By FUNMILOLA GBOTEKU

The UK Government has announced the introduction of a digital eVisa for study and work visa applicants, effective July 15.

Mrs Gill Lever, the British Deputy High Commissioner in Abuja, made this known in a statement on Wednesday.

Lever said that the move was part of the UK’s transition to a modern and digital immigration system.

According to her, the digital eVisa would replace the traditional visa vignette or sticker in passports for successful applicants.

Lever noted that the change would make the process more secure, efficient, and convenient for students, professionals and families.

“We are making it easier and faster for Nigerians to travel to the UK.

“However, applicants applying as dependants or for other visa types, such as standard visitor visas, will still receive a visa sticker in their passport,” Lever said.

She noted that applicants must still go to a visa application centre to provide their biometric information as part of the visa processing procedure.

According to Lever, once a decision is made on their visa application, applicants will receive an email from UK Visas and Immigration with the outcome and instructions to create a UKVI account to access their eVisa.

She added that the eVisa system had already replaced Biometric Residence Permits for individuals granted leave for over six months.

“Customers with a UKVI account can use the view and prove service to securely share their immigration status with third parties, such as employers or landlords,” she noted. (NAN)