Why your passport is being returned
If you have received an email from UKVI saying your passport is being sent back to you from a visa application centre (VAC), we understand this can feel alarming. It does not mean anything has gone wrong with your application. From 20 May 2026, the Home Office stopped issuing vignette stickers (the physical visa stickers placed inside passports) for most visa routes. Because of this, VACs no longer need to hold your passport while your application is being processed. UKVI emailed affected applicants on 20 May 2026 to let them know.
This does not mean a decision has been made
Getting your passport back does not mean your application has been approved, refused, or decided in any way. It means only that the VAC no longer needs to hold it. Your application is still being processed in the normal way. You will receive a separate notification from UKVI when a decision has been made.
What happens when your application is approved
If your application is successful, you will receive an eVisa. This is a digital record of your immigration status, accessed through your UKVI online account. No physical sticker will be placed in your passport. To view and share your immigration status, you will need to set up a UKVI account (if you do not already have one) at gov.uk/view-prove-immigration-status. We have a separate article on eVisas that explains how to do this step by step.
The exception: routes where eVisas do not apply
In a small number of cases, applicants may have applied on a route that still requires a vignette (for example, if your passport is not a Home Office accepted document). If this applies to you, the VAC will keep your passport and issue a sticker in the usual way. You will not have received a return notification.
Can I travel while my application is pending?
Having your passport returned means you physically have the document back, but it does not change the rules about travelling during a pending application. If you are applying from outside the UK, check with your caseworker before making any travel plans, as travelling to a different country while your application is pending could complicate things. If you are extending or switching within the UK, leaving the country while your application is pending is generally treated as withdrawing the application, so it is best to stay put.
What you need to do
Nothing right now. Keep your passport safe when it arrives and continue waiting for the decision on your application. If you are a Borderless candidate, your caseworker is aware of this change and will update you as soon as a decision comes through. If you have questions or are feeling unsure about what is happening, get in touch with us through the platform. We are here to help.
Government guidance: https://www.gov.uk/view-prove-immigration-status