The UK immigration system is now primarily digital. From 1 July 2026, UK Visas and Immigration stopped issuing visa vignette stickers to most successful new applicants. Instead, your permission is recorded as an eVisa in your UKVI account.
That sounds simpler, but it changes what you need to check before boarding a flight, starting work or renting a home.
What changed on 1 July 2026?
According to the Home Office’s eVisa transition update, successful applicants will usually receive an eVisa rather than a visa sticker in their passport.
If a visa application centre is holding your passport, it can return the passport while the application is processed. A successful decision does not necessarily mean another physical document will follow.
Moving to an eVisa does not change the conditions or expiry date of your immigration permission. It changes how that permission is recorded and proved.
Your pre-travel checklist
Before travelling to the UK:
- Sign in to your UKVI account and confirm that your eVisa is visible.
- Check that your name, date of birth, visa type and expiry date are correct.
- Make sure the passport you will travel with is linked to the account.
- Update UKVI if you renewed or replaced your passport.
- Keep your Home Office decision email accessible while travelling.
- Allow time to contact UKVI if anything in the account is wrong.
Do this before reaching the airport. Airline systems normally receive digital confirmation that a passenger has permission to travel, but incorrect passport details can still cause delays.
Proving your right to work or rent
An eVisa is also used to prove immigration status inside the UK. Employers and landlords may ask you to generate a share code rather than photocopying a residence card.
Generate a fresh code for the correct purpose and check its expiry date before sending it. A right-to-work code and a right-to-rent code are not always interchangeable.
What if you already have ILR?
If you have indefinite leave to remain but no modern document proving it, GOV.UK says you can make a No Time Limit application to obtain confirmation as an eVisa. Read the official ILR rights and status guidance before applying.
Do not assume an old stamp will work smoothly for every digital check. Resolve evidence problems well before international travel or a new job.
Build this into your moving plan
Treat your UKVI account like an important financial or identity account:
- Use an email address and phone number you control long term.
- Keep passport details current.
- Review the account before every overseas trip.
- Save your visa expiry date and extension window in your calendar.
- Never pay an unofficial service that claims it can “activate” an eVisa.
Our UK relocation planner can help organise the wider move, including housing, healthcare and arrival tasks.
Immigration rules and digital-status procedures change regularly. This article was reviewed on 27 July 2026 and is general information, not immigration advice. Always check the linked GOV.UK guidance before travelling.