If you’re planning to travel, study, work, or settle in the UK, there’s one crucial update you must know: the UK is going fully digital with immigration status by transitioning to eVisas. Starting from June and July 2025, sweeping changes will impact how global visa applicants and residents prove their UK immigration status.
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Let’s break it all down so you’re fully prepared and don’t get caught off guard at the border.
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What Is an eVisa?
An eVisa is a secure digital record of your UK immigration status, stored and managed via your UKVI online account. It replaces all physical documents like:
- Biometric Residence Permits (BRPs)
- Biometric Residence Cards (BRCs)
- Vignette visa stickers in passports
- Wet-ink entry clearance stamps
This new system is part of the UK’s goal to build a modern, secure, and paperless digital immigration platform.
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New Changes in 2025 You Need to Know
1# From 2 June 2025: Expired BRPs and BRCs No Longer Valid for Travel
If you’re still holding onto an expired BRP or BRC, note that you can no longer use it to travel to the UK after this date. Instead, you must:
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- Create a UKVI account
- Link your current passport or ID document
- Access your eVisa online.
No more plastic cards. And no more relying on physical proof of your UK status.
2# From 15 July 2025: No More Vignettes for Some Visa Applicants
Big news for international applicants: if you’re applying for a UK study or work visa, you may not receive a vignette sticker (the visa in your passport).
Instead:
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- You’ll be guided to create a UKVI account during the application.
- Your immigration permission will be granted as an eVisa only.
- You must use your UKVI account + eVisa to prove your permission to travel to the UK.
Note: Vignettes will still be issued for dependants and non-study/work visa categories.
Who Needs an eVisa?
Anyone granted permission to stay in the UK for more than 6 months or with Indefinite Leave to Remain will need to have an eVisa. This includes:
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- Skilled workers
- Students
- Family visa holders
- Long-term visitors and residents.
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What Are the Benefits of an eVisa?
- Secure and tamper-proof — can’t be lost or stolen
- No waiting for a physical card
- Easy status sharing — with employers, landlords, and airlines via time-limited share codes
- Faster processing at the UK border.
Special Cases to Know
No Physical BRP Replacement Anymore
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- Lost, damaged, or expired BRPs will not be replaced
- Access to eVisa is now the only valid method
✅ Got Settlement with Old Stamps or Vignettes?
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- You must make a No Time Limit (NTL) application to convert your status into a digital eVisa
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EU Settlement Scheme or Windrush Status?
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- You’ll get your eVisa automatically once your application is approved.
Applying for a UK Visa from Overseas?
You’ll still need to prove your identity, depending on your country and passport type. Two routes:
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- Visa Application Centre: Biometrics + passport sticker
- UK Immigration: ID Check App: For eligible applicants with biometric passports
But starting 15 July 2025, study and work visa applicants may not get any sticker — only an eVisa via their UKVI account.
References
DATE . JUN/10/2025