UK Switches to Digital Visas for Nigerian Visitors Starting 25 February 2026

A major change in how Nigerian nationals receive their United Kingdom visitor visas takes effect in just days, and travel professionals across West Africa and beyond need to understand what it means for their clients. From 25 February 2026, all Nigerians applying for a UK Visit visa will be issued a digital eVisa instead of the traditional vignette sticker placed inside their passport.

The shift is part of the United Kingdom's broader push toward a fully digital border system, and Nigeria is now joining this transition in a move that has practical implications for every agent handling UK-bound bookings from the region.

The announcement was made by the British High Commission in Abuja through a statement from Senior Communications Officer Onyinye Madu. It confirms that successful applicants will no longer wait for a physical sticker to be placed in their passport. Instead, their visa status will be recorded digitally and accessed through a personal UK Visas and Immigration account, commonly known as a UKVI account. For agents, this means the conversation with clients about their UK visa needs to include a new step: setting up that free online account once approval is granted.

What has not changed is equally important to communicate. The application process itself remains exactly the same. Nigerian travellers still submit their application through the usual channels, still attend a Visa Application Centre to provide biometric data such as fingerprints and a photograph, and still need to meet all existing eligibility requirements. No new documents are being asked for, no new fees have been introduced as part of this digital transition, and no additional steps have been added to the application journey. The only difference sits at the end of the process, where the outcome is delivered digitally rather than physically.

This is a critical point for agents to emphasise when speaking with clients who may feel uncertain about the change. Many travellers, particularly those who have applied for UK visas before, are accustomed to seeing a sticker in their passport as proof of permission to travel. That tangible, visible confirmation carries psychological weight. Agents can help ease the transition by explaining clearly that the eVisa holds the same legal authority as the old sticker and that immigration officers at UK ports of entry will verify status electronically rather than by flipping through passport pages.

There is also reassuring news for Nigerians who already hold a valid UK visa in sticker form. Existing vignette visas remain fully valid until their expiry date or until they need replacement for any reason. No one needs to rush to convert an existing visa or take any additional action. The digital system applies only to new applications processed from 25 February onwards.

The British Deputy High Commissioner in Abuja, Mrs Gill Lever, expressed enthusiasm about the transition, highlighting that the move would streamline the process, improve security, and reduce reliance on paper documents. These are not empty promises. The practical benefits of the eVisa system are real and worth spelling out to clients in straightforward terms.

First, passports will be returned to applicants more quickly. Under the old system, passports had to be physically held at the processing centre while the vignette was printed and affixed. With the digital format, that step disappears, meaning travellers get their passports back sooner, which matters enormously for frequent travellers who may need their documents for other purposes while awaiting a UK decision.

Second, the eVisa gives travellers the ability to check and manage their immigration status online at any time, from anywhere in the world. Rather than carrying a passport to confirm visa validity, a traveller can simply log into their UKVI account and see their current status displayed clearly. For agents, this also makes it easier to assist clients remotely, as status checks no longer require a physical document to be present.

Third, and perhaps most compellingly for security-conscious travellers, an eVisa cannot be lost, stolen, or tampered with Anyone who has dealt with the stress of a lost or damaged passport containing a valid visa will appreciate this advantage immediately. A digital record tied to biometric data is far more secure than a sticker that can be destroyed in a moment of carelessness or misfortune.

For the African travel trade more broadly, this development carries significance beyond Nigeria alone. The UK has been rolling out its digital visa programme progressively, and Nigeria's inclusion signals that the transition is accelerating across key African markets. Agents in other countries should anticipate similar changes reaching their own travellers in the coming months and years. Those who familiarise themselves with the eVisa system now will be better prepared when the shift reaches their own client base.

There is also a business opportunity here. Agents who proactively educate their clients about the eVisa process, help them understand how to create their UKVI account, and offer guidance on managing digital immigration records position themselves as indispensable advisers rather than simple booking agents. In an era where online platforms make it easy for travellers to apply for visas independently, the agents who add genuine value through knowledge and support are the ones who will retain client loyalty.

The United Kingdom remains one of the most popular destinations for Nigerian travellers, whether for tourism, business, education, or family visits. Ensuring a smooth transition to the digital visa system is in everyone's interest, from the UK government seeking efficiency to the travellers seeking clarity to the agents seeking satisfied clients. The foundations of the process have not changed. What has changed is simply the format in which permission is granted, and that format is now faster, safer, and more convenient than what came before.

For professionals across the African travel trade, the message is clear: update your client communications now, prepare simple guidance notes explaining the eVisa process, and be ready to answer questions from travellers who may be encountering digital visas for the first time. The 25 February deadline is just days away, and the agents who move first will earn the trust that keeps their business growing.