uk visit visa tracking from pakistan

UK Visa Tracking with GWF Number in Pakistan: A Step-by-Step Guide

Applying for a UK visa from Pakistan involves several stages, and tracking the progress of your application is crucial. One key aspect of this process is understanding how to use your GWF (Global Web Form) number for tracking. This guide will walk you through the steps of UK visa tracking using your GWF number in Pakistan, ensuring you stay informed about your application status in 2023.

What is a GWF Number?

When you apply for a UK visa, you are assigned a unique reference number known as the Global Web Form (GWF) number. This number is crucial for tracking the status of your visa application.

How to Track Your UK Visa Application

Step 1: locate your gwf number.

Your GWF number is provided when you submit your UK visa application. It’s important to keep this number safe as it’s essential for tracking purposes.

Step 2: Use the UK Visa Tracking Website

• Access the Website : Visit the official UK visa tracking website. This is typically the site where you filled out your application or the visa application center’s website.
• Enter Your Details : Input your GWF number along with any other required information, such as your date of birth and passport number.

Step 3: Check Your Email

• Email Notifications : You will receive updates on your visa application status via the email address provided during the application process.
• Regular Checks : Regularly check your email, including the spam/junk folder, for any updates from the UK visa office.

Step 4: Contact the Visa Application Center

If you need more detailed information or if there are delays in updates, contact the visa application center where you submitted your documents. They can provide additional insights into your application status.

Tips for a Smooth Tracking Process

• Keep Your GWF Number Handy : Always have your GWF number readily available for quick reference.
• Patience is Key : Visa processing times can vary, especially during peak seasons or due to unforeseen circumstances.
• Check Regularly : Regularly check the tracking website and your email for updates.
• Avoid Multiple Queries : Submitting multiple queries can sometimes delay the process. Be patient and wait for updates from the visa office.

Understanding Visa Processing Times

Visa processing times can vary based on the type of visa, the time of year, and individual circumstances. Generally, you can expect a decision:

• Standard Visitor Visas : Within 3 weeks of your appointment.
• Long-Term Visas : Processing times can vary, and it’s best to consult the official UK government website for specific timelines.

Tracking your UK visa application using your GWF number in Pakistan is a straightforward process. By following these steps and tips, you can stay informed about the status of your application and plan accordingly. Remember, the key to a successful visa application is thorough preparation and patience during the waiting period.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

• Canada Visa
• Schengen Visa
• Kuwait Visa
• Germany VISA
• Hong Kong Visa
• SaudiArabia Visa
• Denmark Visa
• Austria Visa
• Croatia VISA
• Switzerland VISA
• United States
• United Kingdom

Find Your Account

• 02074940118
• [email protected]

How to Check your UK Visa Application Status

Anne morris.

• 20 September 2023

IN THIS SECTION

If you are awaiting a decision on an application for a UK visa, tracking the progress of your application can be crucial to planning ahead, especially where you are time-pressured for a decision.

The following guide looks at how UK visa applicants can check the status of their applications, whether you have applied to extend an existing visa or switch to a new category of visa from within the UK, or you are applying for entry clearance or leave to enter the UK from another country.

We also share general guidance on the standard and premium visa processing times.

Checking your UK visa application status – in-country applications

Most applications to extend leave to remain in the UK, including applications to switch to another visa category, as well as applications for settlement and citizenship , are now made through the UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services ( UKVCAS ).

UKVCAS was launched by the UK Home Office to speed up the processing of in-country further leave to remain applications. Applicants are required to attend a single appointment to have their identity confirmed, enrol any biometric information (fingerprints and photograph) that may be required and submit their documentation in support.

However, applicants will not be given a decision at their UKVCAS appointment. The visa application and supporting documents will be sent to UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) to be processed. UKVI is a division of the Home Office responsible for the UK’s visa system, who will allocate to a specific case worker for a decision to be made.

UKVCAS cannot answer queries about the status of an application. You would instead need to contact UKVI.

If you have already submitted a UK visa application and are now waiting to hear the outcome, visit the GOV.UK website to find information and updates from UKVI on visa processing in general.

You cannot currently track your individual visa application online – either through UKVCAS or UKVI – but you can use an online tool to obtain information on which department to contact for your particular application.

You will need to answer a couple of questions about your application when using this tool, such as the case reference number assigned when you submitted the application, and you should be provided contact information for different departments at UKVI.

You can call the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) contact centre by telephone on 0300 790 6268 – select option 2 – Monday to Thursday (excluding bank holidays), 9am to 4:45pm and Friday (excluding bank holidays), 9am to 4:30pm.

If you have any questions about British citizenship applications, you will need to contact the Citizenship and Nationality Enquiries team by email  [email protected],  or by phone: 0300 790 6268 – select option 2 – Monday to Thursday, 9am to 4:45pm and Friday, 9am to 4:30pm.

How to check UK visa application status – out of country applications

When applying for a visa from outside the UK, you will need to attend a visa application centre in the country from which you are applying to provide your biometric information, together with all necessary documents in support of your application.

As with in-country visa applications, you will not receive a decision on your application at your appointment to enrol your biometric information and provide your supporting documentation. You will instead be required to wait for a decision from UKVI.

UKVI website

You can check the status of your out-of-country application using the UKVI website. This ‘General Enquiry’ service incurs a charge of £2.74 per application, which covers the initial email enquiry as well as follow-up emails relating to the same enquiry.

You will need a credit or debit card to use this service, where you will be asked to enter your payment details before sending your email, but you will not be charged until your message has been sent. UKVI will usually reply within 2 days, except on Saturdays, Sundays and UK public holidays.

TLScontact website 

On the TLScontact website, click ‘Provide Documents and Biometrics’ and then ‘Continue’ to be redirected to your account. Choose the option to ‘Track’ which will display the real-time status of your application.

VFS website

On the VFS Global website, choose the location of the visa application centre where you provided your biometrics, then select ‘Track your application’. IF you do not ave the option to track your application, you should try the UKVI website.

By telephone 

You can call UKVI with a question about your application on +44 (0)300 790 6268 – select option 1, or +44 (0)203 875 4669. This service is open Monday to Friday, 24 hours, at a cost of 69p per minute on top of your standard network charges.

Please note, if your message is urgent, you can phone the contact centre instead, although the contact centre staff will not have any involvement in the outcome of your case.

What are the standard processing times for UK visa applications?

The time in which it will take to process your UK visa application will primarily depend on whether you have applied to either come to or remain in the UK. The category of visa that you are applying for may also affect your application wait times.

Generally speaking, the wait times for visa applications made from outside the UK are typically shorter than for in-country applications.

