The UK’s long-promised move to a fully digital immigration system has reached a major milestone. From 1 July 2026 the Home Office stopped placing visa “vignette” stickers in passports and now issues every successful overseas applicant with an electronic visa (eVisa) only. The change, confirmed in a 3 July update by London law firm Bindmans, applies across all immigration categories, from Skilled Worker and Global Business Mobility routes to family and study visas. Previous cohorts who already hold a vignette can continue to travel on it until it expires, but any new or replacement permission will be delivered solely through the UKVI online account. For carriers and business-travel managers the practical effect is immediate: airline check-in agents must verify travellers’ permission to travel digitally, either via the carrier-support interface or by inspecting a share-code produced from the passenger’s UKVI account. Companies should review travel policies to ensure employees know how to download status to a mobile device and generate a code before departure.
![Home Office completes switch to digital eVisas – physical visa stickers abolished]()
For individuals and organisations seeking hands-on assistance with the transition, VisaHQ can streamline the process. Its UK portal guides users through eVisa requirements, provides real-time status tracking, and offers expert support for right-to-work queries—helping travellers, HR teams and mobility managers stay compliant as physical vignettes disappear.
HR teams that rely on passport endorsements for right-to-work checks also need to adapt. The Home Office’s employer guidance states that an eVisa, presented via a share-code and the GOV.UK “Prove your right to work” portal, is now the definitive evidence. Organisations that have not already updated onboarding templates, or whose intranets still refer to vignette copies, should do so urgently. The abolition of physical vignettes is a stepping-stone towards the decommissioning of Biometric Residence Permits (BRPs) in 2027. It also aligns the UK with other jurisdictions—such as Australia and, shortly, the EU—that are replacing passport stickers with fully digital travel credentials. While the Home Office insists the new system will be more secure and convenient, immigration advisers warn that travellers without reliable internet access, or with mismatched passport details, could face boarding denials until carrier systems and passenger awareness catch up.
For individuals and organisations seeking hands-on assistance with the transition, VisaHQ can streamline the process. Its UK portal guides users through eVisa requirements, provides real-time status tracking, and offers expert support for right-to-work queries—helping travellers, HR teams and mobility managers stay compliant as physical vignettes disappear.
HR teams that rely on passport endorsements for right-to-work checks also need to adapt. The Home Office’s employer guidance states that an eVisa, presented via a share-code and the GOV.UK “Prove your right to work” portal, is now the definitive evidence. Organisations that have not already updated onboarding templates, or whose intranets still refer to vignette copies, should do so urgently. The abolition of physical vignettes is a stepping-stone towards the decommissioning of Biometric Residence Permits (BRPs) in 2027. It also aligns the UK with other jurisdictions—such as Australia and, shortly, the EU—that are replacing passport stickers with fully digital travel credentials. While the Home Office insists the new system will be more secure and convenient, immigration advisers warn that travellers without reliable internet access, or with mismatched passport details, could face boarding denials until carrier systems and passenger awareness catch up.
