
The United Kingdom has announced a new eVisa programme for citizens of Pakistan that will allow students and skilled workers to be a part of a simplified and digital visa process.
According to the British High Commission in Islamabad, the majority of main applicants coming to the UK for a reason related to study or work will no longer need to have a physical visa sticker in their passports.
eVisas will provide a digital record of a person's immigration status, including any visa conditions applied to that person.
Applicants will also be able to show and manage their immigration status through their UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) online account and carry their visas on their domiciliary phones or similar devices.
The British government is looking towards a fully digital and secure immigration system, and it is one part of a wider plan to modernise the border.
Moreover, the eVisa system has previously been trialled on a limited number of routes and will now be expanded to include more visa categories for citizens of Pakistan.
As a result of the rollout of eVisas, applicants will no longer have to surrender their passports at substantive processing and will be able to get their passports back more quickly and with less inconvenience to their application process. It also helps to streamline identity verification and allows Pakistani citizens greater access to their immigration information online.
The eVisa system is now available for categories such as:
- Students (including short-term study)
- Skilled Workers (including Health & Care)
- Global Talent
- Youth Mobility Scheme
- Temporary Work and Global Business Mobility routes
However, the system is currently not available for dependents or general visitor visa applicants, who will still need a physical visa sticker. Those who already have a valid physical visa do not need to take any action.