If you are applying to remain in the UK, you should still be allowed to stay in the UK pending any decision from UKVI, so long as you have submitted your application to extend your leave to remain or switch to another category before your existing visa expires.

UKVI publishes standard processing times for applications on its website in accordance with their customer charter.

It is important to remember that the guide times provided are not a guarantee.

Applications made in the UK

Based on the current processing times, for those applying to remain in the UK on a temporary basis, including as workers and students, the standard processing time is 8 weeks. Applications for indefinite leave to remain made from inside the UK will usually be dealt with within 6 months.

Applications made outside the UK

For those applying for a visa from outside the UK, the target is for 90% of non-settlement applications to be processed within 3 weeks, 98% within 6 weeks and 100% within 12 weeks of the application date, where 1 week is 5 working days.

Currently, student and Skilled Worker applications are taking 3 weeks to process out of country, while family visas are taking 24 weeks.

For those applying for settlement from outside the UK, it is estimated that 98.5% of settlement applications will be dealt with within 12 weeks of the application date, and 100% within 24 weeks of the application date, where again 1 week is 5 working days.

How does premium processing work?

If you are looking to obtain a faster decision on your visa application, in many cases it is possible to pay for premium processing, or what’s known as a priority service, when you submit your application. You will need to check your application type for available priority services. If you are applying outside the UK, you will also need to check with the visa application centre where you intend to make your application.

There may be two premium processing options available to you: the ‘5 working day priority service’ and the ‘next working day super priority service’. The timescales for priority services will run from when you complete your appointment to provide your biometric information and supporting evidence, although these times do not include the time taken to issue you with your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP). You will usually receive your BRP within 7 working days after a decision has been made on your application.

For super priority service appointments attended on a Saturday or Sunday, the appointment will be deemed as attended on the next working day. Where there is a bank holiday the next working day will be classed as a Tuesday, but in most cases this will be a Monday. This means, for example, a Saturday appointment will usually be deemed as attended on the Monday after the weekend, and the decision on your visa application completed and dispatched by the end of the next working day.

What can delay a UK visa application?

If your visa application is straightforward, for example, where a decision can be made on it without you being asked for more information, it will usually be decided within the standard processing times or, where you have paid for a faster decision, the premium processing times.

If, however, your application is more complex, the usual times may not necessarily apply and you may need to wait longer for a decision. If your application is delayed, you will be informed by letter as to what will happen next within the relevant timescales for your visa.

If you applied for a priority or super priority visa and it is not possible to meet the applicable timescale, your application will still be put at the front of the queue at every stage of the decision-making process. UKVI will also still aim to process your application within standard global timescales. In these circumstances, you may be able to request a refund of the additional fee paid for premium processing.

Your application could be delayed for a number of reasons. This could be due to backlogs in processing applications by UKVI, both generally and, more recently, because of the coronavirus pandemic. This could also be because your supporting documents need to be verified and/or you are required to attend an interview, or because of your personal circumstances, such as any adverse immigration history or criminal convictions.

Your visa application will be assessed both in accordance with the general requirements under the UK immigration rules, as well as the specific eligibility criteria required for your visa category. If there is insufficient evidence in support of your application, or a question mark over whether you qualify for a particular visa or satisfy the general requirements to come to or remain in the UK, further investigations may be warranted.

If you have been asked to provide additional documentation in support of your UK visa application, or have concerns about attending an interview, expert advice should be sought from an immigration specialist to guide you through this process.

Checking your UK visa application status FAQs

How can i check the status of my uk visa application.

There are different ways of checking different types of applications. For example, if you have made a visa extension application from within the UK, there is no online checking service available so you would instead need to call UKVI.

How do I check my VFS application status?

If you have applied overseas for a UK visa and attended an appointment at a visa application centre, you can go to the GOV.UK online tool to track your VFS application status. VFS are the commercial partners used by UKVI to help deliver their overseas visa services. You will be given the option of contacting UKVI by either telephone or email, although email enquiries are more likely to be directed to the caseworker dealing with your application.

How can I check my UK visa status with passport number?

When you first submitted your application for a UK visa, you will have been asked to provide your passport. Once your application has been successfully submitted, you should then have been given a case reference number. You will need to have this number to hand when you phone or email UKVI to check your UK visa status and the progress of your application.

Last updated: 20 September 2023

Founder and Managing Director Anne Morris is a fully qualified solicitor and trusted adviser to large corporates through to SMEs, providing strategic immigration and global mobility advice to support employers with UK operations to meet their workforce needs through corporate immigration.

She is a recognised by Legal 500 and Chambers as a legal expert and delivers Board-level advice on business migration and compliance risk management as well as overseeing the firm’s development of new client propositions and delivery of cost and time efficient processing of applications.

Anne is an active public speaker, immigration commentator , and immigration policy contributor and regularly hosts training sessions for employers and HR professionals

• Anne Morris https://www.davidsonmorris.com/author/anne/ Family Visa UK: Explore Ways to Apply
• Anne Morris https://www.davidsonmorris.com/author/anne/ Ukraine Refugee Aid in UK
• Anne Morris https://www.davidsonmorris.com/author/anne/ Understanding British Values
• Anne Morris https://www.davidsonmorris.com/author/anne/ Family Reunion and Immigration

About DavidsonMorris

As employer solutions lawyers, DavidsonMorris offers a complete and cost-effective capability to meet employers’ needs across UK immigration and employment law, HR and global mobility .

Led by Anne Morris, one of the UK’s preeminent immigration lawyers, and with rankings in The Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners , we’re a multi-disciplinary team helping organisations to meet their people objectives, while reducing legal risk and nurturing workforce relations.

Legal Disclaimer

The matters contained in this article are intended to be for general information purposes only. This article does not constitute legal advice, nor is it a complete or authoritative statement of the law, and should not be treated as such. Whilst every effort is made to ensure that the information is correct at the time of writing, no warranty, express or implied, is given as to its accuracy and no liability is accepted for any error or omission. Before acting on any of the information contained herein, expert legal advice should be sought.

Contact DavidsonMorris

Sign up to our award winning newsletters, find us on:.

Trending Services

DavidsonMorris Ltd t/a DavidsonMorris Solicitors is a company Registered in England & Wales No. 6183275

Regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority No. 542691

Registered Office: Level 30, The Leadenhall Building, 122 Leadenhall Street, London, EC3V 4AB

© Copyright 2024

Website design by Prof Services Limited . 

The United Kingdom is amongst the most frequently visited destinations for travellers in the world. What adds to UK’s allure is its proximity with the Schengen region that opens up seamless tourism opportunities for travellers if they combine their UK travel with a visit to continental Europe, to behold its many brilliant landscapes and landmarks. In order to make your UK visa application process hassle-free and convenient, UK Visas and Immigration and VFS Global offer you an exclusive array of value-added services.

