The United Kingdom on Wednesday flipped the switch on its long-planned digital border, replacing the green-and-gold “vignette” sticker with an electronic visa (eVisa) for all Indian nationals. Under the new rules, applicants will still visit a VFS Global centre to give biometrics, but their passports are handed back the same day; once the application is approved, a digital permission to travel is linked electronically to the passport number and airlines check it in real time. (timesofindia.indiatimes.com)
British officials say the change is more than cosmetic. Because carriers can now verify a passenger’s status before boarding, the Home Office expects fewer last-minute refusals at Heathrow and Gatwick and a sharper drop in document fraud. The system also dovetails with the UK’s new Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) for visa-exempt visitors, creating a single digital perimeter similar to Canada’s eTA or the United States’ ESTA. (economictimes.indiatimes.com)
![UK rolls out mandatory eVisas for Indian travellers as border system goes fully digital]()
For applicants who want hands-on assistance, VisaHQ can streamline the entire UK eVisa process—from filling out digital forms to securing biometrics appointments—while offering real-time tracking and expert review; Indian travellers can learn more at https://www.visahq.com/india/
For Indian corporates, the biggest advantage is faster passport turnaround. In 2025, close to 40 percent of India-bound business travellers to the UK reported losing at least one working week because their passport was locked in at the visa centre. The ability to keep the document enables executives to travel elsewhere while their UK application is processed, easing itinerary planning for multi-country trips.
However, experts warn that the eVisa does not loosen underlying eligibility criteria: financial documents, travel history and intent to return continue to be scrutinised, and applicants without a prior Schengen/US/UK record may still face interviews or additional checks. Companies are therefore advised to maintain robust document templates and schedule biometrics early in the trip-planning cycle, especially during the peak April–July season.
British officials say the change is more than cosmetic. Because carriers can now verify a passenger’s status before boarding, the Home Office expects fewer last-minute refusals at Heathrow and Gatwick and a sharper drop in document fraud. The system also dovetails with the UK’s new Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) for visa-exempt visitors, creating a single digital perimeter similar to Canada’s eTA or the United States’ ESTA. (economictimes.indiatimes.com)
For applicants who want hands-on assistance, VisaHQ can streamline the entire UK eVisa process—from filling out digital forms to securing biometrics appointments—while offering real-time tracking and expert review; Indian travellers can learn more at https://www.visahq.com/india/
For Indian corporates, the biggest advantage is faster passport turnaround. In 2025, close to 40 percent of India-bound business travellers to the UK reported losing at least one working week because their passport was locked in at the visa centre. The ability to keep the document enables executives to travel elsewhere while their UK application is processed, easing itinerary planning for multi-country trips.
However, experts warn that the eVisa does not loosen underlying eligibility criteria: financial documents, travel history and intent to return continue to be scrutinised, and applicants without a prior Schengen/US/UK record may still face interviews or additional checks. Companies are therefore advised to maintain robust document templates and schedule biometrics early in the trip-planning cycle, especially during the peak April–July season.
