UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) has provided updates about the move to a digital immigration system, replacing physical documents with digital records of identity and immigration status.
According to the latest updates published here, eVisas will replace all visa vignette stickers in 2026.
- From early 2026, most successful applicants applying to come to the UK on a visit visa and certain other visa routes will get an eVisa as well as a visa vignette sticker.
- Later in 2026, UKVI will stop issuing visa vignette stickers to all successful applicants applying to come to the UK and they will only get an eVisa.
Furthermore, UKVI will start inviting some new successful visa applicants, who only received a visa vignette sticker when their applications were approved, to set up a UKVI account and access their eVisa. UKVI will email them with instructions on how to do this.
Once they have set up their account, they can use either their eVisa or their visa vignette sticker to prove their status. Successful applicants do not need to set up an account if they do not receive an email from UKVI.
Erickson Insights & Analysis
Erickson Immigration Group will continue monitoring developments and sharing updates as more news is available. Please contact your employer or EIG attorney if you have questions about anything we’re reporting above or if you have case-specific questions.