This is in addition to the Premium Lounge facility and the On Demand Mobile Visa services available at the UK visa application centres.

Choose from any of these time-saving services:

Keep Your Passport When Applying

If you need to apply for multiple visas, such as a UK / Schengen combination, or wish to make a short trip while waiting for your UK visa to be processed,

you will find the ‘Keep My Passport When Applying’ service at the UK Visa Application Centre very helpful. After enrolling your biometrics and submitting your visa application at the UK visa application centre, if you have opted for this service, your passport is handed back to you.

This is extremely useful if you want to carry on with another country’s visa application formalities, as this service allows you to keep your passport with you.

You can keep your passport with you until the UK embassy makes a decision regarding your visa, one way or the other.

Once the decision is made, you will be called once again to complete the procedures as required by the embassy.

The visa application centres of UK and Schengen countries are often conveniently located next to each other at the VFS Global centres. This facility enables applicants to finish the visa formalities of multiple countries along with that of UK in a single day.

Super Priority and Priority Visas

Need a visa at short notice? The Super Priority and Priority Visa services are options for those who need to travel urgently.

For Priority Visa applicants, the process takes 3–5 days, while for Super Priority Visa applicants, this speeds up to a single business day. Super Priority Visa Service is available at VFS Global’s UK visa application centres in New Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai. Do note that the eligibility for application for either of these services may vary.

Mon - Sun, 8.30 am - 6pm

UK Visit Visa from Pakistan

The UK Visit Visa is a temporary immigration permit that allows you to enter the United Kingdom for a short period for tourism, family visits, medical treatment, and business meetings.

For more information on the UK Visit Visa, including determining if you meet the requirements, how to apply, and immediate help with your situation, do not hesitate to reach out to us. Call us at 0333 305 9375 or contact us online.

Request a call back from our immigration experts

Page contents, do pakistani citizens need a uk visit visa, eligibility requirements for a uk visit visa for pakistani citizens, types of visit visa in the uk, visit the uk for business purposes, visit the uk to see your family or friends, visit the uk for a short study, visit the uk as an academic, visit for tourism and leisure, visit for medical reasons, visit as a child, visit to get married, required documents for a uk standard visitor visa application from pakistan, how to apply for a uk visit visa from pakistan, processing times for uk visitor visa from pakistan, uk visit visa fee from pakistan, can you extend your visit visa in the uk, how can total law help, frequently asked questions.

If you are a Pakistani citizen, you are required to get a Visit Visa to enter the UK for short stays.

The UK Visit Visa, also called the Standard Visitor Visa, allows you to stay in the UK temporarily to partake in different activities. These activities include tourism, short-term study, business meetings or conferences, family and friends visits, medical appointments, and other permitted activities.

If you hold a Standard Visitor Visa or a Marriage Visitor Visa, it will also serve as a Transit Visa if you need to change flights or pass through the UK border control on your way to another country.

In fact, you’ll be required to get a Standard Visitor Visa instead of a Transit Visa to stay more than 48 hours in the UK while transiting or if you need to frequently pass through the UK for a period of over six months.

To be able to apply for the UK Visit Visa, you must meet certain requirements. These include:

• You must demonstrate that you will leave the UK at the end of your visit.
• You must prove that you are able to support yourself and any dependent accompanying you throughout your stay. If you have funding from someone else, you must show that they intend to support you by submitting a letter of sponsorship.
• You must show that you are able to pay for your return trip or you have funding from someone else to do so.
• You must prove that you will not live in the UK for extended periods through frequent or successive visits and will not make the UK your main home.

In addition to these requirements, you’ll also need to meet additional criteria if you are entering the UK for the following reasons:

• To study, do a placement, or take an exam
• As an academic professional, a senior doctor, or a dentist.
• For a medical appointment or treatment.

The UK Visit Visa is divided into different categories depending on the nature of your trip. If you intend to visit the UK for a short while, it’s essential to understand the different visit visas and their specific requirements to enable you to apply for the correct visa .

The different visit visas include:

• Business Visit Visa
• Family Visit Visa
• Academic Visit Visa
• Tourist Visa
• Private Medical Treatment Visit Visa
• Child Visit Visa
• Marriage Visitor Visa

The Business Visit Visa is applicable if you intend to visit the UK for short-term unpaid business activities that include any of the following:

• Attending interviews, meetings, conferences, and seminars
• Negotiating and signing deals and contracts
• Getting work-related training not available in your home country.
• Conducting site visits and inspections
• Attending trade fairs to promote your business. However, you are not allowed to sell.
• Giving a one-off or short series of talks as long as you’re not paid
• Overseeing the delivery of goods and services provided by a UK-based company to your organisation overseas.
• Deliver training or share knowledge on internal projects with UK employees of your company.
• Install, dismantle, repair, service or advise on equipment, computer software and hardware on behalf of your overseas company.
• Participate in any unpaid activity related to your job in your home country.

You can apply for a Standard Visitor Visa to enter the UK for a holiday to visit your friends or family members.

To apply for this visa, you must prove that you have a genuine relationship with the UK resident you intend to visit. These could be with documents such as birth or marriage certificates, details of your correspondence, or pictures of you together.

On the other hand, the UK family member or friend must be a citizen, have permanent residence , have legal permits to be in the UK, or have protection status.

Conducting business deals in the UK as a Pakistani businessman? Reach out to our legal experts for assistance. Contact Us

The UK Study Visit Visa will allow you to partake in any academic-related activity not exceeding 6 months. You can:

• Study at an accredited institution, which must not be an academy or state-funded school.
• Do a short piece of research that’s relevant to your course overseas
• Do an ‘elective’ or an optional additional placement if you’re studying medicine, veterinary medicine and science, nursing, midwifery or dentistry.
• Do an unpaid clinical attachment if you’re a graduate of a medical, dental or nursing school.
• Sit an entrance exam, retake an exam or course module, or do a PhD oral exam.
• Take the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) test or the Professional and Linguistic Assessment Board (PLAB) test.

If you intend to study at an accredited institution, you must already be enrolled at the institution before you can apply for the visa.

If you’re taking an elective course, you must meet the following requirements:

• Be at least 16 years old
• Be already enrolled on a course overseas equivalent to a UK degree.
• Be required to take an elective at a UK higher education institution as part of your course.
• Provide written confirmation from the UK institution that you will not be treating patients or being paid for the elective.

You must not treat patients if you’re visiting to participate in an unpaid clinical attachment or dental observer post. You must also provide written confirmation of your attachment from the UK institution and that you’ve not done such a program in the UK before.

