by Ministry of External Affairs

The Ministry of External Affairs, International Trade, Civil Aviation and Diaspora Affairs has received communication from the UK High Commission regarding significant changes to the United Kingdom’s work and study visa system.

Effective July 15, 2025, successful main applicants for selected work and study visas, who have completed and paid for their applications on or after this date, will no longer receive a visa vignette (physical sticker) in their passport as proof of their permission to enter the UK. Instead, these applicants will be issued an eVisa only, which is an online record of their permission to enter and stay in the UK. Dependents of successful main applicants will continue to receive both a physical vignette and an eVisa for now. This change is part of HM Government’s transition to a digital immigration system.

Those who will receive eVisas are encouraged to:

Create a UKVI account to access their eVisa at https://www.gov.uk/get-access-evisa.

Check that their details are correct and their current travel document is linked to their account at https://www.gov.uk/update-uk-visas-immigration-account-details.

Report any issues with their eVisa at https://www.gov.uk/report-error-evisa.

Understand how to provide a ‘share code’ (https://www.gov.uk/view-prove-immigration-status), which may be requested by carriers like airlines to verify UK immigration status before traveling to the UK.

Contact the eVisa webchat service for additional queries at https://ukimmigration-support-webchat.homeoffice.gov.uk/evisa.

HM Government has provided all carriers, including airlines, with tools to verify travelers’ permission to enter the UK through system-to-system checks with the Home Office. These checks ensure that only individuals with appropriate immigration status are permitted to travel to the UK.

If a passenger holds an eVisa, they likely will not have a physical visa or other permission document to present. If border authorities need to confirm a person’s UK immigration status for entry, exit, or transit, they can use the secure online service at https://www.gov.uk/check-immigration-status by entering the person’s share code and date of birth. This provides real-time confirmation of their permission to enter and stay in the UK.

If an online check is not possible, alternative methods include:

Viewing a ‘status’ screen from the person’s UKVI account, including on a mobile device.

Reviewing a copy of the letter or email from the Home Office granting the person their UK status or permission.

Viewing a physical document confirming their UK status or permission, such as a visa vignette in a valid or expired passport. This remains a common way for people to prove their UK immigration permissions.

If border authorities encounter difficulty confirming status using the methods above, carriers and border officials can contact the UK Border Force Carrier Support Hub for 24/7 assistance:

UK Number: 03003 696 010.

Alternative geographic number (for use where international dialing is restricted): +44(0)20 4619 6029.

Border authorities should be aware that carriers, such as airlines, will receive advance notification of a passenger’s permission to travel to the UK. Carriers will not need to perform additional checks if the advance notification confirms the passenger’s permission to travel.

The Carrier Support Hub service is exclusively for use by carriers and border officials and should only be used when UK immigration status cannot be confirmed by the outlined methods. It is not a public contact line and should not be shared externally or used for any other purposes.

This information is provided for your awareness.