United Kingdom has introduced a new e visa system for Pakistani nationals travelling for tourism, family visits and business purposes, eliminating the need for physical visa stickers in passports. The announcement was made by British High Commission in Islamabad, which stated that applicants will now receive confirmation of their visa status digitally through email rather than through a vignette placed inside their passport. The move is aimed at streamlining the application experience while maintaining existing requirements related to biometrics and eligibility.
Under the updated process, applicants will continue to submit their visa applications online and attend a visa application centre to provide biometric information. However, once biometrics are completed, successful applicants will not be required to revisit the centre to collect their passport. Instead, they will retain their passport after the biometric appointment. Their immigration status will be recorded digitally in the form of an eVisa, accessible through an online account with UK Visas and Immigration. The digital record will serve as official proof of permission to travel and stay in the United Kingdom within the approved category.
According to the statement, the introduction of e visas offers a more secure and efficient method of managing immigration status, reducing the risks associated with lost or damaged documents. Applicants will be able to generate a share code from their UK Visas and Immigration account to demonstrate their visa status at border control or when required by relevant authorities. The British High Commission clarified that there are no changes to visa processing timelines, eligibility requirements or the conditions attached to visas as part of this transition. Existing sticker visas remain valid and are not affected by the new system.
British High Commissioner Jane Marriott described the development as a positive step for Pakistani visitors heading to the United Kingdom for tourism, to visit family members or to attend business meetings. She noted that the change removes an additional stage from the application process and allows applicants to keep their passports after submitting biometric data. She also highlighted that the share code system makes it easier for travellers to demonstrate their visa status when needed.
The e visa framework was previously introduced for students and individuals travelling on work visas last year, with thousands of travellers already using the system at airports across the United Kingdom. By extending the facility to short term visitors from Pakistan, British authorities are further digitising immigration procedures while maintaining the same regulatory standards governing entry into the country.
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