How to set up and update your eVisa
The Home Office is replacing hard copy immigration documents with digital immigration status (an ‘eVisa’) by 1 January 2025.
Immigration status holders will be required to set up their own eVisa. This post tells you how to do this.
What is an eVisa?
An eVisa is an online record of:
- Your immigration status
- The conditions of the type of permission you have to enter or stay in the UK
Who can register for an eVisa?
All biometric card holders can now apply for an eVisa online.
The Home Office is replacing physical documents, such as Biometric Residence Permits (BRPs) and vignette stickers, with an online record of your immigration status. This is known as an eVisa.
Who should apply for an eVisa?
This table explains who should apply for an eVisa and which steps to take at the time of writing:
Document holder | Action required |
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BRPs expiring on 31 December 2024 (including those who have permission to enter or remain for more than 6 months or are settled in the UK). | Apply for an eVisa before 31 December 2024; use the View and Prove service to access the eVisa; when travelling outside the UK, carry both the passport and BRP until the BRP expires. |
BRPs or Biometric Residence Cards (BRCs) under the EU Settlement Scheme (including family members of EU nationals). | They already have a UKVI account and an eVisa; log into the UKVI account and make sure personal information and contact details are up to date; add in their current passport so that it can be linked to the eVisa; continue to carry their BRP/BRC when travelling outside the UK. |
Biometric Residence Card issued before the EU Settlement Scheme came into place | This is no longer valid. The person should apply for a valid immigration status as soon as possible; do not travel outside the UK until you have obtained a proof of your immigration status |
Passport endorsements such as a wet ink stamp or sticker confirming indefinite leave to enter or remain. | At present you must apply for a No Time Limit ‘NTL’ application following which a BRP is issued; once a BRP is issued you can apply for an eVisa; use the View and Prove service to access the eVisa; when travelling outside the UK, carry both passport and BRP until the BRP expires. |
Vignette/visa sticker in passport | If you are required to collect a longer term BRP you must collect this first and then apply for an eVisa; if you have an ILR visa sticker follow the steps above to make an NTL application |
If current immigration permission is expiring before 31 December 2024 | Follow the usual application process and apply before immigration permission expires; if the person is eligible, they will be prompted during the process to create a UKVI account. |
British citizens with multiple nationalities who do not hold a valid British or Irish passport | These individuals, including those with a current certificate of entitlement to the right of abode may need to take action and should check the Home Office’s eVisa guidance for updates. |
Valid British or Irish passport holders | No action required |
On a visitor visa or on an EU Settlement Scheme Family Permit | At present no action required |
How do I register for an eVisa?
You must now create a UKVI account to access your eVisa. We have prepared a video guide, with a written explanation below:
You can use the following link to create a UKVI account: Get access to your eVisa: Overview - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
To create a UKVI account and access your eVisa you will need:
- Your date of birth
- Your BRP Number or Unique Application Number (UAN)
- Your passport (if you do not have a BRP)
- Access to an email address and phone number
- Access to a smartphone
If you need help creating your UKVI account you can get help here. Some other points to note:
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Once you have created your UKVI account you will need to confirm your identity using the UK Immigration ID check app on a smart phone.
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You will then be emailed to confirm that the UKVI account has been linked to your eVisa. This can take several days to come through.
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If you did not use your passport to set up the account, you must add in your passport details to the account before you can use your eVisa to travel to the UK on or after 1 January 2025, as permission to travel will be linked to the passport listed in the UKVI account. Where you have submitted an update that you have changed your identity document but this has not been confirmed through the system you will still need to carry your previous document with you.
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You must provide a phone number and email address that you can use again, as you will need to use these details each time that you use the eVisa to provide your immigration status. There is a chat service available for assisting with the process here: eVisa Webchat (homeoffice.gov.uk)
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You should continue to carry your BRP with you when you travel internationally until it expires.
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Current Home Office guidance says that you should keep your expired hard copy BRP card as it may help with future applications to stay in the UK. This is in contrast to previous guidance which required people to destroy and send the document back to the Home Office.\
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Once you have created your UKVI account you will be able to view the details of your eVisa online, for example your type of permission, when it expires and your conditions of stay.
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There have been reports of technical problems from the information on the online check being incorrect through to two persons’ details/photos getting mixed together. Please contact UKVI for help straight away if this occurs.
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You must update the UKVI account of any of the following changes:
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You must apply to extend your visa prior to the expiry of your current visa permission.
- Mobile phone number
- Email address
- New or additional identity document (passport or national identity card)
- Home address and postal address
- Correction of date of birth
- Change of name e.g. due to marriage or by deed poll
- Change of nationality
- Legal or permanent change of gender
- Significant change of facial appearance (which will require a change of photo), and
- Allowing others to have access to your visa applications (‘helpers’) or to give ownership of your UKVI account to others
For some of these changes (name, date of birth or nationality), you will be required to upload documentary proof of this.
How do I share information about my immigration status?
Once you have created your UKVI account and accessed your eVisa, you can use the ‘view and prove’ service using your UKVI account sign in details to share relevant information about your immigration status with employers, landlords or other organisations.
You will need to make sure that you select the correct reason for sharing your information, so that the appropriate details are selected. You will then be given a ‘share code’. This can be passed on to the person you want to share your status information with.
The share code will give that person time limited access to the relevant information. You will also need to give them your date of birth which they will need to input to access the information.
What if I don’t apply for an eVisa before 31 December 2024?
You can continue to use your Biometric Residence Permit until it expires. Once it expires you are likely to have problems proving your status or re-entering the UK if you do not create a UKVI account.
The closer it gets to 31 December 2024 the greater the risk that there are technical issues or backlogs with registering. It is advisable to register for an eVisa now as soon as possible.
It is likely that Home Office systems will experience a high traffic load immediately in the lead up to the end of 2024.
How do I prove my UK immigration status when travelling?
If you have a BRP which is still valid, you should take your BRP with you when you travel outside the UK throughout 2024, even if you have also registered for an eVisa. If you travel without your BRP you may be refused re-entry to the UK.
From 1 January 2025, airlines, rail and ferry operators should have automatic access to the eVisa status of passengers on the integrated Advance Passenger Information (iAPI) system. Passengers will present their passport which is linked to their UKVI account. This should automate the existing routine checks.
Those who have an eVisa should update their UKVI account with any passport on which they intend to travel, using the ‘update my details’ service on their UKVI account if it is not already linked to their account.
From 2025, those who have not obtained a UKVI account will need to do so to avoid potential travel disruption.
Do I need to update my passport details?
Once you have created your UKVI account you must keep this up to date with details of your passport, which you can do here.
If you do not keep your passport details up to date, you may be delayed or denied boarding by airline, rail or ferry carriers.
What about those who already have a UKVI account?
For those who already have and use a UKVI account, for example who have been granted status through the EU Settlement Scheme or who used the ID checking app when applying for their visa, nothing will change. They should continue to present employers with a share code for right to work checks.
Further resources
Home Office guidance and FAQs: https://homeofficemedia.blog.gov.uk/2024/09/18/media-factsheet-evisas-2/
Details for referrals to Migrant Help to support vulnerable people to transition to eVisa: https://www.migranthelpuk.org/news/migrant-help-receives-grant-to-support-vulnerable-people-to-transition-to-evisa
Home Office help videos and guides: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/online-immigration-status-evisa-help-video