UK launches e-Visa system for Pakistanis students, worker
From July 15, physical sticker will no longer be required in passport for people travelling for study. Work purposes.
The United Kingdom has officially launched an electronic visa (e-visa) system for applicants in Pakistan, the British High Commission in Islamabad announced.
Under the new system, visa applications will be completed online, and physical visa stickers will no longer be placed in passports. UK High Commissioner to Pakistan, Jane Marriott, described the move as a “simpler and safer” process for students and workers applying for UK visas.
From July 15, most primary applicants travelling to the UK for study or work will not need a physical visa sticker in their passport. Instead, the UK government will issue digital proof of immigration status, known as an e-visa, replacing traditional immigration documents.
An e-visa functions as an online record of a person’s permission to stay in the UK, including any specific conditions attached to their stay. Applicants will be able to view and manage their immigration status through a UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) online account.
The British High Commission stated that switching to digital documentation will make identity and visa verification easier, while also allowing applicants to keep their passports during the application process.
Marriott said the changes will make it more convenient for students and workers to confirm their identity and visa status, saving them time since they will no longer need to submit their passports for visa stickers.
Officials clarified that the transition to the digital system does not change anyone’s immigration status or rights. Individuals who already have visa stickers in their passports do not need to take any further action.