Furthermore, if you’re to take the OSCE or PLAB test, you must provide the following documents:

• A letter from the Nursing and Midwifery Council confirming your OSCE test registration.
• A letter from the General Medical Council confirming your PLAB test registration.

Your total stay in the UK can be up to 18 months. First, you will be allowed to extend your visa for an additional 6 months if you do not pass the PLAB test. Then, if you pass, you can apply to stay in the UK for an unpaid clinical attachment or dental observer post.

This visa category applies to academic professionals, senior doctors or dentists, and researchers who intend to take up unpaid activities in their field.

If you are a lecturer or professor at an academic institution, you can do any of the following:

• Carry out your own research during a sabbatical
• Partake in formal exchange arrangements with your UK counterparts.

As a senior doctor or dentist, you can:

• Take part in research in your field
• Teach temporarily
• Undertake temporal clinical practice.

If your research involves certain subjects at a postgraduate level or above, you may need an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate before you begin your research.

As a visiting academic, you can either apply for a visa lasting 12 months or for one lasting 6 months and extend your stay for an additional 6 months while in the UK. However, for longer stays, you must meet further requirements and submit additional documents.

You can enter the UK from Pakistan for sightseeing or leisure purposes. If you are touring in a group, each tour member must apply for the Standard Visitor Visa.

When applying, you need to submit proof of your reason for travelling with documents such as your travel itinerary, hotel reservations, etc.

You can visit the UK to get treatment at a private hospital or medical facility if you meet the following requirements:

• You can prove that you have a medical condition that needs private consultation or treatment in the UK.
• You have made arrangements for the medical consultations or treatment
• You have sufficient funds to pay for your treatment
• You are not a danger to public health if you have an infectious disease, such as leprosy.
• You will leave the UK once your treatment has ended.

The medical visit visa will also allow you to have treatment at an NHS hospital if you meet the following requirements:

• Your treatment is paid for by your own government under a reciprocal healthcare arrangement.
• You have an authorisation form issued by your government agreeing to pay for your treatment.

If you’re entering the UK to donate your organs, the recipient must be a genetically related family member or a friend you’re in a close personal relationship with.

You must provide a letter from the medical team confirming:

• You are a donor match or being tested to see if you’re a match.
• The day and place where the tests and transplants will occur.
• The recipient’s relationship with you.

The recipient must be a legal resident of the UK. If not, you must provide their name, nationality and date of birth in your application. If they are outside the UK, and depending on their nationality, they may need to apply for the Standard Visitor Visa.

Whether you're looking to study or visit as a tourist from Pakistan, we can assist you in your UK journey. Contact Us

The Child Visitor Visa allows children below 18 to enter the UK for holidays, tourism, medical treatment, excursions, or to visit friends and family. The requirements for this visa vary depending on if the child is travelling with or without an adult.

Children travelling alone must provide written consent from their parent or guardian authorising them to travel to the UK. They’ll also need to provide proof that they have suitable accommodation throughout their stay, including:

• The name and date of birth of their host
• The address where they will live
• The details of their relationship with the host
• A written consent from the host stating that the child will live with them while in the UK.

If the host is not a close relative and the child is under 16, the child’s parent or guardian must inform the relevant local authority about the visit.

A written consent is also needed if the child is travelling with an adult. However, they must identify the adult in their visa application, who must also apply for a visa.

The Marriage Visitor Visa allows you to enter the UK to get married or register a civil partnership. You can also apply for this Visa to give notice of your marriage or civil partnership in the UK.

It’s important to note that you can’t remain in the UK after your wedding and must leave within 6 months. However, if you intend to stay in the UK after your marriage, you should apply for a Fiance Visa, which will allow you to switch to a Partner Visa .

When applying for the Standard Visitor Visa, there are certain documents you must submit to demonstrate your eligibility and reason for your trip. These documents differ depending on the specific visit visa you’re applying for.

Here are the documents you’ll need:

• The online visa application form
• A passport valid throughout your stay
• Two passport-size photographs
• A cover letter explaining the purpose of your trip
• A detailed travel itinerary
• Proof of sufficient funds to support yourself throughout your stay
• A letter of sponsorship, if applicable
• Round-trip flight tickets
• Proof of accommodation
• Details of any criminal, civil or immigration offences you may have committed

To apply for the Standard Visitor Visa, you must begin the process online. The earliest you can apply is 3 months before your intended travel date.

First, visit the UK government website and create an account. Afterwards, fill out the visa application form with details such as the dates you plan to travel, where you’ll be staying, and how much you think your trip will cost.

After completing the form, you should pay the visa application fee and upload any supporting documents required. If you’re travelling with family members, each person must complete an online application and pay the visa fees.

As part of the online application, you must book an appointment at a UK visa application centre in Pakistan. You should visit the VAC on the scheduled day to provide your biometrics, answer questions regarding your trip, and submit your documents.

The consular officer will take some time to go through your application. If successful, you will be notified via email.

Planning your dream wedding in the UK? Let us help make your vision a reality. Contact us today. Contact Us

The average processing time for the UK Visitor Visa is 3 weeks. However, it can take longer if the visa centre has a volume of applications.

Here’s a breakdown of the cost of the UK Visitor Visa.

The UK Visit Visa is typically valid for 6 months. Thus, if your permission to stay was granted for 3 months, you may be able to extend it for another 3 months, making it 6 months

You may be able to extend it beyond 6 months under the following situations:

• You need to continue medical treatment as advised by a medical professional
• You are on an academic visa and still meet the eligibility requirements.
• You need to retake the PLAB test or do a clinical attachment.

You must apply to extend your stay before your visa expires and pay an extension fee of £1,000.

Need assistance with your Visa extension in the UK? Get in touch with our expert team for guidance and support. Contact Us

If you’re applying for a UK visit visa, it’s essential to pick the right category depending on your purpose of travel. While the application process seems straightforward, many applications get rejected due to submitting inaccurate information, among other reasons.

However, our immigration lawyers at Total Law can help you prepare your application, including guiding you to meet the visa requirements and ensuring you submit all the required documents.

We understand UK immigration laws, and we have several years of experience helping applicants with visa applications. We will be with you throughout to ensure your application is successful.

To speak to one of our immigration lawyers, call us at 0333 305 9375 or contact us online.

Advice Package

Comprehensive immigration advice tailored to your circumstances and goals.

Application Package

Designed to make your visa application as smooth and stress-free as possible.

Fast Track Package

Premium application service that ensures your visa application is submitted to meet your deadline.

Appeal Package

Ensure you have the greatest chance of a successful appeal. We will represent you in any case.

The Advice Package

During this untimed Advice Session with our professional immigration lawyers in London, you will receive our comprehensive advice, completely tailored to your needs and your situation.

