UK eVisas added to visit visas from 12 January 2026

From 12 January 2026, the Home Office is expanding eVisas to most visit visas, adding a secure digital record alongside the traditional visa sticker. UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) says visa stickers will stop later in 2026 as part of a phased move to a fully digital system. If you plan to visit, study, work or join family, expect to use a UKVI account to view and share your status. (gov.uk)

An eVisa is a digital record of your identity and immigration status that you access online; it is not a card or stamp and it does not change your current rights. UKVI lists practical benefits: it cannot be lost or stolen, decisions can be confirmed without waiting for a card, and checks at the UK border and with employers or landlords should be quicker. Relevant information may be shared automatically with some public authorities when requested. (gov.uk)

Here’s the timeline UKVI sets out. From 15 July 2025, some main applicants on work and study visas began receiving an eVisa instead of a visa sticker. From 30 October 2025, certain work, study, family and settlement applicants applying to come to the UK may not get a sticker at all. From 12 January 2026, most visit visas include an eVisa. Later in 2026, visa stickers will stop entirely. (gov.uk)

Do you need an eVisa? You can usually access one if you have permission to be in the UK for more than 6 months, or if you have settlement. Many people with short‑term permission, including visit, work, study or transit visas, can also access one. You do not need an eVisa if you’re travelling with an electronic travel authorisation (ETA), are exempt from immigration control or have right of abode, or if your permission is for the Channel Islands or Isle of Man. UKVI has also widened access so people issued a Form for affixing a visa (FAV), or those granted an extension without a valid passport or expired BRP, can create an account. (gov.uk)

To set up a UKVI account you’ll need an email address, a phone number and, if you have them, details from a passport plus either your visa application number or your BRP number. You can even use an expired BRP for 18 months after the printed expiry date. Most people confirm their identity with a smartphone app; if you do not have a valid passport or cannot use the app, UKVI provides another way to confirm your identity. (gov.uk)

You may already have a UKVI account if you used the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app, created an account when you applied, replaced a physical card with an eVisa, or applied to the EU Settlement Scheme. If that sounds like you, try signing in rather than creating a second account. Duplicates cause delays. (gov.uk)

Before travelling, make simple checks. Make sure your eVisa displays the right details and that your UKVI account lists the passport you’ll travel with. Your airline may ask for a share code, and your booking details must match what is in your account. Carriers may refuse boarding or you could face delays at the UK border if details are wrong. An eVisa is different from an ETA; British and Irish citizens do not need an eVisa. (gov.uk)

If your details change while you’re outside the UK, act early. Update your UKVI account if the only change is a new passport number. If your name, nationality, date of birth or sex has changed, you’ll need to apply for a temporary visa to enter the UK and then update your account once you’re back. Add the passport you’ll actually travel with if you have more than one nationality. (gov.uk)

To prove your status in the UK, you generate a share code from your UKVI account and give it with your date of birth to an employer, landlord or airline. The code lasts 90 days and can be used multiple times or replaced with a new one at any point. The person using it will see the details UKVI says they are allowed to see, such as your permission and conditions. (gov.uk)

If something looks wrong, report it. UKVI’s online form is for errors on your eVisa, problems generating a share code, technical issues when you’re signed in, or cases where the Home Office created an account that you’ve never been able to access. Be ready to provide contact details and identifiers such as your passport, expired BRP, GWF or UAN. Someone you trust, such as an employer, legal adviser or university staff member, can report it for you. (gov.uk)

If you need extra help, free support is available. The Home Office has funded national and community organisations to help vulnerable or at‑risk people create UKVI accounts and access eVisas, with additional funding of up to £400,000 for 25 organisations between 1 September 2025 and 31 March 2026. This support covers needs such as disability, homelessness, language barriers or lack of internet access. (gov.uk)

By the numbers, this shift has been building for years. UKVI says millions have had eVisas since 2018, and its transparency data shows 4,501,235 accounts created to access an eVisa up to 31 July 2025, with figures drawn from live operational systems and due for periodic updates. It’s a phased change, and UKVI publishes fresh data and guidance as the rollout expands. (gov.uk)