ISLAMABAD: All Pakistanis travelling to the UK, including tourists, can now use a new eVisa system, receiving confirmation by email rather than stickers in passports, according to the British High Commission (BHC).
In a statement, the BHC said visitors would continue to submit their applications online and attend a visa application centre to provide biometrics.
It added that successful applicants would have a digital record of their immigration status provided through an eVisa, accessible through an online UK Visas and Immigration account.
“Applicants no longer need to attend a visa application centre a second time to collect their passport, instead holding on to it after their biometrics session. eVisas provide a more secure way to manage immigration status and reduce the risk of lost or damaged documents.”
The high commission said applicants could generate a share code to prove their visa status at borders and elsewhere, adding there was no change to visa processing times, eligibility criteria or conditions.
The BHC said UK visa applicants were strongly discouraged from using visa agents. “Applicants should apply directly on gov.uk, the only source for trusted information,” it said. The high commission said last year, eVisas were successfully rolled out for students and those on work visas, adding thousands of people across the globe had already used them at UK airports.
“The existing sticker visas are unaffected by today’s changes,” it said.
British High Commissioner Jane Marriott declared the introduction of eVisa a “hugely exciting step for Pakistanis visiting the UK for tourism, visiting loved ones or business meetings, which removed a big step from the application process.”
Separately, Italy has announced the allocation of 10,500 work visas specifically for Pakistan’s skilled workforce.
The decision follows a high-level diplomatic engagement between Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and his Italian counterpart Matteo Piantedosi, marking a pivotal shift towards structured legal migration between the two nations, Interior Ministry, Islamabad, said on Wednesday.
During the meeting held in Rome, the Italian government also confirmed a visa exemption for Pakistani diplomatic passport holders. Minister Piantedosi noted that the exemption was a follow-up to previous diplomatic dialogues, reflecting a mutual desire to streamline official exchanges. The two leaders engaged in a comprehensive review of internal security cooperation, placing a heavy emphasis on the joint efforts required to curb illegal migration and dismantle the networks responsible for human smuggling. Naqvi provided a detailed briefing on the strategic measures implemented by the Pakistan government to secure its borders. He emphasised that heightened surveillance at major airports and maritime boundaries had resulted in a measurable decline in unauthorised departures. The Italian interior minister lauded these initiatives, commending the Pakistani interior ministry and its various institutions for their proactive stance in tackling drug trafficking and human smuggling.
