In an update published by The Nation on February 14, 2026, the United Kingdom government has issued a final reminder to Nigerian residents and other foreign nationals that all physical immigration documents will be phased out by February 25, 2026. The transition to a fully digital eVisa system is part of a broader UK Home Office strategy to modernize border control and reduce document fraud.
The change affects Nigerians holding Biometric Residence Permits (BRP), Biometric Residence Cards (BRC), or passport endorsements like ink stamps and vignette stickers. Affected persons are required to create a UKVI account to access their digital status. Failure to do so before the deadline could lead to significant travel delays or issues proving the right to work and rent in the UK.
Validating coverage from Channels TV and Daily Post emphasizes the urgency for the Nigerian diaspora. Channels TV reported that “thousands of Nigerians are yet to complete their digital transition,” while Daily Post quoted a UK Home Office official: “Physical documents are becoming a thing of the past; the eVisa is secure, digital, and the future of our border system.”
Echotitbits take: This is a crucial update for the “Japa” generation and frequent travelers. The digital shift eliminates the risk of losing physical permits but places a higher burden on travelers to ensure their online records are perfectly synchronized with their current passports.
Source: The Nation – https://thenationonlineng.net/uk-to-replace-paper-visas-with-evisas-from-february-25/, February 14, 2026
Photo credit: The Nation
Tag: UK Home Office
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UK to Replace All Physical Visas with eVisas by February 25
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UK imposes visa restrictions on DR Congo over migrant returns cooperation
2025-12-28 09:00:00
In a dispatch carried by Punch, the UK government says it has imposed visa restrictions on nationals of the Democratic Republic of Congo, citing the country’s poor cooperation in returning people the UK deems to be in the country illegally.The move fits a wider UK approach that pairs tougher entry rules with bilateral return arrangements, pressuring origin countries to accept deportees while rewarding more cooperative states with easier mobility.
Visa sanctions can also strain broader diplomatic ties, raising the prospect of retaliation and knock-on effects for trade and security cooperation.
Reuters reports the UK cited “poor cooperation” on returns, while Al Jazeera describes the restriction as linked to an alleged failure “to cooperate with UK’s new asylum seeker return policy.”
Echotitbits take: This sets a precedent: visa policy is increasingly used as a migration-enforcement tool. Watch which countries are targeted next—and whether diplomatic deals soften the practical impact over time.
Source: The Punch — December 28, 2025 (https://punchng.com/uk-slaps-visa-sanctions-on-dr-congo-over-migrant-returns/)
The Punch 2025-12-28Photo Credit: The Punch