Britain introduces e-visa system for Pakistani travellers

Britain has introduced a new e-visa system for Pakistani travellers, including tourists and those visiting family, eliminating the need for visa stickers on passports. Visa verification will now be conducted digitally via email, according the British High Commission (BHC) in Islamabad.

British High Commissioner to Pakistan, Jane Marriott, announced that under the new system, Pakistani visitors will submit their UK visa applications online and visit a visa application centre only for biometric verification. However, they will no longer need to revisit the centre to collect their passports.

Marriott declared the introduction of e-visa 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.”

She explained that successful applicants will be provided with a digital visa record accessible through their UK Visas and Immigration account. The aim is to make immigration status more secure and easily accessible while reducing the risk of documents being lost or damaged.

According to the High Commissioner, applicants will also receive a "share code” to prove their visa status, which can be used at border checkpoints and other official locations.

Marriott welcomed the change, stating that travel to the UK has now become easier than ever for Pakistanis. She said the new system will save time and is designed to be simple and secure.

The digital visa system was successfully introduced last year for student and work visa applicants. With this upgrade, applicants will not need to return to the visa centre to collect their passports after approval.

The British government has also advised applicants not to use visa agents and to submit their applications directly through the official gov.uk website. The introduction of the e-visa system is expected to make the visa process faster and more convenient for Pakistani citizens travelling to the UK.

In July 2025, the UK government introduced an e-visa system for Pakistanis; however, it was limited to study or work visas. Applicants applying for general visitor visas were still required to obtain a physical visa.

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.

ITALY ALLOCATES 10,500 WORK VISAS FOR SKILLED PAKISTANIS

Separately, Italy has announced the allocation of 10,500 work visas specifically for Pakistan’s skilled workforce.

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.