Access your eVisa

UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) are replacing physical visas with an online, digital record of your immigration status called an eVisa. 

If you do not yet have an eVisa, you will now be able to create an account and access your eVisa. This is available to everyone who holds physical immigration documents including;

  • Biometric Residence Permit (BRPs)
  • Biometric Residence Cards (BRCs)

If you hold other immigration documents, for example a vignette or stamp in your passport, you should check if you can access an eVisa

Depending on your nationality or where you applied for your visa, your may already have an eVisa and UKVI Account.

The UKVI account allows you to;

  • View and prove your rights in the UK for an employer, landlord, education and other organisations such as government services and the National Health Service
  • Check what rights you have in the UK
  • Update your personal details including your contact details, travel documents and personal information
  • Link your travel document(s) to your eVisa status for return travel to the UK

Obtaining an eVisa is free and will not change your immigration status for the UK.

UKVI provide a short video to explain eVisas.

Full details can be found on accessing your eVisa and a short video explains the steps to be undertaken.

You will receive an email when your eVisa is ready to view on the UKVI account. This can take a few days.

Your eVisa will be linked to the identity document you used to create the UKVI account. Before travelling you must ensure your current travel document(s) is linked to your eVisa. This ensures the smoothest journey when boarding to return to the UK. You can do this by using the Update your UKVI account details.

FAQ's

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You need to create a UKVI account so you can access your eVisa before the 31 December 2024. The service to do this is available now. 

Some individuals have already received an email from UKVI with instructions to create an account. From 6 August 2024 the service was made available to everyone, so you no longer need to wait for an email.  

You can find out about eVisas and creating your account on UKVI's eVisa page. You can create your UKVI account starting on this page, Get access to your eVisa.

You must continue to travel outside of the UK with your BRP up to and including 31 December 2024. From the 1 January 2025 your eVisa linked to your passport will allow to you to travel.

It is recommended to retain the expired BRP/BRC as it may help with future visa applications to stay in the UK, and for your personal records. 

You will need to apply to extend your visa in the usual way through a visa application. If you are applying to extend your permission, a UKVI account will be created when you apply, and it is likely that you will not receive a new BRP. 

If you intend to leave the UK in line with, or prior to your current visa expiry date, you do not need to create a UKVI account, and no further steps need to be taken.

UKVI has a dedicated webchat service to assist with all queries related to the UKVI account and your eVisa status.

If you need to recover your UKVI account, because you have lost access to the phone and email you use to receive security codes, you will need to call UKVI directly, details can be found on the  recovery your UKVI account webpage.

 

Yes this is possible, for example parent(s) holding a UKVI account for dependant child(ren).

 

Once you have a UKVI account you will be able to access your eVisa to view the details of your visa permission, its expiry date and conditions.

You are able to share information about your immigration status and conditions using the view and prove service by getting a share code. The share code gives time limited access to relevant data on your UKVI account and can be provided to relevant organisations or individuals.

Three share codes can be generated:

  1. Prove your right to work - code begins with a W
  2. Prove your right to rent - code begins with a R
  3. Prove your immigration status, for example for studying, driving, access to Health Services - code begins with a S

The share code will automatically expire after 90 days, and there is no limit on the number of share codes you can obtain.

Some government bodies, such as the National Health Service (NHS) and Department for Work and Pensions can usually confirm your status automatically, so a share code is not required. 

 

UKVI to provide a short  video to explain how to travel with your eVisa.

You must continue to travel outside of the UK with any physical documents, such as a BRP whilst it remains valid, for example for BRP holders up to and including the 31 December 2024.

Your eVisa must be linked to your current passport in your UKVI account. If you hold dual nationality or more than one passport or ID document these can be linked.

Update your UKVI account as soon as you can with details of a new passport, and at least several days before you travel if possible, as the updates do not always take effect immediately. If you don’t receive confirmation your account has updated, carry your old passport with you are well if possible.

During 2024, the Home Office is taking steps to allow carriers such as airlines, ferry, and international train operators, to securely and automatically access your immigration status when you present your travel document which is linked to your UKVI account. 

 

 

A parent, guardian or responsible adult should create a UKVI account on behalf of a child. Further instructions can be found at the using your UKVI account website.

 

You can update your personal information in your UKVI account, including:

  • mobile phone number
  • email address
  • name
  • identity document, such as your passport or national identity card
  • home address
  • postal address

Your eVisa will be linked to your passport so you must update your UKVI account if you get a new passport. If you travel before you get confirmation that your UKVI account has been updated, take your old passport with you as well as your new passport.

You can also update your UKVI account if your nationality changes or you get a new nationality. 

Do not update your name or passport details while you have a visa application pending. 

 

Some individuals will already have a UKVI account and eVisa. This includes;

  • EU/EEA Swiss nationals who have used the UK Immigration: ID check app to verify their identify as part of the visa application, instead of attending a biometric enrolment appointment in person
  • Individuals that have extended their permission to stay in the UK and were able to use the UK Immigration: ID check app. Please note if you are a visa national you might have also been given a BRP, alongside the eVisa status.
  • Individual who hold pre-settled or settled status under the EU settlement scheme
  • Individuals who applied under one of the Ukraine schemes

If you are unsure you can check whether you hold a UKVI account here or refer to your original email or letter confirming the visa decision.

 

If you have a BRC which shows the type of permit as “EU scheme settlement”

You have been granted status under the EU Settlement Scheme, and will already have a UKVI account with a digital status. You should continue to carry your valid BRC with you when you travel internationally. 

If you have a BRC which shows the type of permit as “Family member – EU residence”

You are unlikely to have a status under the EU Settlement Scheme, or obtained a different form of permission, or become a British citizen. Your BRC is no longer valid and you will need to apply for a form of permission as soon as possible. You may be able to make a late application to the EU Settlement Scheme as a family member of a relevant EU, other EEA or Swiss citizen. Do not travel internationally until you can prove your immigration status. 

 

If you have Indefinite Leave to Enter or Indefinite Leave to Remain issued as an ink stamp or vignette sticker in your passport, you will not be able to set up an eVisa status without taking additional action. You will need to take steps to obtain an eVisa before your passport expires.

 

To do this you will need to make a 'no time limit' (NTL) application, you with either be issued with a BRP or towards the end of 2024 the process will be updated so that you automatically obtain an eVisa and UKVI account. If you are issued with a BRP you will then be able to create a UKVI account to access your eVisa.

 

See "If you have a BRC which shows the type of permit as “Family member – EU residence” above. 

 

A repeat Right to Work check is not needed because an individual has created a UKVI account and has an eVisa.

A repeat right to work check is required where the employees visa status is due to expiry and you intend to continue to employ them.  A repeat Right to Work check must be secured within 28 days of the visa expiry.

Since April 2022, individuals holding a BRP have needed to provide a share code for a Right to Work check to by undertaken via the Home Office online service.  The online Right to Work check will have provided the individuals visa expiry date and this may be beyond the BRP expiry date of 31 December 2024.

If the Right to Work check was undertaken prior to the 6 April 2022 or the online service was not used, the right to work check will have been undertaken on the physical BRP only. In these cases it will be necessary to undertake a repeat Right to Work check for continued employment. The individual will need to provide a share code, for your to undertake an online check.