UK eVisa Now Covers Pakistani Visit Visas: What Changed & How to Apply (2026)

If you applied for a UK visit visa before this year, you probably remember the routine: submit your documents online, give your fingerprints at a visa application centre, then wait for a phone call or courier to bring back your passport with a visa vignette stuck inside. That second trip is now gone. Since 25 February 2026, the UK has extended its digital immigration system to general visitor visas, which means most Pakistani applicants no longer receive a sticker in their passport at all — they get an eVisa instead.

This is a genuine process change, not a fee increase or a new document requirement, but it does change what you need to do before you travel — and getting it wrong at the airport can mean a difficult conversation with your airline. Here is what actually changed, how the system works, and what Reloaded Visa recommends every client check before flying to the UK.

What Changed on 25 February 2026

The UK’s eVisa system had already applied to study and work visas since July 2025. The British High Commission in Islamabad confirmed that from 25 February 2026, it was extended to cover general visitor (tourist, family visit and business visit) visas as well. British High Commissioner Jane Marriott described the change as removing “a big step from the application process,” since applicants no longer have to return to the visa centre a second time to collect their passport.

The application process itself has not changed: you still apply online through the official gov.uk website, pay the same visa fee, attend a visa application centre (such as VFS Global) to give your biometrics, and wait for a decision in the usual processing time. Eligibility criteria, the documents you need to submit, and how long your visa is valid for are all unchanged.

How the eVisa and Share Code System Works

After your biometrics appointment, you keep your own passport — it is not sent anywhere. Once your visa is approved, your immigration status is recorded digitally against your passport details in a UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) online account, which you set up using the email address linked to your application.

To prove your visa status — to an airline check-in agent, a Border Force officer, or anyone else who is entitled to check — you log into your UKVI account, open the “View and Prove” service, and generate a share code. You give the person the code along with your date of birth, and they see a summary of your permission to travel, not your full immigration history. Each share code is valid for 90 days and can be reused as many times as needed within that window.

Before You Fly: A Checklist

• Create and verify your UKVI account soon after your visa is approved, not at the airport
• Confirm the passport linked to your account matches the one you are travelling on
• Generate a fresh share code a day or two before departure
• Save a screenshot of your share code as a backup, alongside your visa approval email
• If you got a new passport after applying, update your UKVI account immediately using gov.uk — do not wait
• Apply and manage your account only through the official gov.uk website, never through unofficial agents

Do You Still Need to Do Anything at the Airport?

No separate action is required at check-in beyond showing your passport as usual — the airline’s system is meant to verify your status electronically against Home Office records. In practice, some Pakistani travellers in the first months of the rollout have reported delays when automated checks failed, usually because of a passport mismatch or an incomplete UKVI account. In those cases, having your share code ready, along with a printed or saved copy of your visa approval decision letter, is what resolves the issue quickly at the check-in counter.

Quick Answers

Does the eVisa cost extra? No — there is no additional fee for the digital record; you pay the same visitor visa fee as before.

Can I still get a passport sticker if I want one? No, visitor visas issued after the rollout date are digital-only; there is no option to request a physical vignette.

What if my UKVI account shows the wrong passport? Update your details on gov.uk before you travel — do this well in advance, as some updates can take time to process.

Do children need their own eVisa account? Yes, each traveller, including children, needs their own UKVI account and share code linked to their own passport.

Visa rules, processing steps and fees can change. Always confirm the latest requirements on the official gov.uk website or with the British High Commission before you apply or travel.