories:
- Students, including short-term study (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
- Temporary Work routes (Charity Worker, Creative Worker, Government Authorized Exchange, International Agreement, Religious Worker)
- Youth Mobility Scheme
- Applicants filing as dependants or those applying for visas outside study or work categories—such as general visitor visas—will still receive a physical visa sticker.
- Individuals who already hold valid physical visa stickers are not required to take any further action. The UK government intends to extend the eVisa system to all visa categories in the future, aiming to create a fully digital, secure, and user-friendly immigration process.