The Application Package

With our Application Package, your dedicated immigration lawyer will advise you on your application process and eligibility. Your caseworker will then complete and submit your forms to the Home Office on your behalf.

The Fast Track Package

Our Fast-Track Application Package is a premium service for those who need to submit their application in time with their deadlines. Your case will become a top priority for our lawyers and you will benefit from our highest-quality services.

The Appeal Package

By choosing our Appeal Package, you can rely on our lawyers’ legal knowledge and experience to ensure you have the highest chance of a successful appeal. We will also fully represent you in any hearings/tribunals.

We offer immigration advice sessions as face to face appointments at all of our UK offices, or via the phone. Learn more

Related pages for your continued reading.

Uk work visa, uk family visa, uk residency, uk visit visa requirements, family visitor visa uk, is there a priority service for visit visa applications.

Yes. If you need your visa decision quickly, you can pay an additional fee for the priority or super-priority service.

What are the common reasons for UK visitor visa refusals in Pakistan?

There are several reasons why a UK visitor visa might be refused. Here are some common ones:

• Insufficient evidence of the purpose and genuineness of your visit.
• Insufficient evidence of ties to your home country or proof that you will return home after your visit.
• Insufficient funds to support your trip.
• Incomplete or incorrect documentation.
• Having a previous criminal background.
• A history of previous visa refusals.

My visit visa application was refused. What can I do?

There are some options you may want to explore, depending on the reason for refusal. If you were rejected because you didn’t meet the requirements, consider reapplying for the visa when your circumstances change.

However, if you are certain you met the visa requirements, you can appeal on human rights grounds or apply for a judicial review.

Disclaimer: Total Law operates under different capacities in the various countries we cover, including as immigration consultants or lawyers; We connect clients with our network of immigration lawyers if we are not registered as a law firm in a particular country

Blog Home Office in the media

https://homeofficemedia.blog.gov.uk/2024/04/17/media-factsheet-evisas/

Media factsheet: eVisas  

eVisas are a key part of delivering a border and immigration system which will be ‘digital by default’ by 2025. This process is already underway, and millions of people in the UK who applied for their visa through the EU Settlement Scheme or used the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app already have an eVisa (digital proof of their immigration status). These changes bring significant benefits to customers, deliver excellent value, and increase the UK immigration system’s security and efficiency.     

An eVisa is an online record of a customer’s immigration permission in the UK, and any conditions which apply. It can be viewed by logging into the online ‘View and prove your immigration status’ service using their UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account. It is usually linked to a customer’s passport to facilitate straightforward international travel.  

Using a phased approach to implementing digital services, the intention is that by 2025 most customers will have a secure and seamless digital journey when they interact with the UK’s immigration system.    

Over time this will see physical and paper-based products and services replaced with accessible, straightforward online and digital services (such as the ‘view and prove’ service) and products such as the eVisa.    

The Home Office has launched a phased rollout of eVisas to biometric residence permit (BRP). Initially this is to BRP holders by email invitation only, being sent in phases. The service will open to all BRP holders from summer 2024. Customers with BRPs do not need to do anything unless they receive an email, and don’t need to contact the Home Office if they do not receive an email immediately because the service will open to all in the summer.   

The latest information on eVisas is available at www.gov.uk/evisa .  Holders of other physical immigration documents, including (for those who hold indefinite leave to enter or indefinite leave to remain) passports containing vignette visa stickers or ink stamps, and biometric residence cards (BRCs), can also find information there on how to create a UKVI account to access their eVisa. It is free, and straightforward for customers who hold physical and paper documents to create a UKVI account to access their eVisa. Creating a UKVI account will not change, impact or remove customers’ current immigration status or their rights in the UK.    

Customers who already have an eVisa, including anyone granted status through the EU Settlement Scheme, do not need to do anything. This is also the case if a customer holds both a physical document, such as a BRP, and an eVisa. Customers who are not sure if they already have a UKVI account and eVisa can either check here on GOV.UK or refer to their original grant email or letter.   

Further information and future updates, including details of the support available, is available at www.gov.uk/evisa . This will be updated throughout 2024.  

An eVisa partner pack comprising further information and factsheets for stakeholders is also available here to download.     

What is an eVisa?  

An eVisa is an electronic record of a person’s immigration status.    

It removes the need for physical documents such as the biometric residence permit (BRP), ink stamps or vignette visa stickers in passports, or the biometric residence card (BRC).     

It explains the immigration status of the holder, including the conditions of the immigration permission such as any limitations on their right to work.   

Customers can view their eVisa by logging into the view and prove service using their UKVI account and share relevant information about their status securely with third parties, such as employers or private service providers such as letting agencies.  

What are the benefits of eVisas?  

eVisas bring significant benefits, deliver excellent value and increase the UK immigration system’s security and efficiency.  

They will also bring significant benefits to customers who hold an immigration status in the UK:  

• An eVisa cannot be lost, stolen or damaged.  
• Customers can prove their rights instantly, accurately and securely to anyone who requests it while sharing only necessary information.  
• With an eVisa, fewer customers will need to leave their passport with the Home Office while awaiting a decision. eVisas also mean that customers do not need to collect documents like BRPs or wait for these documents to be sent to them.  
• With a UKVI account, customers can easily keep the Home Office updated with any changes in their details or documentation. For example, customers can tell us about changes to their name and nationality, travel document (such as passport), email, telephone and postal address contact details.  
• Customers can access many UK government services and benefits without needing to present proof of immigration status. This is because selected government departments and authorities including the Department for Work and Pensions and the National Health Service in England and Wales, can securely access immigration status information automatically through system to system checks. Immigration data is held securely, and government will never sell customer data. Further information on how the Home Office handles customer data can be found here on GOV.UK .  

It is also simpler for those who need to check someone’s UK immigration status (such as employers and landlords), to use online services, rather than having to maintain awareness of, and look through, different types of physical immigration documents, some of which may be in bad condition, or even fraudulent. As more and more customers create UKVI accounts, checkers can increasingly conduct one quick and simple check using a secure online service on GOV.UK  

When are eVisas launching?   

Although millions of customers already have and use eVisas, including everyone granted status under the EU Settlement Scheme, throughout 2024 customers who currently use physical immigration documents to prove their status and rights in the UK, will be asked to take action to create a UKVI account to access their eVisa.   

This process launched in April 2024, with BRP holders emailed directly with instructions on how to create UKVI account to access their eVisa. These email invitations are being sent in phases, before the service is made available to all BRP holders in the summer. BRP holders who have not yet received an email should not worry as the process will soon be opened to all without an invitation, and there is no need to contact the Home Office in the meantime.  

