eVisa Expansions, Wider Deportation Powers, Migrant Detentions and More – UK August 2025 Updates

More eVisas to be Used for UK Visa Applications

More UK visa applicants may receive their visas in the form of a digital eVisa as part of the wider scheme to digitise the UK’s immigration system.

From 15 July 2025, fewer work or study visa applicants will receive their visas in vignette form in their passport. Instead, applicants will have to create an online UKVI account in order to access their eVisa before they travel.

Applicants who are applying as a dependant for any visa or as a main applicant for visas other than work or study will still continue to receive vignettes in their passport rather than eVisas, however.

According to the Home Office, the benefits of the new system include faster and more streamlined entry processes at the UK border and greater levels of security than physical vignettes.

In addition, eVisas cannot be lost, stolen or tampered with.

As of April 2025, approximately 4,305,068 people in the UK have successfully transferred over to the new eVisa system. They have already completely replaced biometric residence permits in the UK and will eventually replace all physical immigration documents.

‘Deport Now, Appeal Later’ Scheme Expanded to 23 Countries

The UK government has expanded the list of countries under their ‘Deport Now, Appeal Later’ scheme, increasing their ability to deport foreign nationals from the UK border.

Under the scheme, foreign nationals from certain countries who have had human rights appeals refused will be deported back to their country of origin before they can appeal the decision.

Prior to the scheme, foreign nationals could remain in the UK for several months or years before the appeal process would be completed, which the Home Office have described in a press release as foreign nationals attempting to “game the system”.

The full list of countries now eligible under the scheme are as follows:

• Albania
• Angola
• Australia
• Belize
• Botswana
• Brunei
• Bulgaria
• Canada
• Estonia
• Finland
• Guyana
• India
• Indonesia
• Kenya
• Kosovo
• Latvia
• Lebanon
• Malaysia
• Mauritius
• Nigeria
• Tanzania
• Uganda
• Zambia

Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, stated: “We are leading diplomatic efforts to increase the number of countries where foreign criminals can be swiftly returned, and if they want to appeal, they can do so safely from their home country. Under this scheme, we’re investing in international partnerships that uphold our security and make our streets safer.”

Migrants Detained in Dover Under New ‘One In, One Out’ Deal

Dozens of migrants have been detained in Dover as part of the UK’s new ‘one in, one out’ pilot scheme with France.

As part of the scheme, the UK will process migrants who have crossed the Chanel in small boats and refer them to the French authorities.

The migrants will then be returned to France in exchange for an approved asylum seeker to be brought to the UK under a “safe and legal” route.

The pilot scheme was announced in July as a joint venture between the UK and French governments and will last 11 months. Migrants currently being held in Dover under the scheme are expected to be returned to France “within weeks”.

Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, stated: “The transfers to immigration removal centres are under way as we speak, so we won’t provide operational details at this point that criminal gangs can simply use and exploit. But no-one should be in any doubt: anyone who arrives from now on is eligible for immediate detention and return.”

The scheme has received sharp criticism from charities such as Care4Calais, which deemed the scheme “morally repugnant” and stated that the notion of “in order to offer one person sanctuary, we must first of all permanently deny someone else the right to safety” as being unacceptable.

Calls for Evidence for UK Permission Refusals and Cancellations Investigation Open

The Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration (ICIBI) has opened a call for evidence for a new investigation into refusals or cancellations of permissions to enter the UK.

Anyone with knowledge or first-hand experience of having their permission to enter the UK refused or cancelled is able to submit evidence.

In particular, the ICIBI are interested to hear about “what is working well and what could be improved” in the following areas:

• The role of Border Force officers in refusing and cancelling permission to enter the UK at airports, seaports and juxtaposed controls
• The efficiency, effectiveness and consistency of current practice
• The impact of carrier checks for organisations and passengers
• The impact of digitisation of the border on the ability of Border Force officers to identify individuals whose permission to enter the UK should be refused or cancelled

The window to submit evidence is open until 20 August 2025.

Full details, including how to submit evidence, can be found on the gov.uk website.

How Can IAS Help With Your UK Visa Application?

IAS have a team of immigration advisers and caseworkers experienced in the field of UK immigration law.

Regardless of where you’re coming from or what your chosen immigration pathway is, we can help you with almost all UK immigration and visa cases, using our years of experience and compassionate customer service to help get you to where you need to go.

We also offer fast-track and urgent application packages if you need to submit your application to a deadline.

Don’t hesitate to reach out for help on your situation today. Call us on +44 (0)333 414 9244 or reach out to us online.