The UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) has announced that visitors to the United Kingdom who require a visa will no longer receive physical immigration documents from February 25, 2026.
Gatekeepers News reports that the agency disclosed this in a post on X on Friday, explaining that travellers will instead be issued an electronic visa (eVisa), which must be accessed through a UKVI account before travelling.
“From 25 February 2026 visitors to the UK, who need a visa, will get an eVisa only. Create your UKVI account and view your eVisa, before you travel to the UK,” UKVI said.
According to the UK government, an eVisa is “a digital record of your identity and immigration status – for example the type of visa you have or if you have indefinite leave to remain (settlement) in the UK – and the conditions of your status, for example if you’re allowed to work or study in the UK.”
The government added that eVisas are replacing physical immigration documents.
“Biometric residence permits (BRPs) have already been replaced by eVisas. They will also replace biometric residence cards (BRCs) and wet ink stamps or vignettes (stickers) in passports,” it said.
Travellers will typically receive an eVisa after successfully applying for a visa or other form of permission to enter or stay in the UK.
Once issued, users can view their eVisa, generate a share code to prove their immigration status—such as when starting a new job or renting a home—and travel after adding their passport or travel document details.
The UK government noted that access to the eVisa requires a UKVI account.
“You can set up a UKVI account if you do not already have one. You do not need to pay to set up a UKVI account or access your eVisa,” the government confirmed.
