UNITED KINGDOM – Further update on phase-out of visa vignettes.

June 17, 2025


By: Sachini Gamage

UKVI has announced the phasing out of 90-day vignette stickers for non-EU applicants for some visa routes from July 15, 2025.

This will affect the following visa routes:

  • Students (including short-term up to 11 months)
  • Global Business Mobility
  • Global Talent
  • International Sportsperson
  • Skilled Workers (including Health and Care)
  • Temporary Workers
  • Youth Mobility Scheme

What does this mean for the applicants?

From July 15, 2025, you will not be issued a vignette sticker on your passport for entry into the UK within 90 days. Instead you will be prompted to create your eVisa using your Unique Reference Number, or your GWF number on your application decision email. This document will allow you to travel to the UK. As such, you must ensure that an eVisa has been created before you can fly to the UK.

This also means that you won’t need to hand your passport to the visa application center, as your passport will not be stamped with a vignette sticker.

Please note this change will only affect the Main Applicant. Any dependant family members applying will still get both a vignette sticker and be prompted to create an eVisa. Therefore, family members will still be required to hand their passports in at the biometric appointment for time being.

What should you do once you receive the decision?

  1. Read the instructions in your decision email to create a UKVI account
  2. Access your eVisa and the details are correct
  3. Link your passport to the eVisa before travelling
  4. Provide your employer or your education provider with the share code, for right to work and right to study checks.

What should you do if you are a corporate or education sponsor?

  • You will still be required to check and record the employee’s or student’s date of arrival for compliance purposes.
  • You will still be required to undertake the usual online right to work and right to study checks.

We advise sponsors and education providers to update their immigration and right to work/study check policies to ensure the correct processes are undertaken. Affected organisations can contact Newland Chase Education for further assistance.

Contact Newland Chase today to speak with an immigration advisor.

This immigration update is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for legal or scenario-specific advice. Furthermore, it is important to note that immigration announcements are subject to sudden and unexpected changes. Readers are encouraged to reach out to Newland Chase for any case- or company-specific assessments.