As part of a significant overhaul of the nation's immigration system, the UK government has declared that, as of February 25, all Nigerian visitors seeking a UK visit visa will be issued an eVisa instead of a vignette (sticker) in their passport. The breakthrough is part of UK Visas and Immigration's ongoing shift to a purely digital border, according to a statement released Tuesday by the UK High Commission in Abuja. It clarified that the new policy, which represents a major step in modernizing the UK visa procedure, would allow travelers to electronically access their visa through their UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account.
“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,” the statement quoted British Deputy High Commissioner in Abuja, Mrs. Gill Lever, as saying.
It further stated that tourists would still need to meet all current eligibility conditions, apply as normal, and visit a Visa Application Center to submit biometric data. The sole distinction is that applicants will obtain a safe digital record of their immigration status in place of a physical sticker.
As long as their physical visa is valid until it expires or needs to be replaced, Nigerians who currently possess a valid vignette sticker are exempt from taking any action. The UK government claims that there are several advantages for Nigerian tourists using eVisas.
These include quicker passport returns and online immigration status management for travelers from anywhere at any time. Because eVisas cannot be misplaced, stolen, or altered, the digital format also provides higher security.
Additionally, in order to access their eVisa when a visa is granted, applicants must register for a free UKVI account. For additional information, applicants are also urged to visit www.gov.uk/eVisa.