UK 90-Day Visa Vignette Expired: What Should You Do?

If your UK 90-day visa vignette has expired before you travelled, check your digital immigration status before applying or paying for anything. Current GOV.UK guidance says that, in most cases, you can use your eVisa instead of the expired sticker.

The important questions are whether your underlying immigration permission remains valid and whether you can access the correct travel evidence. An expired entry sticker and expired immigration permission are different issues.

What was a 90-day visa vignette?

A vignette is a visa sticker placed in a passport or travel document. Older long-term visa grants commonly included a 90-day sticker for initial travel to the UK, while the underlying permission covered a longer period.

UKVI stopped issuing visa vignette stickers to successful new applicants on 1 July 2026. Successful applicants now receive digital evidence of their permission, with additional documents required in some circumstances.

Read our UK eVisa guide for an explanation of digital immigration status.

What should you do if the sticker has expired?

If you have an expired 90-day vignette in your passport, the official guidance directs you to sign in to your UKVI account, or create an account, to access your eVisa.

Check your status and follow the current GOV.UK guidance on expired physical visas. Do not rely on older instructions that automatically tell every applicant to obtain another sticker.

Check your eVisa before booking travel

An eVisa is a digital record of your immigration status and its conditions. Accessing it does not extend your permission or change its expiry date.

Before travelling:

1. Sign in to your UKVI account and view your eVisa.
2. Check your name, visa category and permission dates.
3. Make sure your current passport or travel document is linked to the account.
4. Compare the information with your visa decision letter.
5. Resolve any error or access problem before departure.

You must still carry a valid passport or travel document. Follow the official guidance on travelling with an eVisa.

What if the visa itself has expired?

An eVisa cannot revive expired immigration permission. If the period of permission has ended, obtain advice about the appropriate application before travelling.

Check the full visa decision and current digital record rather than assuming that the dates on an old sticker tell the whole story.

What about an expired visitor visa?

The 90-day entry vignette guidance should not be applied to every expired visa sticker. GOV.UK says that an expired vignette for a period other than 90 days, such as an expired visitor visa, requires a new visa application.

If you are unsure which document you hold, have the visa category and dates checked before making travel arrangements.

What if the vignette was issued on a separate form?

There is a separate process where an expired 90-day vignette was placed on a form for affixing a visa rather than in a passport.

GOV.UK directs these applicants to request a form for accompanying an eVisa before travelling. Use the official instructions to check the application requirements.

What if you cannot access your eVisa?

Check whether you have completed the UKVI account setup and whether you are using the correct sign-in details. Keep your visa decision letter and application reference available.

If your status is missing or incorrect, follow the relevant UKVI support process. Do not assume that a printed decision email alone will resolve an airline boarding problem.

The GOV.UK eVisa guide includes instructions for account setup, updating details and reporting errors.

Does a delayed journey change your permission dates?

Do not assume that travelling later gives you a fresh period of permission. Check the dates shown in your immigration record and decision letter.

A significant delay may also affect future application planning. Tell your adviser your actual arrival date when discussing an extension or settlement application.

How Thai Visa Express can help

We can review your visa documents, help identify the relevant guidance and explain the application assistance available. When contacting us, provide your visa category, relevant dates and a brief description of the problem.

UK immigration advice is provided through Thai Visa Express UK, regulated by the Immigration Advice Authority (IAA), registration F200700163. Our Thailand office is a separate overseas consultancy.

Visit our UK website or use our contact form.