The United Kingdom government has announced that, beginning July 15, 2025, it will commence the issuance of electronic visas (e-visas) to most Nigerian nationals applying for study and work permits.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the British High Commission in Abuja said the new system will eliminate the need for physical visa vignette stickers in passports. Instead, successful applicants will receive a secure, digital record of their immigration status, accessible through a UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) online account.
According to the statement, the digitisation initiative is part of the UK’s broader efforts to modernise and streamline its immigration processes.
Gill Lever, Chargé d’Affaires at the British High Commission in Nigeria, described the transition to e-visas as a landmark development.
“This will make the process more secure, more efficient, and more convenient for students, professionals, and families,” Lever said.
The e-visa system will initially cover applicants seeking study or work permits, while dependants, such as spouses and children, as well as visitor visa applicants will, for the time being, continue to receive the traditional physical visa vignette.
The UK government noted that while biometric data collection, fingerprints and a photograph, will still be required, applicants under the e-visa system will no longer need to surrender their passports at the visa application centre (VAC). Instead, they will retain their passports after completing the biometric process.
Once a visa decision is made, successful applicants will receive an email instructing them to create a UKVI account. This account will provide access to their e-visa and allow them to securely share their immigration status with third parties, including landlords, employers, and educational institutions.
The British High Commission added that the shift to digital visas is a continuation of recent reforms, including the phase-out of biometric residence permits (BRPs) in favour of e-visa credentials for those granted leave to remain in the UK for longer than six months.
To complete the visa process, applicants must still visit a VAC to submit their biometric data and follow all post-approval instructions, including linking their e-visa to their valid passport.
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