VFS Global Joins UK's eVisa Transition
Alexandra
From 25 February 2026 UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) will make eVisas the default evidence of immigration status for most routes, enabling travellers to retain their passports during processing and reducing passport-hold times that previously constrained multi-destination travel.
Rollout details and operational changes
The rollout eliminates the physical visa vignette sticker and reduces in-person interactions to a single visit to a VFS Global Visa Application Centre. At that appointment applicants verify identity and submit documents; once the decision is made, applicants receive electronic instructions to access their secure digital status. The system already supports over 10 million users under UKVI’s phased implementation.
How VFS Global supports the transition
As the global visa services partner for UKVI, VFS Global will operate verification, biometric capture and document handling across its network while the digital platform provides the status evidence. Srinarayan Sankaran, Chief Operating Officer – Global Operations, VFS Global, has emphasised the improved customer experience and operational efficiency this brings.
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Immediate practical impacts for travellers
- No passport retention: applicants are free to apply for other visas or travel while their UK decision is pending.
- Single in-person step: identity verification and document submission consolidated at VFS Global centres.
- Faster access to status: electronic delivery of eVisa instructions removes courier delays for return of documents.
- Greater flexibility: easier last-minute planning and concurrent multi-country applications.
Comparing the old and new systems
| Aspect | Old process | New eVisa process |
|---|---|---|
| Evidence of status | Physical vignette or BRP held in passport | Secure digital status accessed electronically |
| Passport availability | Held by authorities during processing | Retained by applicant |
| In-person visits | Multiple visits often required | Single visit to VFS Global centre for biometrics and ID |
| Document return | Courier-based return, potential delays | Electronic access to status; no return delay |
Background and historical context
The UK’s shift from paper-based immigration markers to digital solutions follows broader global trends in border management and traveller facilitation. Historically, the vignette sticker and the biometric residence permit (BRP) were introduced to secure immigration status and link identity with permission to travel or remain. Over the past decade, several countries experimented with digital visas and electronic travel authorisations to accelerate processing and reduce fraud while enhancing traveller convenience. The UKVI eVisa program represents an evolution of that trajectory, combining biometric enrolment at physical centres with cloud-based status records.
Why now: drivers of change
- Technological maturity in secure digital identity solutions.
- Operational demands to reduce administrative bottlenecks and courier delays.
- Traveller expectations for faster, more flexible planning—especially for multi-destination itineraries.
- Cost and environmental considerations tied to physical document production and logistics.
Implications for tourism, marinas and charter operators
The move to eVisas carries several implications for international tourism supply chains, including those in the yachting and boating sector. With passports available throughout the application window, travellers can arrange charter bookings, secure captained or bareboat hires, and finalise cross-border itineraries without the prior risk of passport unavailability. This reduces friction for bookings that require visa validation at short notice, particularly during peak seasons around coastal marinas, island destinations and popular sailing routes.
Operational benefits for charter companies and marinas
- Ability to confirm bookings closer to departure dates, improving berth and crew scheduling.
- Fewer cancellations tied to passport retention, resulting in more predictable occupancy and revenue.
- Streamlined documentation checks at check-in with electronic status verification.
- Improved customer satisfaction for international clients seeking last-minute boat or yacht rentals.
Risks and transitional challenges
Initial rollout phases can create local friction where agents, ports or charter firms are unfamiliar with electronic status verification. Training for marina staff, charter operators and customs officials to recognise and validate eVisas will be necessary. Additionally, travellers must be instructed on how to access and present electronic evidence reliably—offline backups or printed confirmations may be used temporarily during the transition.
Forecast: impact on international sailing and tourism
In the medium term, wider adoption of eVisas should support more dynamic booking behaviour across the sea and coastal tourism sectors. Regions with active yachting seasons and established marina infrastructure are likely to see benefits in higher utilisation rates for yachts and charter fleets, and fewer administrative cancellations. The ease of retaining a passport while a UK decision is pending may also encourage cross-border itineraries combining the UK with European or non-European destinations, boosting demand for multi-leg sailing itineraries and related services such as captains, provisioning and local activities.
From a logistics standpoint, operators in the boating sector should adapt by updating booking terms to accept electronic visa confirmations, training staff on digital verification, and coordinating with local authorities on compliant check-in procedures. For superyacht owners and charters, reduced passport-hold risk simplifies repositioning and international cruises, while smaller charter companies may see improved last-minute conversion rates when potential guests are no longer blocked by passport processing timelines.
Overall, the eVisa transition is poised to reduce one non-operational barrier to travel planning and could increase spontaneous or near-term bookings for beach breaks, lake weekends, Gulf or Mediterranean cruises, and ocean voyages alike. Regions that invest in clear guidance for visitors and training for marina personnel will capture the most upside.
In summary, UKVI’s shift to a fully digital eVisa model—supported operationally by VFS Global—removes passport retention during processing, consolidates identity verification into a single VFS Global visit, and accelerates traveller access to status. The change streamlines logistics for international travellers, reduces courier-related delays, and enables more flexible multi-destination itineraries. For the boating and yachting sector, this translates into easier last-minute charter confirmations, smoother checks at marinas, and improved prospects for captains, charter companies and owners managing cross-border movements. For an international marketplace that connects renters with boats and yachts across popular sailing destinations, check availability and options on GetBoat.com, an international marketplace for renting sailing boats and yachts, which is probably the best service for boat rentals to suit every taste and budget.