As we rollout the online process for BRP holders to create a UKVI account to access their eVisa we will send emails to BRP holders when they are able to take action. BRP holders who have not yet received email instructions but have been made aware of the process by friends, family or online forums may find the process does not yet work for them. There is no need to contact the Home Office in this case as the online process will be open for all BRP holders in summer 2024 at www.gov.uk/evisa .  

Holders of other physical immigration documents, such as a passport containing ink stamps or vignette visa stickers, or BRCs can take steps to acquire an eVisa now, and further instructions are available at www.gov.uk/evisa .   

Will this impact British citizens?  

British passport holders and Irish citizens, including those who previously held an immigration status but have since acquired British citizenship, do not need to do anything. British citizens who do not have a British passport because they are dual nationals (excluding Irish passport holders) may need to take action in future regarding how they prove their right of abode. Updates on this will be provided in due course.    

Will the Home Office be communicating about eVisas?   

A comprehensive range of communications activity on the implementation of eVisas is underway and will be delivered throughout 2024.   

This includes a range of direct emails which will be sent, in phases, to BRP holders with instructions on how to create a UKVI account to access their eVisa. We are also proactively engaging with a wide range of targeted stakeholders to engage those impacted by the move to eVisas, and have developed a range of partner pack content (see above) to equip them to communicate widely about eVisa changes.   

We will also be using official communication channels, including videos and regularly updated content on gov.uk to communicate these changes.   

What is a UKVI account? How is it different to an eVisa?    

A UKVI account is a secure way for customers to log into online services such as view and prove, whereas an eVisa is an electronic record of a person’s immigration status.   

Using their UKVI account, customers can view their eVisa and share the relevant information via the online view and prove service, by generating a share code, which provides time-limited access to the relevant data. A person can have a UKVI account but no eVisa, for example, where the application for permission to stay in the UK was refused or expired.   

A customer can also update personal details such as address and contact details in their UKVI account. This service is free, unlike updating physical immigration documents for which customers may be charged. This service is available at: www.update-your-UK-Visas-and-immigration-account-details .  

The UKVI account is currently created automatically for everyone who uses the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check mobile App’ to make an immigration application.    

Customers who already hold a physical document will need to create a UKVI account to access their eVisa and to be able to use the full range of online services.   

As physical documents that evidence immigration status expire, the view and prove service, accessed via the UKVI account, will be the way people can view and prove their immigration status and associated rights in the UK.  

Can you still use a physical document if it expires, and you don’t get an eVisa?    

The expiry of a physical document, for example, a BRP card, does not affect a customer’s immigration status. However, how they prove their status will change from 2025. Customers will have to use our online services to prove their rights in the UK and to do so they will need to create a UKVI account.   

What do customers need to do if they hold a BRP that expires at the end of 2024?  

Customers who have a BRP and are living in the UK will need to create a UKVI account to access their eVisa unless their immigration leave expires before 31 December 2024. From April 2024, BRP holders are being emailed directly with instructions on how to do this. These email invitations are being sent in phases, before the service is made available to all BRP holders in the summer. BRP holders who have not yet received an email should not worry as the process will soon be opened to all without an invitation, and there is no need to contact the Home Office in the meantime. BRP holders should visit www.gov.uk/evisa for the latest information.  

For now, customers should continue to use their BRP as they have previously and visit www.gov.uk/evisa for updates. This includes taking their BRP with them when they travel internationally.     

The expiry of their BRP card does not affect their immigration status. However, how they prove their status will change from 2025.   

Customers who already have an eVisa (a digital immigration status) as well as a BRP, will not need to create a UKVI account, as they already have one. Customers can find out if they already have a UKVI account by checking the email or letter that they were given when they were granted immigration status in the UK or go to www.gov.uk/evisa for further information.   

Should customers whose BRP expires on 31 Dec 2024 before their immigration leave is due to expire, apply now to renew their BRP?    

No, customers should not apply to renew their BRP, as all BRPs issued to customers who hold immigration leave beyond 2024, including renewals, are due to expire on 31 Dec 2024 and will be replaced by the eVisa.    

What should customers do if they’ve lost their BRP?   

If a customer has lost their valid BRP then they should apply for a replacement in the usual way. As with all BRPs, if their leave extends beyond the end of 2024, their replacement BRP will expire on 31 December 2024, and they will need to create a UKVI account to access their eVisa to prove their rights.    

Once you have received your replacement then you should visit www.gov.uk/evisa for details of how to create a UKVI account and access your eVisa.   

If a customer has a BRP but it expires before the end of 2024 what do, they need to do?    

If a customer’s BRP expires before 31 Dec 2024 then their immigration leave may also expire at that point. If it does, and if they plan to remain in the UK then they should make a visa renewal application in the usual way.    

Will a BRP holder be able to use an expired BRP to generate a share code after it has expired but while they still have immigration leave?      

How a customer proves their status will change from 2025 and they should take action to create a UKVI account to access their eVisa before their BRP expires.   

Information on what steps a BRP holder will need to take to create a UKVI account and access their eVisa is available at www.gov.uk/evisa .    

We would encourage all BRP holders to create an account and access their eVisa as soon as it is possible for them to do so.  Where individuals have not created an account before their BRP expires at the end of 2024, we will put in place mechanisms to ensure they are still able to prove their rights while they create an account. Holders of expired BRPs will still be able to use these to create an account.  

BRP holders should take steps to create a UKVI account and access their eVisa before it expires to prevent any unnecessary delays in proving their rights.   

What do legacy paper document holders need to do to evidence their rights in the UK – and what do they need to do to get an eVisa?    

Customers who have indefinite leave to enter or indefinite leave to remain and prove their rights using a passport containing an ink stamp or vignette visa sticker or use another type of legacy paper document should make a ‘No Time Limit’ application.  

As part of the application process customers may need to travel to a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services Centre (known as a UKVCAS) to provide a photograph, and in some cases provide fingerprints.   

Once an application has been processed successful No Time Limit applicants will be issued with a biometric residence permit (BRP), which can then be used to prove the customer's rights and to create a UKVI account.  

By the end of 2024 No Time Limit applicants will receive an eVisa, rather than a BRP. Further updates on this change will be available in due course.

It is free to make a No Time Limit application, and information on how to do so is available at http://www.gov.uk/biometric-residence-permits/replace-visa-brp  

Why do holders of legacy documents such as passports containing ink stamps or vignette visa stickers need to get an eVisa?    

The border and immigration system is becoming ‘digital by default’, a change that will enhance the customer experience, deliver excellent value, and increase the immigration system’s security and efficiency. This move also reflects a broader societal move towards a digital approach.    

The phasing out of legacy documents, such as passports containing ink stamps or a vignette visa sticker, is a key part of this process, but will bring a range of benefits to customers. This includes the fact that an eVisa cannot be lost or damaged, like a vignette, and there is no need for a potentially costly replacement.   

