UK eVisa Guide for Nepali Students explains how to access digital Student visa status, set up or recover a UKVI account, link the correct passport, prepare for airline checks, generate share codes and report an error. Since 1 July 2026, UKVI has stopped issuing visa vignette stickers to successful new applicants, so checking the eVisa before travelling from Nepal is now a core pre-departure task.
Information checked on 24 July 2026. Digital immigration procedures can change, so use the live GOV.UK eVisa service and the instructions in the individual visa decision.
UK eVisa facts at a glance
| Item | Current guidance |
|---|---|
| What an eVisa is | A digital record of identity, immigration status and the conditions of permission |
| New applicant change | UKVI stopped issuing visa vignette stickers to successful new applicants on 1 July 2026 |
| How to access it | Sign in through a UK Visas and Immigration account |
| Travel document | Travel with a valid passport or travel document added to the UKVI account |
| Share code | Can prove status for a selected purpose and is normally valid for 90 days |
| Account cost | There is no fee to create a UKVI account or access an eVisa |
| Essential check | Name, status, permission dates, conditions and passport details must be correct before travel |
What is a UK eVisa?
An eVisa is the Home Office’s digital record of a person’s identity and UK immigration status. It shows the type of permission held and relevant conditions, such as whether the person can study or work.
The eVisa is not a passport, flight document, university offer or Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies. A student still travels with a valid passport and must comply with every condition shown in the immigration record.
What changed on 1 July 2026?
UKVI’s current transition guidance says it stopped issuing visa vignette stickers to successful new applicants on 1 July 2026. A successful new Student applicant therefore receives an eVisa rather than relying on a new entry sticker in the passport.
A valid older vignette remains valid until it expires. Do not remove, damage or disregard a physical immigration document that is still valid; follow the instructions for the specific permission.
Will a new Nepali Student applicant get an eVisa?
A person who successfully applies for a UK visa or other permission now receives an eVisa. The decision message explains the next steps, including how to access the UKVI account and whether a passport held at a visa application centre will be returned.
Read the decision communication completely. A consultant’s screenshot or verbal message does not replace access to the student’s own immigration record.
UKVI account, eVisa and ETA are different
The UKVI account is the secure online account used to access and manage the eVisa. The eVisa is the digital immigration status inside that system. An Electronic Travel Authorisation is a different travel permission for eligible visitors who do not need a visa.
A Nepali student who has been granted a Student visa should follow the eVisa instructions. An ETA does not replace a Student visa and should not be purchased as a shortcut.
Check whether a UKVI account already exists
A student may already have an account after using the UK Immigration: ID Check app, creating one during the visa application or accessing an earlier digital status. GOV.UK advises people who already have an account not to create another one.
Try the official sign-in service using the known identity document and contact details. Duplicate accounts can make it harder to identify which one is linked to the active permission.
How to create a UKVI account
The official service requires a phone number and email address that the student can continue to access. Depending on the record, it can also require a valid passport and application reference, a BRP number or an eligible expired BRP.
After creating the account, confirm identity and link the account to the eVisa. GOV.UK says a smartphone app can be used for identity confirmation, with another route available in some circumstances for people who cannot use it.
Use the student’s own contact details
The person who holds the visa should be able to receive sign-in security codes. Avoid leaving permanent control with an agent, temporary staff member or email address that the student cannot recover after travelling.
If someone helped during the application, update the account to the student’s reliable email and phone number when appropriate. Keep recovery access secure and do not share one-time codes casually.
Each dependant needs a separate account
GOV.UK states that a partner or child joining as a dependant needs their own UKVI account to access their own eVisa. One main applicant’s account does not display every family member as a substitute for separate status.
A parent or authorised person can manage a child’s account. When the child becomes able to manage it or reaches 18, the contact information should be updated according to the official process.
How to link the account to the eVisa
Creating the account and linking it to the immigration record are distinct steps. GOV.UK says the eVisa cannot be accessed until the account has been linked.
