UK ENDS VISA STICKERS FOR NIGERIANS, MAKES EVISAS MANDATORY FROM FEBRUARY 25

UK ENDS VISA STICKERS FOR NIGERIANS, MAKES eVISAS MANDATORY FROM FEBRUARY 25
The United Kingdom will stop issuing traditional physical visa stickers to Nigerian travellers and replace them with mandatory electronic visas (eVisas) starting 25 February 2026, in a major step towards a fully digital immigration and border management system.
From 25 February 2026, Nigerian nationals applying for UK visit visas will no longer receive a visa vignette (the physical sticker placed in passports). Instead, all new visa grants will be issued electronically as eVisas that applicants access online.
Successful applicants will access their eVisa through a secure UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) online account a digital record of their immigration status linked to their passport.
The visa application process itself including online submission and biometric appointments at Visa Application Centres remains unchanged. The sole alteration is how the visa is delivered and accessed Once a Nigerian applicant’s visa is approved, they will be required to create a free UKVI account to access and view their eVisa details online. The digital format of eVisas means holders can manage, view, and present proof of their immigration status online, without needing a physical sticker. Travellers who already hold valid visa stickers need not take action their visas will continue to be valid until expiry or until replacement is necessary.
The UK government says the shift to eVisas is part of a broader modernisation of its immigration system, aiming to make visa processing faster, more secure and smoother for travellers.
Digital visas can reduce passport turnaround times because passports no longer have to be held for physical sticker endorsement. eVisas also provide enhanced security, as digital records cannot be lost, stolen or tampered with in the same way that physical stickers can. The British Deputy High Commissioner in Abuja, Gill Lever, welcomed the change, saying the digital format will simplify travel procedures for Nigerians, while maintaining strong security and reducing reliance on paper documentation.
UKVI stresses that eligibility criteria and visa requirements do not change only the method of visa issuance does.
The eVisa rollout for Nigerian applicants is part of the UK’s ongoing roll-out of a fully digital border regime, which also includes mandatory Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) requirements for visa-exempt travellers from February 25, 2026.
The move reflects a global trend toward digital immigration systems that reduce paperwork and make border processes more responsive to modern travel patterns.