From 25 February, every Indian national issued permission to enter or stay in the United Kingdom will receive a digital immigration record—an eVisa—rather than the traditional sticker vignette in their passport. The change, confirmed by the British Deputy High Commission in Kolkata and reported by multiple Indian outlets, is part of the Home Office’s multi-year digital border programme. (mid-day.com)
Application steps remain largely the same: biometrics are still captured at a visa application centre, but passports are returned immediately after enrolment. Once a decision is made, travellers log into their UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) account to view or download proof of status, which is electronically linked to their passport number. Airlines and border officers will scan the passport and pull the record from UK systems—mirroring Australia’s ETA model. (indianexpress.com)
Need help navigating the new digital process or managing multiple visa applications at once? VisaHQ’s India platform (https://www.visahq.com/india/) offers step-by-step guidance, document checklists, and real-time status tracking, making it easier for travellers, corporates, and study-abroad candidates to stay compliant as the UK and other destinations shift to eVisas.
![UK completes switch to fully digital eVisas for Indian applicants]()
For employers and universities sponsoring Indians, the shift promises leaner onboarding. HR teams can use the existing ‘Right to Work’ or ‘Right to Study’ portals to verify status instantaneously, eliminating courier delays or lost BRP cards. The Home Office estimates that ending physical vignette printing will save £7 million annually and cut 200 tonnes of CO₂ tied to document logistics. (mid-day.com)
Travellers should note that the passport used for the UKVI application must be carried on the journey; replacing a passport without updating the eVisa could lead to airline denial. Officials say a self-service update tool will go live this summer. Indian tour operators are advising clients to create UKVI accounts early and screenshot the eVisa as backup in case of airport Wi-Fi outages. (indianexpress.com)
India is the first large-volume market to be fully migrated before the global roll-out concludes in 2027. Industry bodies such as the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) have welcomed the move, calling it a “critical step toward seamless, paper-free mobility for business travellers.”
Application steps remain largely the same: biometrics are still captured at a visa application centre, but passports are returned immediately after enrolment. Once a decision is made, travellers log into their UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) account to view or download proof of status, which is electronically linked to their passport number. Airlines and border officers will scan the passport and pull the record from UK systems—mirroring Australia’s ETA model. (indianexpress.com)
Need help navigating the new digital process or managing multiple visa applications at once? VisaHQ’s India platform (https://www.visahq.com/india/) offers step-by-step guidance, document checklists, and real-time status tracking, making it easier for travellers, corporates, and study-abroad candidates to stay compliant as the UK and other destinations shift to eVisas.
For employers and universities sponsoring Indians, the shift promises leaner onboarding. HR teams can use the existing ‘Right to Work’ or ‘Right to Study’ portals to verify status instantaneously, eliminating courier delays or lost BRP cards. The Home Office estimates that ending physical vignette printing will save £7 million annually and cut 200 tonnes of CO₂ tied to document logistics. (mid-day.com)
Travellers should note that the passport used for the UKVI application must be carried on the journey; replacing a passport without updating the eVisa could lead to airline denial. Officials say a self-service update tool will go live this summer. Indian tour operators are advising clients to create UKVI accounts early and screenshot the eVisa as backup in case of airport Wi-Fi outages. (indianexpress.com)
India is the first large-volume market to be fully migrated before the global roll-out concludes in 2027. Industry bodies such as the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) have welcomed the move, calling it a “critical step toward seamless, paper-free mobility for business travellers.”
