UK digital visa policy begins 15 July for Nigerian applicants seeking study or work visas, replacing traditional visa stickers with secure eVisas

UK digital visa policy will officially take effect from 15 July 2025 for Nigerians applying for study and work visas, the British High Commission in Abuja has announced.

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In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Commission revealed that the traditional passport visa stickers, known as vignettes, will be replaced by eVisas for most applications submitted on or after that date.

The change is part of the UK Government’s broader transition to a modern, secure, and entirely digital immigration system.

“From 15 July 2025, most individuals applying to enter the UK on study or work-related visas will no longer receive a physical visa sticker in their passport,” the statement read.

“Instead, successful applicants will be issued an eVisa, a secure, online record of their immigration status.”

According to the High Commission, applicants will still be required to visit a Visa Application Centre (VAC) to provide biometric data.

However, they will no longer need to leave their passport behind, unless applying under categories not yet covered by the digital transition.

Once a decision is made on their visa application, applicants will receive a decision email and be guided to create a UKVI account where they can access their eVisa.

“Despite the removal of the vignette for study or work visas, all applicants must still attend a Visa Application Centre to provide their biometric information,” the Commission reiterated.

The British Chargé d’Affaires in Abuja, Gill Atkinson, said the shift to eVisas represents a major improvement in efficiency and transparency for applicants.

“We’re making it easier and faster for Nigerians to travel to the UK. From 15 July 2025, most people applying for study or work visas will get a digital eVisa instead of a visa sticker in their passport,” she said.

“This is a further big step to a fully digital UK immigration system, making the process more secure, more efficient, and more convenient for students, professionals, and families.”

However, the Commission also clarified that not all categories are immediately affected by the change.

Applicants applying as dependants—such as spouses or children of workers or students—or those applying for visitor visas will still receive physical visa stickers in the meantime.

The UK has already rolled out eVisas to replace Biometric Residence Permits (BRPs) for individuals granted leave for more than six months.

eVisa holders are able to share their immigration status digitally with third parties—such as employers and landlords in England—through the “View and Prove” service linked to their UKVI account.

The digital shift also allows for applicants to keep their passports with them throughout the processing period, reducing the risk of loss or delay.

“This is a further big step to a fully digital UK immigration system,” said Atkinson. “It makes the process more secure, more efficient, and more convenient for students, professionals, and families.”

To obtain an eVisa, applicants must apply online through the official UK government portal, attend a Visa Application Centre for biometrics, and then follow the email instructions provided by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) to create or link a UKVI account.

Those applying before 15 July 2025 will continue under the current system, receiving a vignette sticker in their passport after submitting it at a VAC.

As Nigeria continues to lead African nations in outbound educational migration, the UK digital visa policy is expected to streamline the experience for thousands of students and professionals each year.