In a guidance bulletin updated on 7 July 2026, immigration services provider UK Visa Assist reminded travellers that from 25 February 2026 all newly issued UK visit visas are digital eVisas only, with no physical vignette affixed in passports. The notice, endorsed with links to GOV.UK resources, warns that travellers whose passports have changed since approval must update details in their UKVI account before flying, otherwise airlines’ ‘authority-to-carry’ systems will block boarding.
![UKVI reiterates February 2026 switch to eVisas, urges travellers to update accounts]()
For travellers who need hands-on help navigating these new digital requirements, VisaHQ’s United Kingdom team provides streamlined online tools and expert advisers who can guide applicants through eVisa registration, passport-detail updates and share-code generation, easing the burden for both individual tourists and corporate mobility coordinators.
The alert follows multiple cases during May half-term where passengers with mismatched passport numbers were denied travel, despite holding valid digital status. Carrier Support Hub data show that such mismatches already account for 12 percent of ‘0E – no match’ reject codes sent to airlines. Employers sponsoring inbound assignments should therefore build an eVisa passport-update step into their relocation checklists and verify that dependent family members also update details. UK Visa Assist advises business travellers to screenshot the ‘Permission to Travel Found’ screen or carry a printed share-code confirmation as a fallback if carrier systems go offline. Looking ahead, the Home Office has confirmed that a Form for Accompanying an eVisa (FAV) will be issued on request for nationals of countries whose passports cannot yet carry biometric chips, ensuring they too can board flights after the vignette phase-out. The bulletin underscores a broader shift in UK border policy: by the end of 2026, all visa types—including Skilled Worker and Student extensions—will be eVisa-only. HR and global mobility teams should budget time for employee training and consider appointing an internal ‘digital status champion’ to field routine questions.
For travellers who need hands-on help navigating these new digital requirements, VisaHQ’s United Kingdom team provides streamlined online tools and expert advisers who can guide applicants through eVisa registration, passport-detail updates and share-code generation, easing the burden for both individual tourists and corporate mobility coordinators.
The alert follows multiple cases during May half-term where passengers with mismatched passport numbers were denied travel, despite holding valid digital status. Carrier Support Hub data show that such mismatches already account for 12 percent of ‘0E – no match’ reject codes sent to airlines. Employers sponsoring inbound assignments should therefore build an eVisa passport-update step into their relocation checklists and verify that dependent family members also update details. UK Visa Assist advises business travellers to screenshot the ‘Permission to Travel Found’ screen or carry a printed share-code confirmation as a fallback if carrier systems go offline. Looking ahead, the Home Office has confirmed that a Form for Accompanying an eVisa (FAV) will be issued on request for nationals of countries whose passports cannot yet carry biometric chips, ensuring they too can board flights after the vignette phase-out. The bulletin underscores a broader shift in UK border policy: by the end of 2026, all visa types—including Skilled Worker and Student extensions—will be eVisa-only. HR and global mobility teams should budget time for employee training and consider appointing an internal ‘digital status champion’ to field routine questions.
