UK Introduces Digital eVisas for Nigerian Study and Work Visa Applicants Starting July 15
The United Kingdom has announced a major change to how Nigerians apply for study and work visas, starting from 15 July 2025. From this date, most Nigerians applying in these categories will no longer receive a visa sticker in their passports. Instead, they will now get a digital eVisa a more secure and modern way to confirm immigration status.
This was revealed in an official statement by the British High Commission (BHC) in Abuja on Wednesday.
According to the BHC, the new digital system will apply only to study or work visa applications submitted on or after July 15, 2025. If you apply before that date, the current system still applies which means you’ll need to leave your passport at a Visa Application Centre and receive a physical visa sticker called a “vignette.”
What is the UK eVisa?
The eVisa is a secure online record that shows your immigration status. Instead of placing a sticker in your passport, the UK government will now link your visa approval to your UKVI account. This is part of the UK’s bigger plan to switch to a fully digital immigration system.
You’ll still need to go to a Visa Application Centre to submit your biometrics (like fingerprints), but after that, you’ll keep your passport with you, unless your visa type still requires a vignette.
What You Need to Know:
Only new applications from 15 July 2025 will be part of this change. Those who apply before July 15 will continue to get the physical vignette.
Visitor visa applicants and dependents (like children or spouses) will still receive the physical visa sticker for now.
Once approved, you’ll receive an email from UK Visas and Immigration with instructions on how to create or access your UKVI account and use your eVisa.
You can then use the “View and Prove” service to show your immigration status to employers, landlords, or schools.
UK Official Explains the New eVisa Process
Gill Atkinson, Chargé d’Affaires at the British High Commission in Abuja, said this digital switch will make things faster and easier for Nigerian travellers:
“We’re making it easier and faster for Nigerians to travel to the UK. From 15 July 2025, most people applying for study or work visas will get a digital eVisa instead of a visa sticker in their passport,” she said.
She also explained that this system is more secure, more efficient, and a big step toward a fully digital immigration future.
However, she noted that not all applicants will be affected immediately:
“If you’re applying as a dependent – like a spouse or child or for a visitor visa, you’ll still get a physical visa sticker for now,” she added.
How to Get Your UK eVisa
1. Apply online through the official UK Visas website (gov.uk).
2. Attend a Visa Application Centre to submit your biometrics.
3. Keep your passport (if your visa type doesn’t require a sticker).
4. After approval, follow the instructions in the decision email to set up or link your UKVI account.
This change is already in effect for people who were granted stay for more than six months, as their Biometric Residence Permits have also been replaced by eVisas.
With more Nigerians seeking study and work opportunities abroad, this shift to digital visas is expected to bring convenience, speed, and security, while reducing long waits at visa centres.