Customers who replace their legacy document with an eVisa will benefit from the automated access that public bodies, including the Department for Work and Pensions and the National Health Service in England and Wales will securely have to their immigration status, which will streamline access to key services.    

Creating a UKVI account to access an eVisa will also help to prevent unnecessary delays when travelling internationally (if travelling on the document linked to the UKVI account).    

If legacy document holders do not acquire an eVisa by 2025, then they may experience challenges and delays in proving their rights and when travelling internationally.    

What do eVisas mean for international travel?   

Customers should continue to carry their in-date physical immigration documents with them when they travel internationally. Customers who already have an eVisa should tell the Home Office about any travel document on which they intend to travel using the Update your UK Visas and Immigration account details’ service at www.gov.uk/update-uk-visas-immigration-account-details .‘ if this is not already linked to their account.   

During 2024, the Home Office is taking steps to allow carriers, including transport operators such as airlines, ferry, and international train operators, to securely and automatically access the immigration status of passengers travelling on their services when they present their travel document which is linked to their UKVI account.   

This will automate the existing routine checks completed whenever a passenger presents their travel document when travelling internationally. This will provide a more convenient customer journey, and enhanced border security.   

While the UK government is delivering a digital border and immigration system including plans to trial contactless entry using facial recognition only, there are no current plans to replace physical passports with digital equivalents.  

Will all international carriers have automatic access to immigration details? Or will it just be airlines?    

From later this year, carriers operating across air, rail & sea will be able to securely access passenger immigration information. Further updates will be provided in due course.  

Is there help and support for vulnerable groups?   

We are developing our digital products and services for use by all, including vulnerable users.     

Customers can contact the UK Visas and Immigration Contact Centre, which provides telephone and email support to those using the online immigration status services.    

This includes supporting users through the online journey by:    

• helping them to access or recover their account.  
• helping them to update their personal details.   
• sharing status on behalf of individuals if they are unable to do so themselves.

The UK Visas and Immigration Contact Centre will also be able to assist users who are experiencing technical issues with their online immigration status, and where necessary, enable individuals’ status to be verified through alternative means.  

Individuals can nominate a ‘helper’ and give them limited access to their account, so that they can assist with creating a UKVI account, completing details to access an eVisa, and with any immigration application. Where a person is unable to manage their own affairs due to, for example, age or disability, a ‘proxy’, who is authorised, can create and manage the account on behalf of the person.  

Our Assisted Digital service is also available to provide individual support by phone and email to individuals who require assistance with IT-related aspects of creating a UKVI account.    

Additionally, we work collaboratively with a range of third-party stakeholders on the move to eVisas. Many of these organisations offer support to individuals requiring assistance in creating a UKVI account and accessing their eVisa.    

We are exploring options to provide additional eVisa support and will provide further updates in due course.   

What support is there for those who are digitally excluded?   

Assisted Digital is a free service provided by UKVI to support customers in the UK who are digitally excluded to create a UKVI account and access their eVisa. Customers are classified as being digitally excluded if they have access needs or if they have low or no digital skills.     

Access needs can include any disability that requires support to use online services, a lack of device or a lack of internet access.   

Will children be impacted by the move to eVisas?   

In the case of children, the expectation is that their parent or guardian will have access to their UKVI account and use the online services on their behalf, as they would have looked after and used a BRP/C on the child’s behalf. They can subsequently transfer ownership of the account and access to the online services when the child reaches majority.   

Parents and guardians can create a UKVI account for their children at the same time they create an account for themselves.   

Sharing and comments

Share this page, related content and links, about this blog.

Home Office in the media is the Home Office's blog on the latest topical home affairs issues. It features a review of leading media stories, responses to breaking news, rebuttal to inaccurate reports, and ministerial comment.

Find out more about the blog.

Sign up and manage updates

• Twitter @UKHomeOffice

Recent Posts

• Latest statement in response to small boat crossings 26 April 2024
• Media factsheet: eVisas   17 April 2024
• Windrush Schemes Factsheet – February 2024 11 April 2024

Other useful websites

• Home Office
• Media enquiries - Home Office
• Border Force
• HM Passport Office
• Disclosure and Barring Service
• General Register Office

Comments and moderation

Embassies and Visas!

• Australian Visa
• Bahrain Visa
• Malaysia Visa
• Sri Lanka Visa
• Taiwan Visa
• Australian Visa Application Center
• Austria Visa Application Center
• Belarus Visa Application Center
• Belgium Visa Application Center
• Brazil Visa Application Center
• Bulgaria Visa Application Center
• Canadian Visa Application Centre
• Denmark Visa Application Center
• Finland Visa Application Center
• France Visa Application Center
• Germany Visa Application Center
• Greece Visa Application Center
• Hungary Visa Application Center
• Iceland Visa Application Center
• Italy Visa Application Center
• Japan Visa Application Centre
• Malaysia Visa Application Center
• Norway Visa Application Center
• Poland Visa Application Center
• Portugal Visa Application Center
• Switzerland Visa Application Center
• Singapore Visa Application Center
• Russia Visa Application Center
• Greece Visa Application Centre
• Switzerland Visa Application Centre
• Visa On Arrival
• Australia Immigration
• Dubai Immigration
• Japan Immigration
• Malaysian Immigration (Pejabat Imigresen)
• Mexican Immigration
• New Zealand Immigration
• Singapore Immigration
• USA Immigration
• Passport Office

VFS Global: UK Visa Application Center in Islamabad, Pakistan Phone number, Email, Hours, Address, How to apply Visa? 6

Table of Contents

VFS Global: UK Visa Application Center in Islamabad, Pakistan Phone number, Location, Consular Assistance Number, Opening hours, Email, Visa and Consular Services

Apply uk visa from islamabad, pakistan.

Address: Park Road, Chattha Bakhtawar Chak Shahzad, Islamabad, Islamabad, Pakistan

Phone: 0900-07860

UK Visa Application Centre Hours Details

• Business hours: Monday to Friday – 09:00 to 17:00 [ Ramadan Timings: 09:00 – 15:00 ]
• Passport Collection: Monday to Friday – 09:00 to 16:00 [ Ramadan Timings: 09:00 – 13:00 ]
• Application submission: Monday to Friday – 09:00 to 13:00 [ Ramadan Timings: 10:00 – 14:00 ]

UK Visa Application Centre in Pakistan Official Website: https://visa.vfsglobal.com/pak/en/aut/attend-centre/islamabad

UK Government Official Website : https://www.gov.uk/

UK Immigration & Citizenship Website: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/foreign-

Map: View Google direction here.

How to book an appointment with UK Visa Application Centre in Islamabad, Pakistan?

