UK Introduces Digital Visa System for Nigerian Applicants 

The UK visa process for Nigerians is starting July 15, 2025 and most Nigerians applying for study or work visas will no longer receive the traditional visa sticker, known as a vignette, in their passports. 

Instead, successful applicants will be issued an eVisa, a secure, digital record of their immigration status.

The British High Commission in Abuja confirmed the rollout in a statement, calling it a significant step toward a fully digital immigration system. According to officials, the change will make the process more secure, efficient, and accessible especially for those planning to live, study, or work in the UK long-term.

What’s changing?

Before now, Nigerian visa applicants were required to leave their passports at a Visa Application Centre and wait for a vignette sticker to be placed inside. But from July 15, that requirement will disappear for some.

Here’s the key update:

• All new applications for study or work visas submitted on or after July 15 will be processed using the new eVisa system.
  
• Applications submitted before this date will still follow the old method—passport drop-off and vignette sticker.
  
• Visitor visa applicants and dependants like spouses or children are not affected, they’ll still receive physical visa stickers for now.
  

How Will eVisas Work?

The eVisa is essentially a digital immigration record tied to a UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account. Once your application is approved, you’ll get an email with instructions on how to create or link your UKVI account. From there, you’ll be able to access your visa online.

Despite the shift to digital, some steps remain the same:

• You still need to visit a Visa Application Centre to provide your biometric data.
  
• If you’re not required to receive a vignette, you can take your passport home the same day.
  
• Your final visa decision and eVisa access will arrive by email.
  

What about proof of status?

With your eVisa, showing proof of your UK immigration status becomes easier. Through a government tool called “View and Prove,” users can share their visa information securely with employers, schools, or landlords especially useful if you’re living in England.

This service is already being used in place of Biometric Residence Permits (BRPs) for people staying in the UK longer than six months.

A gradual transition

While this update marks a big leap in the UK’s move to digital immigration, it won’t affect all Nigerian applicants at once. For example, people applying as dependants of workers or students, and those applying for tourist visas, will still go through the familiar passport-vignette process for now.

Gill Atkinson, the Chargé d’Affaires at the British High Commission, emphasized the long-term goal: “We’re making it easier and faster for Nigerians to travel to the UK. This move brings us closer to a fully digital immigration system.”

What you should do

If you’re planning to apply for a UK study or work visa:

• Submit your application after July 15 if you want to receive an eVisa.
  
• Ensure you provide accurate contact information so you don’t miss your approval email.
  
• Follow all instructions in the decision letter carefully, especially when setting up your UKVI account.
  

And if your trip to the UK is for a short visit, or if you’re applying as a family member, expect to still receive the old visa sticker in your passport at least for now.

The UK’s transition to digital visas is part of a broader effort to streamline immigration. For Nigerians, it means a faster and less paper-dependent process but also a need to keep up with new tech-based requirements.