UK's e-Visa System: How International Students Need To Apply?

The UK Home Office has announced a major overhaul of the immigration system transitioning from physical documents to a fully digital eVisa System to streamline the entire visa process and improve security. Under the new e-Visa system, the UK government has asked all immigrants to use physical immigration documents to transition to eVisas.

An eVisa is an online record of an individual’s immigration status, outlining the conditions of their permission to stay in the UK. This will replace the need for a physical document such as biometric residence permits (BRP), passport visa vignette stickers, ink stamps, and biometric residence cards (BRC).

The Home Office plans to phase out the physical documents and shift to an entirely digital immigration system by the end of 2024. This will help users to access their immigration status online through the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) system. This reportedly would not alter any condition of the visa but simplifies the process of verification.

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International students enrolling in UK universities for the September 2024 or January 2025 intakes who apply for visa before November 1, 2024 may still get a BRP however they would need to convert it to eVisa upon arrival. Students whose BRP is expiring on December 31, 2024 also need to switch to an eVisa.

Students can set up a UKVI account and access eVisa immediately without waiting for a formal invitation from the UKVI. After creating a UKVI account students need to verify their identity online. The Visa status can be viewed from the UKVI account.

The eVisa will help students show their immigration status to employers, educational institutions and landlords, providing a more secure and convenient way to manage their stay in UK.