With surprisingly little fanfare, 1 July 2026 marked the end of the UK visa “vignette”. From now on, successful overseas applicants in every category—including visitors—receive only a digital immigration status (an eVisa) that is linked to their passport and accessed through the UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) account system. The Home Office has framed the move as the final piece in a multi-year modernisation programme that began with EU Settlement Scheme status in 2019 and expanded to work, study and family routes last year. For employers and global mobility teams the change means right-to-work checks will be entirely screen-based; there is no longer any physical foil in the passport to copy or store.
UKVI insists that the “share-code” system is robust, but advisers stress that HR systems must record the date a check was carried out and download a PDF of the candidate’s status to remain compliant. Transport operators will also have to update their training material because airline and ferry staff can no longer rely on a 90-day vignette as evidence that a passenger may board. From the traveller’s perspective the biggest adjustment is procedural. New visa holders now have to create (or locate) their UKVI account before travel, update it whenever they renew a passport, and carry the same passport number that appears in the account. Failure to do so can lead to delays at the e-gates or even to boarding refusals if airline staff cannot see an active permission to travel.
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For organisations that would like external support, VisaHQ’s UK practice can walk employers, HR teams and travellers through each stage of the eVisa process—from opening a UKVI account to producing compliant share codes—and can even manage bulk passport-to-account audits. Full details are available at
The Home Office argues that eVisas will cut fraud and save millions in production costs, yet the transition is already surfacing real-world issues. Business travellers report that some third-party booking systems still demand a visa number before issuing a ticket, while relocation managers fear that clients unfamiliar with share codes will print screenshots that border officers cannot accept. UKVI says it is running outreach sessions for universities, law firms and multinational employers throughout July. Looking ahead, organisations should embed three practical steps: 1) collect a share code as early as possible, 2) remind travelling staff to carry the passport registered to their eVisa, and 3) schedule an annual audit of passport-to-account matches across the sponsored population. Those that fail to adapt risk compliance breaches and potentially costly travel disruptions.
UKVI insists that the “share-code” system is robust, but advisers stress that HR systems must record the date a check was carried out and download a PDF of the candidate’s status to remain compliant. Transport operators will also have to update their training material because airline and ferry staff can no longer rely on a 90-day vignette as evidence that a passenger may board. From the traveller’s perspective the biggest adjustment is procedural. New visa holders now have to create (or locate) their UKVI account before travel, update it whenever they renew a passport, and carry the same passport number that appears in the account. Failure to do so can lead to delays at the e-gates or even to boarding refusals if airline staff cannot see an active permission to travel.
For organisations that would like external support, VisaHQ’s UK practice can walk employers, HR teams and travellers through each stage of the eVisa process—from opening a UKVI account to producing compliant share codes—and can even manage bulk passport-to-account audits. Full details are available at
The Home Office argues that eVisas will cut fraud and save millions in production costs, yet the transition is already surfacing real-world issues. Business travellers report that some third-party booking systems still demand a visa number before issuing a ticket, while relocation managers fear that clients unfamiliar with share codes will print screenshots that border officers cannot accept. UKVI says it is running outreach sessions for universities, law firms and multinational employers throughout July. Looking ahead, organisations should embed three practical steps: 1) collect a share code as early as possible, 2) remind travelling staff to carry the passport registered to their eVisa, and 3) schedule an annual audit of passport-to-account matches across the sponsored population. Those that fail to adapt risk compliance breaches and potentially costly travel disruptions.
