The United Kingdom has introduced a digital eVisa system for Nigerian applicants seeking study and work opportunities, marking a major shift in its immigration process.
According to the British High Commission in Abuja, the new policy will take effect from July 15, 2025, and will apply to most new applications for study and work visas. Under this system, successful applicants will no longer receive a physical visa sticker, known as a vignette, in their passports. Instead, they will be issued an eVisa—an online, secure record of their immigration status.
“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,” said Gill Atkinson Obe, Chargé d’Affaires at the British High Commission in Abuja.
She explained that while the new system will simplify the process, not all categories are affected immediately. “If you’re applying as a dependant, like a spouse or child of someone who is studying or working in the UK, or you’re applying for a visitor visa, you’ll still receive a visa vignette in your passport for now,” she noted.
However, applicants must still visit a Visa Application Centre to submit their biometric information. Once a visa is approved, they will receive a notification from UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) via email, along with instructions to create a UKVI account to access and manage their eVisa.
“This change applies only to applications submitted on or after July 15. Those who apply before this date will continue with the current process, including submitting their passport at the centre,” the statement clarified.
The High Commission added that holders of the new eVisas can use the UKVI ‘View and Prove’ service to share their immigration status with employers, schools, or landlords in the UK.
To obtain an eVisa, applicants are required to:
Apply online via the official UK website,
Attend a Visa Application Centre for biometrics,
Follow UKVI’s email instructions to link and access their eVisa account.
The UK government has already phased out Biometric Residence Permits in favour of eVisas for those granted leave for more than six months, and the latest move is part of a wider strategy to create a fully digital immigration process.
The British High Commission assured applicants that the new system would help speed up decision-making and reduce logistical challenges related to physical passport handling.
