The UK government has announced that, from February 25, all Nigerian travellers applying for a UK visit visa will receive an eVisa rather than a vignette (sticker) in their passport.
A statement by the UK High Commission in Abuja on Tuesday said the development was the continuation of UK Visas and Immigration’s transition to a fully digital border.
It explained that under the new policy, travellers would access their visa electronically through their UK Visas and Immigration account, marking a significant step in modernising the UK’s visa process.
“This move to digital visas will streamline a key part of the visa process, making it more secure while reducing dependence on paper documents.
“We look forward to continuing to welcome Nigerian visitors, students and workers to the UK. We are committed to making it easier for Nigerians to travel to the UK,” said the UK deputy high commissioner, Gill Lever.
It added that the visa application requirements remained unchanged, with travellers applying as usual, visiting a visa application centre to provide biometric information, and meeting all existing eligibility criteria.
The only difference is that instead of a physical sticker, applicants will receive a secure digital record of their immigration status.
Nigerians currently holding a valid vignette sticker do not need to take any action, as their physical visa remains valid until it expires or requires replacement.
According to the UK government, the move to eVisas brings a number of benefits for Nigerian travellers. These include faster passport returns and the ability for travellers to manage their immigration status online at any time, from any location. The digital format also offers stronger security as eVisas cannot be lost, stolen, or tampered with.
Additionally, once a visa is approved, applicants will need to create a free UKVI account to access their eVisa.
Additionally, applicants are encouraged to visit www.gov.uk/eVisa for more information.
(NAN)