UK Visas and Immigration guidance says that from 19 March 2026, people exempt from immigration control who apply from within the UK will receive a digital record of exemption.
Key facts
- Who: People exempt from immigration control who make an application from within the UK
- From: 19 March 2026
- Source: Exemptions for visa applications: caseworker guidance
The UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) caseworker guidance on exemption from immigration control says: "From 19 March 2026, individuals exempt from immigration control making an application from within the UK will receive a digital record of exemption."
A digital record of exemption is linked to the passport used in the application. Carriers and UK Border Force can then check the holder's exemption status automatically. The guidance states that it is not an entry clearance or an eVisa, because those can only be issued to people who are subject to immigration control. Holding a record is not compulsory for exempt people.
If an exempt person applies for a digital record of exemption once they are in the UK, in-country decision makers use the "After entry" section of the guidance to decide whether the person is exempt before issuing.
The guidance says a record is issued free of charge if the applicant is exempt. Applicants who use other Added Value services, such as assisted scanning, must pay for those, aside from the User Pays Visa Application Centre (VAC) fee. Exempt people do not have to give biometric information, but UKVI requires a facial image. Applicants must submit a recent passport-sized photograph that meets the Home Office passport photo requirements.
Applicants apply online, with passports submitted to the VAC. Those who meet the conditions receive an email confirmation directing them to create a UKVI account, where they can access and share evidence of their exemption. An application can be made up to 3 months before the person wishes to come to the UK.
People who already hold a physical exempt vignette, issued before the transition to digital records, may continue to use it as evidence of exempt status when travelling to the UK. The vignette must remain valid and the holder must still meet the criteria for exemption.
A digital record of exemption or exempt vignette becomes invalid if the holder is no longer in the UK for the purpose that makes them exempt, for example after a diplomatic posting expires. The guidance includes a section on cancelling a record or vignette when an individual is no longer exempt.
What this means for applicants
An exempt person who applies from inside the UK will receive a digital record of exemption. They do not need an eVisa or entry clearance. The record is issued free of charge, though other Added Value services carry a charge. Applicants must supply a passport-sized photograph that meets Home Office requirements.
Anyone who holds a valid physical exempt vignette may keep using it while they still meet the criteria for exemption. Exempt travellers who hold neither a valid digital record nor a valid vignette may experience delays and inconvenience while checks confirm their status. A record or vignette becomes invalid once the person is no longer in the UK for the purpose that makes them exempt.
Related guide: UK eVisa
Sources
- Exemptions for visa applications: caseworker guidance, UK Visas and Immigration, GOV.UK