• Visit https://visa.vfsglobal.com/pak/en/aut/book-an-appointment
• Login with your registered account (Email and password)
• Book the appointment.

How to Check / Track Status of UK Visa Application?

UK Immigration Centre will email once your visa is ready. If you still want to get in touch, you should check for SMS service in the centre while you apply.

For more details visit https://visa.vfsglobal.com/pak/en/aut/track-application

How to apply and obtain UK Visa: Procedures, Documents required?

View types of UK visa, how to apply for the UK visa, procedure for applying, fees etc. through the above link.

List of Holidays following in UK Visa Application Centre (TLS Contact)

Uk embassy | consulate |consulate-general worldwide.

Find Embassy of UK, Consulate of UK, Consulate-General of UK in other countries address, phone number, Email, Passport related enquiries and more through the below link.

• UK Embassy Worldwide
• UK Consulate Worldwide
• UK High Commission Worldwide

List of UK Visa Application Center

View the UK Visa Application Center office in your country address, phone, working hours, email through the above link.

Immigration Office UK

View UK Immigration office address, phone, email, website, services from the above link.

Is there any problem / complaint with reaching the UK Visa Application Center in Islamabad, Pakistan Address or Phone number? Please report any issues using the below comment form.

Leave a comment Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

6 thoughts on “ VFS Global: UK Visa Application Center in Islamabad, Pakistan Phone number, Email, Hours, Address, How to apply Visa? ”

I want to know about email address of UK visa Application center Islamabad and also its land line telephone number.

ISLAMABAD NUMBERS ARE NOT GIVEN. PL CONTACT ON UK NUMBERS PROVIDED IN THIS PAGE , ABOVE

Dear sir I have not received the passport yet. The decision was made on 28th February and still I didn’t get my passport and I paid Rs.2943 to get the passport at my home address. Invoice number: 2223GBRISB126169 TRN: 1000256700003 GWF number: GWF068975828

Did you manage to get your passports? Did you get in touch with someone? Any details that you can share? I am in the same position. Decision has been made and passport is not delivered, I have also paid for the courier service.

I am trying to reschedule an appointment but it is saying, maximum number of reschdules reached. Can you advise me what I should do as I am not in the country on the day the appointment is scheduled.

My email address is [email protected]

Kind regards

I have booked an appointment on 25 September 2023, but it is too late because my course start date is 18 September and deadline is 8 October 2023. I want to get an early appointment and there is no option available for rescheduling or canceling the previous appointment. what should i do?

Cookies on GOV.UK

We use some essential cookies to make this website work.

We’d like to set additional cookies to understand how you use GOV.UK, remember your settings and improve government services.

We also use cookies set by other sites to help us deliver content from their services.

You have accepted additional cookies. You can change your cookie settings at any time.

You have rejected additional cookies. You can change your cookie settings at any time.

• Entering and staying in the UK
• Visas and entry clearance

eVisa rollout begins with immigration documents replaced by 2025

Millions are being invited to switch from physical immigration documents to an eVisa – a key step in creating a modernised and digital border.

Photo: Getty Images

The next stage in the government’s plan to modernise the border and introduce a digital immigration system is under way, as the Home Office moves closer to the implementation of eVisas for nearly all visa holders living in the UK by 2025.

From today (17 April 2024), the Home Office will begin to send emails to all those with physical immigration documents, called biometric residence permits (BRPs), inviting them to create a UK Visas and Immigration ( UKVI ) account to access their eVisa, a digital proof of their immigration status.

Invitations will be issued in phases before the process opens to all BRP holders in summer 2024.

eVisas are central to making the UK safer by reducing the risk of fraud, loss and abuse of physical documents, strengthening border security, and providing a more secure way to prove immigration status. This will pave the way for increased automation to deliver the government’s vision for a contactless border.

It is free and straightforward for customers who hold physical and paper documents to create a UKVI account to access their eVisa. Creating a UKVI account will not change, impact or remove customers’ current immigration status or their rights in the UK.

Minister for Legal Migration and the Border, Tom Pursglove MP, said:  

We’ve already taken really significant steps to digitally transform the border and immigration system, and this wider rollout of eVisas is a key part of that process.  Replacing physical immigration documents with eVisas will ensure firm control over who comes here to live, work or study, strengthening border security and preventing abuse of the immigration system, while delivering cost savings for UK taxpayers.

eVisas bring substantial benefits to the UK public and to visa customers. They are secure, and, unlike a physical document, cannot be lost, stolen or tampered with. They can be accessed anywhere and in real time, putting customers in control of their own data and allowing them to swiftly update the Home Office with new contact or passport details.

An eVisa is securely linked with the holder’s unique biometric information in the same way as a BRP or BRC , to protect against identity fraud.

People checking immigration status will be able to conduct one quick and simple check using a secure online service on GOV.UK. Selected public bodies are already able to access immigration status to determine eligibility for public services automatically through system to system checks.

eVisas are tried and tested, with millions of customers already using them across routes including the EU Settlement Scheme ( EUSS ). Most physical documents, such as biometric residence permits or cards (BRPs or BRCs), are being gradually phased out, with most BRPs expiring at the end of 2024.

This move to eVisas is in line with other countries which have replaced, or are planning to replace, their physical immigration documents with digital forms of immigration status.

Customers who already have an eVisa do not need to do anything as we make this change, but should continue to update their UKVI account with any changes to personal information, such as a new passport or contact details. Customers should continue to carry their in-date physical immigration documents with them when they travel internationally, until they expire.

Physical immigration documents will be gradually phased out by 2025, as we transition to a fully digital border and immigration system for new and existing customers. This will deliver enhanced security and cost savings for the UK public and greater convenience for customers and status checkers. 

Customers who already have an eVisa should tell the Home Office about any passport on which they intend to travel using the online Update your UK Visas and Immigration account details service on GOV.UK, if this is not already linked to their account, to avoid delays when travelling.

As part of the wider transformation of the UK border and immigration system, the government has already introduced the Electronic Travel Authorisation ( ETA ) scheme. ETA is a digital permission to travel to the UK for those wanting to visit but who do not need a visa. It gives the government greater ability to screen travellers in advance of travel and prevent those who pose a threat from coming here.

Share this page

The following links open in a new tab

• Share on Facebook (opens in new tab)
• Share on Twitter (opens in new tab)

Is this page useful?

• Yes this page is useful
• No this page is not useful

Help us improve GOV.UK

Don’t include personal or financial information like your National Insurance number or credit card details.

To help us improve GOV.UK, we’d like to know more about your visit today. We’ll send you a link to a feedback form. It will take only 2 minutes to fill in. Don’t worry we won’t send you spam or share your email address with anyone.