Latest news with #UKVI
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
a day ago
- Business
- Business Standard
No more visa stickers: UK mandates eVisas for students, skilled workers
If you're planning to study or work in the UK, there's a new visa process in place from July 15, 2025. The UK government has begun issuing eVisas for student and skilled worker categories, replacing the physical vignette that was earlier stamped in passports. No more visa stickers in passports Those applying for a UK work or study visa on or after July 15 will no longer receive a vignette, the sticker typically placed inside the passport. Instead, applicants will be issued a digital immigration status and will need to create a UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account to access their eVisa before travelling. The process will still require biometrics, but that part is now simpler too. 'From July 15, online applications will allow you to submit biometrics and collect your passport on the same day, so you don't have to come back to the Visa Application Centre again,' the UK government explained in a press release. Applicants will be informed of the decision by email, as per the usual UKVI processing timelines. Vignettes still for dependants and other categories Those applying as dependants or under visa routes other than work or study will still receive a vignette in their passport. This includes family members accompanying the main applicant and categories such as visitor visas or settlement routes. 'You'll still get a vignette if you apply as a dependant for any visa or as a main applicant for visas other than work or study,' the government clarified. A digital shift in immigration records The UK is now transitioning from physical immigration documents to a digital system, and the eVisa is a key part of that. 'These changes to the UK visa system will make it much simpler for students and workers to prove their identity and visa status. It also means applicants can hold onto their passports, saving them time,' said Jane Marriott, UK High Commissioner to India. The move is expected to eliminate the need for physical Biometric Residence Permits (BRPs), with all immigration records linked to an individual's UKVI account. Who gets an eVisa now EVisas are now being issued to main applicants under the following routes: Student visas, including short-term study up to 11 months Global Business Mobility routes: Senior or specialist worker, graduate trainee, UK expansion worker, service supplier, and secondment worker Global talent visa International sportsperson visa Skilled worker visas, including health and care roles Temporary work visas under charity, creative, religious, government-authorised exchange, and international agreement categories Youth mobility scheme Creating a UKVI account To access the eVisa, applicants must create a UKVI account. This is necessary for anyone granted a visa through a digital notice—either via a decision letter or a Form for Affixing a Visa (FAV)—and those without a valid identity document, such as an expired BRP or passport. The UK's move to eVisas is part of a phased shift towards a fully digital immigration system. The government has confirmed that all BRP holders will eventually need to transition to this new digital system by setting up their UKVI accounts.
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
22-07-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
India YPS ballot open: Apply to live, study, work in UK for 2 years
Indians aged 18-30 can now apply for the UK's Young Professionals Scheme; ballot open till 1:30 pm IST on July 24, 2025 Surbhi Gloria Singh New Delhi Here's an opportunity for young Indians who wish to study or work in the United Kingdom. The latest India Young Professionals Scheme (YPS) ballot is now open and will close at 1:30 pm India Standard Time on July 24, 2025. This visa scheme allows Indian citizens aged between 18 and 30 to live and work in the United Kingdom for up to two years. In addition to employment, it also permits short-term study during the stay. Who can apply • Hold a recognised bachelor's degree or higher • Have at least £2,530 (around ₹3 lakh) in savings held for 28 consecutive days • Not have children under 18 who live with them or for whom they're financially responsible • Not have previously held a Youth Mobility or India YPS visa There are 3,000 visa places available in 2025. Most were allocated in February. The remaining slots are being released in this second and final ballot for the year. How to enter the ballot To enter, visit the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) website during the application window and submit: • Full name and date of birth • Passport details along with a scanned copy or photo • Phone number and email address Only one entry per person is allowed. Multiple entries will be discarded. It's free to apply for the ballot. If you are selected If selected, you'll receive an email inviting you to apply. From that date, you'll have 90 days to: • Submit your online visa application • Pay the visa fee of £319 • Pay the immigration health surcharge of £1,552 • Provide biometric details via the UK Immigration ID Check app or a visa centre You must travel to the UK within six months of your visa being issued, according to the UK government. What the visa lets you do Those granted a visa under the scheme can: • Live and work in the UK for up to 24 months • Study short-term courses • Travel in and out of the country freely • Be self-employed, provided the business has no staff, equipment costs are below £5,000, and premises are not owned What to keep handy while applying To avoid last-minute stress, keep the following ready: • Scanned copy of your passport • Degree certificate • Recent bank statement showing the required funds • Biometric centre information, in case in-person appointment is required Checklist before you apply • Confirm you meet the age, nationality, degree, and financial requirements • Prepare all required documents • Mark the ballot window: July 22 to July 24, 1:30 pm IST • Submit only one ballot entry • Check your email for the result within two weeks of ballot closure • If invited, apply online within the 90-day deadline If you don't get selected this round, you can try again in the next ballot, expected in early 2026.