Use the application reference and identity details exactly as held by UKVI. If the visa decision is successful but no status appears, check that the linking process was finished before creating another account.
What to check when viewing the eVisa
Review:
- Full name and date of birth
- Photograph and nationality
- Immigration route or status
- Permission start and end dates
- Study and work conditions
- Current passport or travel document
Compare these fields with the passport, decision message and expected Student permission. Report an actual eVisa error rather than attempting to correct the immigration status through the normal contact-details form.
Why the passport link matters
The airline and border systems use passport details to connect the traveller to digital permission. GOV.UK says the current valid passport or travel document must be added to the UKVI account and must match the passenger information supplied to the carrier.
A correct eVisa with an old or unlinked passport can still cause airline or border delays. Check the account before buying a last-minute ticket.
If the student receives a new passport
Update the UKVI account with the new passport details before travelling. The service can also be used to update name, nationality and contact details in the circumstances it covers.
Keep the old passport and decision records until the new document appears correctly. A person waiting for a pending visa decision cannot use the normal service to change certain identity-document details, so follow the separate application instructions.
Travel from Nepal with an eVisa
Before leaving for Tribhuvan International Airport or another departure point, sign in and view the status using the current account. Confirm that the permission has started and the passport used for check-in is the linked document.
Carry the valid passport and keep the decision communication, university contact details and accommodation information accessible. An offline copy can help explain the situation, but it is not a substitute for the live Home Office record.
How airlines check digital permission
Carriers can receive a digital response confirming permission to travel. The details can fail to match when the passport number, name or passenger information differs from the UKVI account.
If the carrier cannot verify status, current GOV.UK guidance says the traveller can get a share code and the carrier can contact the UK Border Force carrier support hub. The student should not buy another visa or alter booking identity details to hide the mismatch.
What is an eVisa share code?
A share code gives an authorised checker time-limited access to the relevant part of the immigration status. The student chooses the purpose, such as right to work, right to rent or another status check.
The current eVisa service says a code is valid for 90 days and can be used more than once before it expires. A new code can be generated whenever needed.
Use the correct share-code purpose
A code generated for a landlord is not the same as one generated for an employer. The selected purpose controls the information the checker can see.
Generate a new code for a different purpose rather than forwarding one code everywhere. The checker also needs the student’s date of birth.
Proving right to work
A Student eVisa can show work conditions, but the actual hours and restrictions depend on the permission and course. Generate a right-to-work share code for an employer and let the employer complete the official check.
Do not rely on a screenshot that says “Student” to decide working hours. The UK part-time work rules guide explains how term time, vacations and course level can affect permission.
Proving right to rent
For a private tenancy in England, a student with an eVisa may need a right-to-rent share code. The landlord uses the code and date of birth through the official checker.
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland do not use the same right-to-rent scheme. The UK Student accommodation guide covers deposits, contracts and housing checks separately.
Sharing status with a university
A university can ask the student to prove immigration status during enrolment. The general view-and-prove service can generate a code for an education provider or another organisation.
Send the code through the university’s secure process. A share code exposes selected personal information, so do not post it publicly or send it to an unverified social-media account.
Using a share code for travel
GOV.UK says a travel share code is valid for 90 days and can be obtained before travelling. It can help when a carrier asks for additional proof, but the primary preparation remains correct passport and account data.
Generate the code close enough to travel that it will remain valid for the intended journey. If a carrier still cannot verify permission, ask it to use official support.
What happens if the visa application centre has the passport?
Where a visa application centre has kept a passport, current transition guidance says it will contact the applicant when the document is ready to collect. The applicant should not attend without that contact.
For a successful application, view the eVisa before travel even after the passport is returned. Passport collection alone is not proof that every digital detail is correct.
What is a Form for Accompanying an eVisa?
UKVI states that a form accompanying an eVisa may be issued in some cases during the move away from vignettes. Follow the decision and collection instructions if such a form is provided.
