UK to switch visa stickers with eVisas for Nigerians from Feb 25 

The UK has introduced a significant shift in its immigration course of for Nigerian travellers, confirming that it’s going to discontinue the issuance of bodily visa stickers and substitute them fully with digital eVisas from February 25, 2026.

The coverage change, disclosed in Abuja by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI), implies that all new UK Go to visas issued to Nigerian nationals will now exist solely in digital kind.

The transfer is a part of the UK authorities’s broader transition to a totally digital border and immigration administration system.

What they’re saying 

Below the brand new framework, profitable candidates will now not obtain a visa vignette pasted into their passports. As an alternative, their immigration standing shall be saved on-line and accessible by a safe UKVI account, which travellers can use to view, handle, and share their visa particulars when required.

UKVI clarified that the core software course of stays unchanged. Nigerian candidates will nonetheless full the web software, attend a Visa Software Centre to submit biometric info, and meet all current eligibility and documentation necessities.

The one distinction is the tactic of visa issuance and verification, which can now be totally digital.

Importantly, the authorities burdened that Nigerians who at present maintain legitimate bodily visa stickers is not going to be affected by the transition. Present visas will stay legitimate till their said expiry dates and won’t have to be changed solely because of the rollout of eVisas.

Backstory 

The February 2026 rollout builds on earlier reforms introduced by the UK authorities. As background, the British Excessive Fee had beforehand disclosed that digital eVisas can be launched for many Nigerian nationals making use of for research or work visas from July 15, 2025, changing bodily visa vignettes with safe on-line information.

With Nigerians now among the many first cohorts to transition totally to digital visa issuance, the reform represents a major procedural shift for enterprise travellers, college students, and frequent guests. Passport-based documentation is giving option to a centralized on-line immigration document, marking a brand new commonplace for UK entry clearance and border administration.

What it’s best to know 

Talking on the event, the British Deputy Excessive Commissioner in Abuja, Gill Lever, described the coverage as a step towards simplifying journey whereas enhancing safety.

• Based on her, the shift to digital visas reduces dependence on paper documentation, improves border management effectivity, and makes it simpler for real travellers to entry and show their immigration standing.
• UKVI famous that the eVisa system is anticipated to ship operational advantages for candidates, together with shorter processing timelines, as passports will now not be held for visa endorsement. Travellers can even be capable of entry their immigration information at any time, decreasing the chance of delays linked to misplaced or broken paperwork.

From a safety standpoint, British authorities highlighted that eVisas can’t be misplaced, stolen, or bodily altered like passport stickers. The system additionally allows real-time verification of immigration standing by airways and border officers, strengthening total border integrity.