London, February 25 – The United Kingdom has rolled out a transformative update to its border and immigration system, effective immediately from Wednesday. Indian nationals planning trips to the UK now face a crucial change: e-visas are no longer optional but mandatory.
This digital shift promises to streamline travel, making journeys smoother and more secure for visitors. Traditional physical visa stickers embedded in passports are being phased out entirely. In their place, travelers will access a secure digital record linked to their UK Visa and Immigration (UKVI) account, tied directly to their passport.
Gone are the days of paper-based vignettes. The new e-visa system allows applicants to apply, store, manage, and present their visa details entirely online. While biometric enrollment still requires a visit to an application center, travelers no longer need to surrender their passports during processing—a major convenience.
UK authorities emphasize that this upgrade empowers visitors to check their visa status anytime via their UKVI account. All information is stored digitally in a fortified format, slashing risks of fraud. Those holding existing physical visa stickers can continue using them until expiry.
For anyone heading to Britain, securing digital travel authorization is non-negotiable. Airlines have been instructed to deny boarding to passengers without a valid e-visa, ETA, or equivalent document.
The government launched the e-visa framework last year, with physical documents accepted until this week. Biometric residence permits, cards, and paper stamps are discontinued. Existing physical document holders will automatically transition to digital status without reapplying.
This policy extends beyond Indians: visa-exempt visitors from 85 countries, including the US, Canada, and France, must now obtain an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before travel.
As global travel rebounds, the UK’s pivot to fully digital immigration reflects a broader push toward efficiency and security, potentially setting a model for other nations.