The form does not replace the requirement to view the eVisa, maintain the UKVI account and travel with the correct passport. Do not buy or create a lookalike document.
How to report an eVisa error
Use the official error-reporting route if the eVisa shows the wrong identity, immigration status, permission dates or conditions, or if the account was created by the Home Office and has never been accessible.
Take screenshots for your own record, preserve the decision message and submit accurate details through GOV.UK. Do not use the contact-update service to attempt to change a visa decision.
How to recover a UKVI account
The recovery service can help when the student has lost access to the sign-in phone or email, or does not remember which identity document or UKVI customer number is used. It asks for identity details, date of birth and accessible replacement contact information.
If online recovery fails, use the official UKVI help route or webchat. Do not pay a third party for access to an account it does not control.
Keep email, phone and address current
Update the account after a change of email, mobile number, home address or postal address. UKVI uses those details for contact, and old sign-in information can lock the student out when a security code is needed.
Test access well before international travel. Recovery at an airport check-in desk is a poor substitute for routine account maintenance.
eVisa security and scam prevention
- Use only GOV.UK links to sign in, update or recover the account
- Do not share passwords or one-time security codes with an agent
- Do not pay to create a UKVI account or view an eVisa
- Do not publish a share code and date of birth together
- Check the sender before responding to an urgent “status expired” message
- Never edit a screenshot to change permission dates or work conditions
Step-by-step eVisa checklist
- Read the decision. Follow the individual UKVI instructions.
- Find the existing account. Do not create a duplicate.
- Complete account linking. Confirm the eVisa appears.
- Review the status. Check identity, route, dates and conditions.
- Confirm the passport. Add the current travel document.
- Correct problems early. Report an error through GOV.UK.
- Prepare for travel. Match airline passenger details exactly.
- Create purpose-specific codes. Use work, rent, university or travel options as needed.
- Maintain the account. Update contact and passport details after changes.
Common eVisa mistakes
- Assuming a decision email alone is enough for travel
- Creating a second UKVI account unnecessarily
- Leaving the eVisa unlinked after account creation
- Travelling with a passport not added to the account
- Ignoring a wrong permission date or work condition
- Using a rent code for an employer or a work code for a landlord
- Letting an inaccessible agent email control sign-in
- Buying an ETA despite already requiring a Student visa
- Waiting until airport check-in to test account access
eVisa and the wider pre-departure plan
Digital status is one part of travel preparation. Also confirm the course start and latest arrival, accommodation, tuition arrangements, medication, baggage, transit rules and documents needed at enrolment.
Use the UK pre-departure checklist for Nepali students and the UK Student visa application timeline to place the eVisa check at the correct stage.
Frequently asked questions
Will a new Nepali Student visa applicant receive a passport sticker?
UKVI stopped issuing vignette stickers to successful new applicants on 1 July 2026. A successful applicant receives an eVisa and should follow the decision instructions.
Is there a fee to create a UKVI account?
No. GOV.UK says creating a UKVI account and accessing an eVisa are free.
Can I travel if my new passport is not linked to the eVisa?
You should update the UKVI account and travel with the valid passport added to it. A mismatch can prevent automatic airline verification and cause delays.
How long does an eVisa share code last?
The current service says a share code is valid for 90 days and can be used more than once for the purpose selected before it expires.
What should I do if the eVisa has a wrong date?
Use the official GOV.UK service to report an eVisa error. Preserve the decision message and do not try to alter the displayed record yourself.
Official sources
- GOV.UK: what an eVisa is
- GOV.UK: set up a UKVI account
- GOV.UK: travel with an eVisa
- GOV.UK: view status and get a share code
- GOV.UK: update UKVI account details
- UKVI: updates on the move to eVisas
Guidance and preparation support in Nepal
For a visible check of the visa decision, passport details and complete travel file, use MKS Education study in the UK guidance. Students preparing for IELTS, PTE, GRE, GMAT or SAT can compare courses at MKS Prep. UKVI and the carrier remain the final authorities for digital permission and travel checks.