Visa Vignette
A visa vignette is the physical sticker placed in your passport when a UK visa is granted from abroad. It gives you permission to travel to and enter the UK — once — within a 30-day window. It is not your visa; your actual leave to remain is recorded digitally and shown on your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) or eVisa.
In This Article
- What is a visa vignette?
- Vignette vs your actual visa
- What to do after you arrive in the UK
- Vignette validity and expiry
- Lost, damaged, or expired vignettes
- Common mistakes to avoid
- Frequently asked questions
- Related terms
What is a Visa Vignette?
When you apply for a UK visa from outside the UK and your application is approved, the UK Visa Application Centre places a sticker — the vignette — into your passport. This vignette is your travel document: it proves you have been granted entry clearance and tells UK Border Force what visa you hold when you arrive.
The vignette contains:
- Your name and date of birth
- The visa route (e.g. Skilled Worker, Student)
- The date it was issued
- A 30-day window during which you must travel and enter the UK
- A statement such as "Entry Clearance — Leave to Enter"
One important thing the vignette does not show: your full leave end date. That is recorded separately.
Vignette vs Your Actual Visa
This is where a lot of people get confused, and it matters.
The vignette is travel permission, not your visa leave. Your actual right to remain in the UK for — say — 3 years is recorded digitally by the Home Office. When you arrive and pass through Border Force, your leave to remain is formally granted at that point. The vignette itself becomes spent once you've entered.
| Document | What it does | Valid for |
|---|---|---|
| Vignette (passport sticker) | Lets you travel to and enter the UK | 30 days from issue date, single entry |
| BRP (Biometric Residence Permit) | Proves your right to live, work, and access services in the UK | Duration of your visa leave |
| eVisa | Digital record replacing BRP (rolling out from 2025) | Duration of your visa leave |
The visa expiry date that matters for your employment and residency is on your BRP or in your eVisa — not the vignette.
What to Do After You Arrive in the UK
Once you enter the UK on your vignette, you have a short window to collect your Biometric Residence Permit. The collection location — a specific Post Office branch — is printed on your visa decision letter.
The process:
- Enter the UK within the 30-day vignette window
- Locate the Post Office branch named in your decision letter
- Collect your BRP within 10 working days of arriving (or by the date on your decision letter if earlier)
- Check all the details on the BRP are correct — name, date of birth, visa category, end date
- Report any errors to the Home Office within 10 days of receiving the BRP
Once you have your BRP, you can use it (along with your passport) for right to work checks, renting property, opening bank accounts, and re-entering the UK after travel abroad.
From 2025 onward, the UK government is phasing out physical BRPs in favour of eVisas — a digital record accessed via the UKVI online service. The process for arriving with a vignette remains the same; you just create and access your eVisa account instead of collecting a card.
Vignette Validity and Expiry
The standard vignette is valid for 30 days from the date it is issued. This window is to give you time to make travel arrangements after your visa is approved.
If you have not entered the UK before the 30-day vignette expires, your travel permission lapses — but your underlying visa grant is not automatically cancelled. You need to apply for a new vignette (vignette transfer) from a UK Visa Application Centre in your country, providing your current passport and the original decision letter.
Lost, Damaged, or Expired Vignettes
Lost or damaged passport (with vignette inside): Report the loss to your local police and the Home Office. Apply for a vignette transfer using your new passport.
Expired vignette before travel: Apply for a vignette transfer at a Visa Application Centre. You do not need to reapply for the visa itself.
Vignette visible errors: If the Home Office printed incorrect details on your vignette (wrong name, wrong dates), do not travel on it. Contact UKVI to have it corrected before departure.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Assuming the vignette end date is your visa end date. The 30-day vignette window is just your travel permission — your actual leave is much longer and is on your BRP.
- Failing to collect your BRP within 10 working days. This is a visa condition breach. If you can't collect in time due to an emergency, contact UKVI immediately rather than hoping it resolves itself.
- Travelling abroad before collecting your BRP. Without a BRP or eVisa, re-entering the UK can be complicated. Collect your BRP first before any onward travel.
- Not checking BRP details on collection. Errors are easier to fix immediately. Spotting a mistake 6 months later creates unnecessary complications.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if my vignette expires before I travel to the UK?
If your 30-day vignette expires before you travel, you cannot use it to enter the UK. You will need to apply for a new vignette — known as a vignette transfer — from a UK Visa Application Centre. There is a fee for this service. Your underlying visa leave is not affected; only the travel permission needs to be re-issued.
Can I re-enter the UK multiple times on a vignette?
No. A UK entry vignette is single-entry. Once you have used it to enter the UK, it is spent. After you have collected your BRP and are living in the UK, you use your BRP (or eVisa) together with your passport to travel in and out of the country.
What if I don't collect my BRP within 10 days of arriving?
You must collect your Biometric Residence Permit from the designated Post Office branch within 10 working days of arriving in the UK (or by the date on your vignette, whichever is sooner). Failing to collect it is a breach of your visa conditions. If there is a genuine reason for the delay, contact UK Visas and Immigration as soon as possible.
Is a vignette issued for in-country visa switches or extensions?
No. If you are already in the UK and switching visa category or extending your leave, you apply from inside the UK and receive your updated BRP or eVisa directly — no vignette is issued. Vignettes are only issued to people applying for entry clearance from outside the UK.
Related Terms
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