A major shift is coming for Nigerian travellers heading to the UK.

From 25 February 2026, successful applicants for a UK Visit visa will no longer receive a vignette sticker in their passport.

Instead, their visa will be issued digitally as an eVisa.

The change was announced by the British High Commission, confirming Nigeria’s inclusion in the UK’s wider move toward a fully digital border system.

What’s changing is simple: the visa outcome.

What’s not changing is the application process.

Nigerian applicants will still apply through the same channels, attend a Visa Application Centre, submit biometrics, and meet all existing requirements.

There are no new documents, no additional fees, and no extra steps.

The only difference is that instead of waiting for a physical sticker, approved applicants will access their visa status online through a UK Visas and Immigration account.

For travel agents, this adds one important task: guiding clients to create their free UKVI online account after approval so they can access their eVisa.

That small step will now be part of every post-approval conversation.

It’s also crucial to reassure clients that existing sticker visas remain valid until expiry.

No one needs to convert their current visa.

The new system applies only to applications decided from 25 February 2026 onward.

According to Mrs. Gill Lever of the British High Commission, the transition is designed to improve efficiency and security.

Practically speaking, the benefits are clear.

Passports can be returned faster because there is no need to print and insert a vignette.

can check their immigration status online at any time. And unlike a physical sticker, an eVisa cannot be lost, damaged, or stolen.

For Nigeria’s travel trade, this is more than a technical adjustment.

The UK remains one of the most in-demand destinations for Nigerian tourists, business travellers, and visiting families.

Any change in visa format directly affects how agents communicate, reassure, and support their clients.

There’s also a strategic opportunity here.

Agents who clearly explain the eVisa process, help clients set up their UKVI accounts, and confidently address concerns about digital verification will position themselves as trusted advisers rather than simple ticketing intermediaries.

In an era of online self-booking, expertise is the value-add.

Nigeria’s inclusion signals that the UK’s digital visa rollout is accelerating across key African markets.

Travel professionals elsewhere on the continent would be wise to prepare for similar transitions.

The core message is straightforward: the rules haven’t changed — only the format has.

The permission to travel carries the same legal authority as before.

It’s simply delivered in a faster, safer, and more modern way.

With February 2026 approaching, proactive communication will make all the difference.