The UK Government is replacing physical immigration documents for most student and worker visas with a digital proof of immigration status known as an eVisa—an online record of a person’s immigration permission in the UK.
The UK government has simplified the visa process for international students, supporting its long-standing goal of attracting 600,000 international students annually by 2030—a target announced a decade ago.
Recent immigration policy changes in the United States and other countries, which aim to restrict international student access, may indirectly create opportunities for the UK to strengthen its position in the global education market.
The UK Government’s International Education Strategy set out ambitions to:
- increase the value of education exports to £35 billion per year by 2030
- increase the total number of international students choosing to study in the UK higher education system (in universities, further education colleges and alternative providers) each year to 600,000 by 2030
The latter ambition was met for the first time in 2020/21, with 605,130 international higher education students studying in the UK.
In 2023/24, there were 732,285 overseas students enrolled at UK higher education institutions, accounting for 23% of the total student population. Of these, 75,490 were from the European Union and 656,795 from non-EU countries.
While this marked a 4% decrease from the record high in 2022/23—the first decline since 2012/13—the 2023/24 figure still represents the second-highest number of international students ever recorded in the country, the UK Higher Education Statistics Agency announced.
Total UK revenue from education related exports and transnational education activity was estimated to be £27.90 billion in 2021.Their real value has increased by 81% between 2010 and 2021.
NEW EVISA PROCEDURES
Starting from today (15 July), holders can link their travel document (such as a passport) to their UKVI account - an online UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account - to facilitate straightforward international travel.
People who have created a UKVI account will be able to use the view and prove service to prove their status securely with third parties, such as employers or landlords (in England).
eVisas are tried and tested, with millions of people already using them on select immigration routes.
"These changes to the UK visa system will make it much simpler for students and workers to prove their identity and visa status. It also means applicants can hold onto their passports, saving them time," said Jane Marriott CMG OBE, British High Commissioner.
Updating from a physical document to an eVisa does not affect anyone’s immigration status or the conditions of their permission to enter or stay in the UK.
E-visas are being rolled out to:
- Students, including short term study for 11 months
- Global Business Mobility routes (specifically, Senior or Specialist Worker, Graduate Trainee, UK Expansion Worker, Service Supplier, Secondment Worker)
- Global Talent
- International Sportsperson
- Skilled Worker (including Health and Care)
- Temporary Work routes (specifically, Charity Worker, Creative Worker, Government Authorised Exchange, International Agreement, and Religious work routes)
- Youth Mobility Scheme
This will eventually be rolled out to all visa routes meaning a more secure and streamlined process for all UK visa customers.
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