UK to launch e-visa system for Nigerian work, study applicants

The United Kingdom government has announced that it will begin issuing electronic visas (e-visas) to Nigerian nationals applying for study and work permits starting July 15, 2025. This new digital process is aimed at simplifying and modernising the UK’s immigration system.

In a statement released on Wednesday, the British High Commission in Abuja said the move will replace the need for traditional physical visa vignette stickers in passports.

Instead, approved applicants will receive a secure digital record of their immigration status, which can be accessed through a UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) online account.

According to the High Commission, the rollout of e-visas is part of a wider digitisation initiative by the UK Home Office to enhance security, reduce processing times, and make immigration procedures more user-friendly.

Describing the development as a significant milestone, Gill Lever, Chargé d’Affaires at the British High Commission in Nigeria, said:

“This will make the process more secure, more efficient, and more convenient for students, professionals, and families.”

The initial phase of the e-visa programme will apply to Nigerians seeking study or work visas. However, dependants such as spouses and children, as well as applicants for visitor visas, will continue to receive traditional visa stickers for the time being.

While biometric data collection—including fingerprints and a passport photograph—will still be mandatory, e-visa applicants will no longer be required to submit their physical passports at Visa Application Centres (VACs).

 Instead, they will retain their passports after completing the biometric enrolment.

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Successful applicants will be notified via email and instructed to create a UKVI account, which will provide them with access to their digital visa.

Through this account, users will be able to securely share their immigration status with third parties such as employers, landlords, and educational institutions.

The UK government noted that this digital shift builds on previous reforms, including the ongoing phase-out of biometric residence permits (BRPs) for individuals granted permission to stay in the UK for more than six months. BRPs are being replaced with fully digital credentials tied to the e-visa system.

Applicants will still be required to complete in-person visits to VACs to submit their biometric information and follow specific steps to link their e-visa to a valid passport.

The UK joins a growing list of countries embracing digital immigration systems to improve service delivery and enhance border security.