The Independent
16-07-2025
- Business
- The Independent
UK issue new eVisas for Pakistani students and workers
The UK has launched new eVisas for Pakistani students and workers in place of traditional physical immigration documents. From 15 July, most 'main' applicants travelling to the UK on study or work-related visas will no longer need a physical sticker visa in their passports. Digital proof of immigration status will now be shown using an eVisa – an online record of a person's immigration status in a UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account. Travel documents such as a passport can then be linked to a UKVI account for international travel and to prove immigration status to potential employers or landlords. 'Main' applicants eligible for eVisas include students, global business mobility routes, global talent, international sportspeople, skilled workers such as those in healthcare, charity workers on temporary work routes or those partaking in youth mobility schemes. According to a statement from the British High Commission (BHC) in Islamabad, applicants applying as a dependant, or as a main applicant for visas other than study or work, will still need a physical sticker visa to travel to the UK. They added that the new digital immigration system will make the visa process 'easier, more secure, digital and streamlined' for Pakistanis. Changing to an eVisa will not affect anyone's immigration status or the conditions of their entry into the UK. Travellers with existing physical visa stickers that are still in date also 'do not need to take any action'. The BHC in Islamabad said it plans to eventually roll out eVisas to the UK on all visa routes. British High Commissioner, Jane Marriott CMG OBE, said: 'These changes to the UK visa system will make it much simpler for students and workers to prove their identity and visa status. It also means applicants can hold onto their passports, saving them time.'
Business Recorder
16-07-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
UK introduces e-Visas for Pak students, workers
ISLAMABAD: In a positive development, the government of the United Kingdom (UK) on Tuesday introduced e-Visas for Pakistani students and workers as part of an 'improved' border and immigration system. 'Most of main applicants travelling to the UK on study or work-related visas will no longer need a physical sticker visa in passports from 15 July,' the High Commission of UK in Islamabad announced here in a statement. The UK Government is replacing physical immigration documents for most student and worker visas with a digital proof of immigration status, an eVisa, the statement added. The High Commission highlighted an eVisa is an online record of a person's immigration permission in the UK, and any conditions which apply, which can be viewed by creating and accessing an online UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account. The eVisas are part of an enhanced border and immigration system that will not only make the visa process easier, but is more secure, digital and streamlined. eVisas are tried and tested, with millions of people already using them on select immigration routes. British High Commissioner Jane Marriott stated, 'These changes to the UK visa system will make it much simpler for students and workers to prove their identity and visa status. It also means applicants can hold onto their passports, saving them time.' Updating from a physical document to an eVisa does not affect anyone's immigration status or the conditions of their permission to enter or stay in the UK. E-visas are being rolled out for the main applicants for students, including short term study for 11 months, global business mobility routes (specifically, senior or specialist worker, graduate trainee, UK expansion worker, service supplier, secondment worker etc. Holders can link their travel document (such as passport) to their UKVI account to facilitate straightforward international travel, the UK HC remarked. People who have created a UKVI account will be able to use the view and prove service to prove their status securely with third parties, such as employers or landlords (in England). Applicants applying as a dependent, or as a main applicant for visas other than study or work, e.g. general visitor visas, will still need a physical sticker visa. Anyone with existing, in date, physical visa stickers do not need to take any action, the statement further emphasised. This will eventually be rolled out to all visa routes meaning a more secure and streamlined process for all UK visa customers. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Gulf Today
15-07-2025
- Business
- Gulf Today
Britain launches digital eVisa for Pakistani students, workers
Britain has introduced an eVisa mechanism for Pakistani students and workers to make the visa process easier, the British High Commission in Islamabad said on Tuesday. In a statement, the commission said most main Pakistani applicants travelling to the UK on study or work-related visas will no longer need a physical sticker visa in passports from July 15. "The UK Government is replacing physical immigration documents for most student and worker visas with a digital proof of immigration status, an eVisa," it added. An eVisa is an online record of a person's immigration permission in the UK, and any conditions which apply, which can be viewed by creating and accessing an online UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account. eVisas are part of an enhanced border and immigration system that will not only make the visa process easier, but is more secure, digital and streamlined, as per the statement. It further said that eVisas are tried and tested, with millions of people already using them on select immigration routes. The British High Commissioner to Pakistan, Jane Marriott said the changes to the UK visa system will make it much simpler for students and workers to prove their identity and visa status. "It also means applicants can hold onto their passports, saving them time." However, the embassy statement clarified that updating from a physical document to an eVisa does not affect anyone's immigration status or the conditions of their permission to enter or stay in the UK. E-visas are being rolled out for the main applicants for: • Students, including short term study for 11 months • Global Business Mobility routes (specifically, Senior or Specialist Worker, Graduate Trainee, UK Expansion Worker, Service Supplier, Secondment Worker) • Global Talent • International Sportsperson • Skilled Worker (including Health and Care) • Temporary Work routes (specifically, Charity Worker, Creative Worker, Government Authorized Exchange, International Agreement, and Religious work routes) • Youth Mobility Scheme The statement said applicants applying as a dependent, or as a main applicant for visas other than study or work, such as general visitor visas, will still need a physical sticker visa. Anyone with existing, in date, physical visa stickers do not need to take any action. This will eventually be rolled out to all visa routes meaning a more secure and streamlined process for all UK visa customers, read the statement.
