ISLAMABAD — The British High Commission in Islamabad announced on Friday that the government expanded eVisas to new biometric customers, replacing physical documents with an online immigration status.
“The technological update will simplify a crucial part of the visa process, enhance security, and reduce reliance on paper documents,” stated British High Commissioner Jane Marriott CMB OBE in a statement issued by the high commission.
She also mentioned that the UK is continually improving to facilitate travel for Pakistanis to its territory. The British High Commission stated that Biometric Residence Permits, vignette stickers in passports, or ‘wet ink stamps’ will no longer be needed as physical documents.
For visas longer than six months, such as for work or study, applicants must create a UKVI online account to access their eVisa, serving as an online record of their immigration status. Visitors with visas for stays of less than six months, like tourists, do not need to create a UKVI account.
The British High Commission emphasizes that the visa process is free, secure, and easy to follow. They advise not to travel to the UK until you have received your passport and a valid UK visa from the Visa Application Centre.
The transition from a physical document to an eVisa does not change your immigration status or the conditions of your entry or stay in the UK. Upon arrival in the UK, visitors will still need to collect a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP). All BRP cards will remain valid until December 31, 2024, and their expiration will not affect immigration status.
You can use your BRP to create a UK Visa and Immigration (UKVI) account and access your eVisa. It is important to continue carrying your BRP until it expires and take it along with your passport when travelling abroad to demonstrate your right to return to the UK.
