From 15 July 2025, the UK will make a key change to how visas are issued. Skilled Workers, Health & Care applicants, and others using selected work routes will no longer receive a physical visa sticker (vignette) in their passports. Instead, they'll be granted a digital eVisa only.

This update affects anyone applying from today onwards under routes like Skilled Worker, Global Business Mobility, International Sportsperson, and Temporary Worker (except Seasonal Workers).

Applicants will now need to set up a UKVI account, link it to their current passport, and check their eVisa is correct before travelling. Any issues should be reported immediately via the UKVI online form.

As a recruiter, it’s important to understand this shift. Candidates will now present their status through a share code, rather than a stamped passport. If your team handles onboarding or Right to Work checks, make sure they’re up to speed.

Dependants will still receive both the vignette and the eVisa for now.

For more details or help, visit gov.uk/evisa or watch the official support videos.

This is part of the UK’s move toward a fully digital immigration system.