THE FUSE

Big travel news for South Africans with UK travel plans…Visas have officially gone digital!

South Africa (25 February 2026) – From today onwards, South Africans applying for UK visas will start receiving their permissions as a secure digital record called an eVisa, which replaces ink stamps and stickers in passports.

It’s part of a wider move by UK Visas and Immigration to modernise the system and phase out physical immigration documents altogether.

An eVisa is essentially your immigration status stored safely online. It confirms who you are, what type of visa you hold and what you’re allowed to do while you’re in the UK – whether that’s visiting family, studying, or working.

It’s an exciting shift because now, there’s nothing to lose, damage or forget at home! Everything will live in a secure UKVI account that travellers can access to view their eVisas.

This will also make processes faster. Travellers won’t need to wait for physical documents to be issued or collected after approval. Border checks are expected to be smoother, and sharing proof of status (for things like renting accommodation or starting a job) becomes much quicker through a simple digital code that can be shared.

Importantly, this isn’t a change to immigration rules, only how permission is recorded. A visa is still a visa. The difference is that instead of living on paper, it now lives online.

The rollout is happening gradually – within this year, most successful applicants will receive only an eVisa rather than a physical visa sticker or stamp.

It’s one less layer of admin and a step toward easier travel for South Africans planning UK adventures!

Find full guidelines issued by the UK government here.

Sources: Linked above.

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