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The Digest:

The United Kingdom will begin issuing eVisas to all Nigerian nationals applying for UK Visit visas from February 25, 2026, replacing the traditional vignette (sticker) on passports. According to a statement by the British High Commission in Abuja, applicants will receive a secure digital record of their immigration status through a UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account. The application process remains unchanged: travellers must still apply, attend a Visa Application Centre for biometrics, and meet all eligibility criteria. The eVisa system offers faster passport return, online status management, and enhanced security as digital records cannot be lost, stolen, or tampered with. Current visa holders with valid vignette stickers need not take action until expiration. Deputy High Commissioner Gill Lever said the transition "will streamline a key part of the visa process."

Key Points:
  • The digital system will significantly reduce processing times and improve convenience for Nigerian travellers.
  • Enhanced security eliminates risks of lost or tampered physical documents.
  • Travellers gain faster service and online management, while the UK modernises border control.
  • This signals the global shift toward digital immigration systems.
  • The timing, with clear implementation date, allows applicants to prepare.
The eVisa transition marks a major modernisation of UK visa processing, offering Nigerian travellers faster, more secure, and digitally manageable immigration status.

Sources: Leadership, British High Commission Abuja