The United Kingdom has launched e-visas for Pakistani students and workers as part of an upgraded border and immigration system to make the process easier and more secure.

 

The announcement was made by the British High Commission (BHC) in Islamabad on Tuesday, just a day after the UK and Pakistan signed the Trade Dialogue Mechanism Agreement and decided to establish the UK-Pakistan Business Advisory Council to boost bilateral economic ties.

 

In its statement, the BHC said the UK government is replacing physical immigration documents for most student and worker visas with a digital proof of immigration status known as an e-visa.

 

British High Commissioner Jane Marriott said on X that this new facility will apply to most students and workers who are applying to stay for more than six months.

 

An e-visa is an online record of a person’s immigration permission in the UK. The BHC said this new system will make the visa process more secure and convenient, highlighting that millions of people are already using e-visas on certain immigration routes.

 

Students and workers who intend to stay in the UK for longer than six months will be eligible to apply for the new e-visa option. The UK government plans to gradually expand this scheme to cover all visa categories in the future.

 

The BHC statement clarified that students, short-term study visitors for up to eleven months, applicants under Global Business Mobility routes such as Senior or Specialist Worker, Graduate Trainee, UK Expansion Worker, Service Supplier and Secondment Worker, Global Talent applicants, international sportspersons, skilled workers including those in health and care, those applying under temporary work routes such as charity worker, creative worker, government authorised exchange, international agreement and religious work routes, and applicants under the Youth Mobility Scheme can all benefit from this digital system.

 

However, applicants applying as dependents or for visas other than study or work, like general visitor visas, will still need a sticker visa. Those who already hold valid physical visas do not need to take any action.

 

Marriott said the transition to e-visas will make the process simpler and save time, as applicants can keep their passports while applying. She also clarified that changing from a physical visa to an e-visa will not affect a person’s immigration status.

 

Holders can link their passport or travel document to their UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account for smoother travel. The UKVI account, introduced in 2024, is now mandatory for anyone staying in the UK for longer than six months and acts as their official online record of immigration status.