The United Kingdom has officially launched a UK E-visa system for Pakistani nationals, as announced by the British High Commission in Islamabad. This new system allows applicants to complete their visa applications online, eliminating the need for physical visa stickers in passports.
UK High Commissioner to Pakistan, Jane Marriott, highlighted the e-visa system as a more straightforward and secure method for students and workers to obtain UK visas. Beginning July 15, 2026, physical visa stickers will no longer be necessary for most main applicants traveling to the UK for study or work purposes. Instead, the UK government will issue a digital proof of immigration status, known as an e-visa.
The e-visa serves as an online record of a person’s immigration permission in the UK, including any applicable conditions. Applicants can access and manage their immigration status through a UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) online account. This transition to digital documentation aims to simplify identity and visa verification processes while allowing applicants to retain their passports during the application process.
Jane Marriott stated, ‘These changes to the UK visa system will make it much simpler for students and workers to prove their identity and visa status. It also means applicants can hold onto their passports, saving them time.’ The digital transition does not affect the immigration status or rights of any individual, and holders of existing visa stickers do not need to take any action.
Published in SouthAsianDesk, February 26th, 2026
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