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What Is a UK Visa Vignette Transfer and Who Needs It?

  • Writer: Gaurav Nair
    Gaurav Nair
  • Jul 18
  • 4 min read

It is essential for foreign visitors who intend to visit, work, or study in the UK to be familiar with all the requirements related to visas. The most important part of this procedure is the UK visa vignette. It is a visa sticker in physical form that is affixed to your passport. However, what happens if your UK visa is still valid but your passport expires or is misplaced? A UK visa vignette transfer is therefore necessary in this situation.


UAE nationals and residents are not eligible for a UK Visa on Arrival if they are planning a quick trip to the UK. However, to enter the country, you must have a valid vignette.


Read on to know what is UK visa vignette transfer.


Recognizing the UK Visa Vignette


The UK Visas and Immigration issues the UK visa vignette. It is a temporary visa sticker. It usually lasts between 30 days to 90 days, during which time the holder is permitted entry into the UK. The bearer can enter the UK during its normally 30 to 90-day validity period. Depending on the kind of visa, holders are expected to either continue their stay in the UK or collect their Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) upon arrival.


Those who are given long-term visas, such as work, student, or settlement visas, frequently receive vignettes. You cannot enter the UK without it, even if your visa has been officially

granted.


What Is a UK Visa Vignette Transfer?


Transferring your valid visa vignette from an old, damaged, or expired passport to a new one is known as a UK visa vignette transfer. Although you will need to carry the physical documentation in a passport, the visa itself is still valid. You cannot just carry the BRP or explain your circumstances to border agents if your previous passport is full, expired, lost, or stolen.


You can use an eVisa in place of your current visa if you are in the UK. An eVisa is an electronic record of your immigration status. The fee will be determined depending on the visa that you hold.


You can opt to convert your visa to a new passport online if you are not in the UK. The cost is around 154 pounds. To complete your application, you will need to prove your identity at a visa application center.


Who Requires a UK Visa Vignette Transfer?


If your passport has expired but your visa is still valid, you might require a UK visa vignette transfer.


2) The vignette on your passport is stolen or misplaced.

3) Your passport is irreparably ruined.

4) Your personal information or name has changed.

5) The vignette, or a 90-day sticker, in your passport is no longer valid.


How to Submit an Application for a UK Visa Vignette Transfer?


The official website is where you can submit your UK Visa Vignette Transfer Application. These are steps you can take.


1) When completing your online visa application, select the Transfer of Conditions or Vignette Transfer option. This means that you are transferring the current vignette rather than requesting a new visa.

2) Pay the cost of the vignette transfer. Depending on your location and the exchange rate, fees could change.

3) After completing the application, you will be instructed to go to a nearby visa application center to provide your biometrics, which include a photo and your fingerprints.

4) Bring the following documents with you.

a) Your current passport.

b) A duplicate of your previous UK visa.

c) The reference number for the application.

d) The Confirmation of your Biometric Appointment.

5) Wait for the processing to be completed. After verifying your identity, you will receive a decision on whether your visa can be transferred within three weeks.


Validity and Limitations


Before you submit an application for your UK Visa transfer, it is necessary to ascertain the UK visa vignette validity. If any of the above information changes and your total stay in the UK exceeds six months, you will need to replace your visa with an eVisa. Your name, date of birth, nationality, sex on your passport, or facial features. The visa expiry date is not extended because of the transfer. The sticker is moved to a valid passport. The terms of your visa, including the duration of time you can stay and the work you can do, remain the same.


Particular Attention to Residents of the United Arab Emirates


The UK Visa Extension in Dubai does not apply if you are based in the United Arab Emirates and have a valid UK visa, but your vignette is in an expired passport. You will have to apply for a UK Visa vignette transfer. The extension approach is intended to prolong the validity of the visa, whereas a vignette transfer merely involves moving the visa sticker.


Take note


Short-term visits are permitted with the UK Visit Visa from Dubai. You will need to reapply if your vignette was issued under a Visit Visa and it has since been misplaced. This is due to the fact that short-stay visas do not permit transfers.


The 10 Years Multiple Entry UK Visa is a fantastic choice if you travel frequently. However, bear in mind that you will need to seek a vignette transfer if your vignette was issued in an earlier passport.

 
 
 

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