The United Kingdom has officially launched a new e-visa system for Pakistani students and skilled workers, offering digital proof of immigration status in place of physical documents. This initiative is part of the UK’s shift towards an enhanced border and immigration system that emphasizes convenience, security, and digitization. The British High Commission in Islamabad made the announcement on Tuesday, a day after both countries signed the Trade Dialogue Mechanism Agreement and agreed to establish the UK-Pakistan Business Advisory Council.
The e-visa will serve as an online record of a person’s immigration permission in the UK, aimed at simplifying visa processes and reducing dependency on physical documentation. According to the statement, the system has already been tested successfully across multiple immigration categories. British High Commissioner Jane Marriott shared on social media that this facility is available for most students and workers applying to stay in the UK for more than six months.
Under the new framework, students enrolled in programs, including short-term studies of up to 11 months, and applicants under a wide range of immigration categories will be eligible. These categories include the Global Business Mobility routes—such as Senior or Specialist Worker, Graduate Trainee, UK Expansion Worker, Service Supplier, and Secondment Worker—as well as Global Talent, International Sportsperson, Skilled Worker including health and care workers, and several Temporary Work visa routes like Charity Worker, Creative Worker, and Religious Worker. The Youth Mobility Scheme is also covered under the e-visa framework.
The British High Commission noted that applicants applying as dependents or seeking visas for categories other than study or work, such as general visitor visas, will continue to receive physical visa documents. Those who already hold valid physical visas are not required to take any further action unless they choose to switch to the e-visa system. Marriott further clarified that the transition to e-visas will not affect an individual’s current immigration status.
To use the e-visa system, applicants will link their travel document, such as a passport, to a UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account, which serves as a digital profile for individuals staying in the UK longer than six months. This account, launched in 2024, allows visa holders to manage and view their immigration status securely online.
The new system is expected to streamline travel procedures, as applicants can retain their original passports during the visa process and avoid waiting for visa stickers or biometric residence permits. The e-visa initiative forms part of the UK’s broader move towards a fully digital immigration system and reflects its aim to modernize and enhance transparency in visa management. With plans underway to expand the e-visa system to all visa routes in the future, this development marks a significant step in the digitization of global mobility processes for Pakistani nationals.
