The United Kingdom has announced a sweeping overhaul of its visa issuance process for Nigerian travellers, confirming that from February 25, 2026, it will stop issuing physical visa stickers and transition entirely to digital eVisas.
The policy shift was disclosed in Abuja by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI), which stated that all new UK Visit visas granted to Nigerian nationals will now be issued exclusively in electronic form.
Under the new framework, successful applicants will no longer receive a visa vignette pasted into their passports. Instead, their immigration status will be stored online and linked to a secure UKVI account.
Travellers will be able to log in to view, manage, and share their visa details when required.
The only adjustment concerns the method of visa issuance and verification, which will now be fully digital.
UKVI emphasised that Nigerians currently holding valid physical visa stickers will not be impacted by the transition. Those visas will remain valid until their expiry dates and will not require replacement solely because of the shift to eVisas.
The February 2026 rollout builds on earlier reforms. The British High Commission had previously announced that digital eVisas would apply to most Nigerian applicants for study and work visas from July 15, 2025.
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The new policy extends that digital approach to Visit visas, marking a complete transition for Nigerian travellers.
Speaking on the development, British Deputy High Commissioner in Abuja, Gill Lever, described the move as part of efforts to modernise border management and simplify travel procedures.
According to her, the digital system reduces reliance on paper documentation, enhances border security, and allows genuine travellers to prove their immigration status more easily.
With Nigerians among the first groups to transition fully to digital visa issuance, the reform signals a significant procedural change for business travellers, students, and frequent visitors to the UK.
The shift reflects the UK government’s broader strategy to implement a fully digital border and immigration management system, replacing passport-based documentation with centralised online immigration records.
For Nigerian applicants, while the process of applying remains familiar, the proof of entry clearance is moving decisively into the digital age.