Effective from 15 July 2025, the United Kingdom will begin issuing electronic visas (eVisas) to most applicants seeking entry for study or work purposes.
This transition means that successful applicants will no longer receive a physical visa vignette (sticker) in their passports.
Instead, they will be granted a secure digital visa, accessible online via a UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account.
Applicants who submit their applications before this date will continue to follow the current process, which includes: submitting their passport at a Visa Application Centre (VAC), and eceiving a physical vignette sticker upon approval
The UK government said this development represents a significant milestone in its efforts to establish a modern, digital immigration system.
Visitor visa applicants, as well as dependants (e.g., spouses or children) of individuals applying for study or work visas, will continue to receive a physical vignette for the time being.
“We’re making it easier and faster for Nigerians to travel to the UK. From 15 July 2025, most people applying for study or work visas will receive a digital eVisa instead of a visa sticker in their passport“, said Gill Lever (OBE), Chargé d’Affaires at the British High Commission in Abuja.
“This is a further big step toward a fully digital UK immigration system—making the process more secure, more efficient, and more convenient for students, professionals, and families.”
She, however, noted that if an individual applies as a dependant—like a spouse or child of someone who is studying or working in the UK—or if applying for a visitor visa, such an applicant would still receive a visa vignette sticker in the passport for the time being.
The eVisas have already replaced Biometric Residence Permits (BRPs) for individuals granted leave for over six months.
Customers with a UKVI account can use the View and Prove service to securely share their immigration status with third parties, such as employers or landlords.
Insight
According to the UK Office for National Statistics (ONS), Nigeria submitted over 230,000 UK visa applications across all categories—a significant contribution, accounting for roughly 6% of global visit visa applications in 2024.
Between June 2023 and June 2024, approximately 225,000 applications were processed from Nigeria, including both approved and rejected cases.
However, March 2024 saw a 38% year-over-year drop in UK study visas to Nigerian students as compared to March 2023.
Powerfully linked, in 2024, Nigerian-sponsored student visas declined by 55% from 2023—one of the steepest among leading source nations.
The volume fell to roughly 18,900 sponsored student visas in 2024, placing Nigeria fourth among international student sources behind China, India, and Pakistan.
Over the 12 months to June 2024, total sponsored study visas dropped 13%, with Nigerian numbers plunging 46% relative to the previous year