The United Kingdom on Tuesday launched e-visas for Pakistani students and workers as part of an “enhanced” border and immigration system.
In a statement, the British High Commission in Islamabad said the initiative would replace physical immigration documents for most student and worker visas. In a video posted on X, British High Commissioner Jane Marriott said the facility was for “most students and workers applying for more than 6 months.” She said people only need to take their passports for an initial scan, adding they would receive them back the same day.
E-visas are online records of a person’s immigration status and would make the visa process easier and more secure, read the statement. “E-visas are tried and tested, with millions of people already using them on select immigration routes,” it added. The U.K. government plans to eventually expand the scheme to all visa applications, read the statement.
The British High Commission has outlined the following eligibility criteria for e-visas:
- Students, including short-term study for 11 months
- Global Business Mobility routes (specifically, Senior or Specialist Worker, Graduate Trainee, U.K. Expansion Worker, Service Supplier, Secondment Worker)
- Global Talent
- International Sportsperson
- Skilled Worker (including health and care)
- Temporary Work routes (specifically, Charity Worker, Creative Worker, Government Authorized Exchange, International Agreement, and Religious work routes) 
- Youth Mobility Scheme  
Applicants applying as dependents or for visas other than study or work, i.e. general visitor visas, would still need a physical visa. Those with existing in-date physical visas do not need to take any action.
Marriott noted that updating from a physical visa to an e-visa would have no impact on a person’s present immigration status. “Holders can link their travel document (such as passport) to their UKVI (UK Visas and Immigration) account to facilitate straightforward international travel,” the statement added.