The UK’s Transition to Digital Immigration with eVisas
29th April 2024
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29th April 2024
Biometric Residence Permits (BRP) to be replaced with eVisas by 2025
The UK’s border and immigration system is going digital. Physical documents, such as Biometric Residence Permits (BRPs) and passport vignette stickers, will no longer be issued from 31 October 2024 and almost all existing BRP’s have an expiry date of 31 December 2024. The aim is to be fully digital by 2025.
Physical documents will be replaced by eVisas, which are an online record of your immigration status and any conditions of your permission to stay in the UK. With eVisas, visa holders will have a secure, digital way of proving their immigration status, either when travelling or if required to do so in the UK, e.g. right to rent or right to work checks.
The new system is designed to make things easier and more efficient for those navigating UK immigration. Benefits of eVisas include:
If you have a BRP
Your BRP will remain valid until its expiry date (31/12/2024). If your immigration status was granted for a longer period than the expiry date on your BRP, that status will not be affected by the expiry of your physical document.
You should now create a UKVI Account to access your eVisa using this link. It is recommended that you complete this process as soon as possible. Once completed, you will be able to view and prove your UK immigration status digitally. Home Office guidance states that you should still keep your expired BRP card, as it may help with future applications to stay in the UK.
If you have another physical document
If you have indefinite leave to enter or indefinite leave to remain (also known as settlement) and you currently prove your rights through a different type of physical document, such as a wet-ink stamp in your passport or a vignette sticker, then you should make a ‘no time limit’ (NTL) application.
If your NTL application is successful, you’ll get a BRP to prove your rights. You should carry your BRP, along with your passport, when travelling internationally. Once you have a BRP, you’ll be able to create a UKVI account to access your eVisa later this year.
What if you have a biometric residence card?
If you have a biometric residence card (BRC) and you have been granted status under the EU Settlement Scheme, then you already have an eVisa and you do not need to take any action to obtain one. You can find details of how to access and use your eVisa (your digital status) in your grant letter or email. You should continue to carry your BRC with you when you travel internationally.
How easy is it set up an eVisa?
The process is simple and can be completed within ten minutes. Provided you have access to a smartphone and personal information such as your date of birth and BRP number, you can access your eVisa. Once you have created your account, you will be able to view your eVisa screen which outlines your immigration status and visa expiry date. This page will also give you the option to prove your status via a ‘share code’, which can be passed on to the person you want to share your status information with.
If you do not already have one, you can now create an online UKVI account to view your eVisa and share your immigration status with third parties, e.g. landlords, employers, education providers. If you need help with creating your UKVI account and getting access to your eVisa, you can contact the Home Office here. There is also a Home Office eVisa webchat, or you can call the UK Visas and Immigration resolution centre on 0300 790 6268 or +44 (0)203 875 4669.
The eVisa will mean you no longer need to show your physical immigration document at the border. Your eVisa will be linked to your passport or travel document, so when you travel, carriers and Border Force will be able to check your immigration status automatically. This means it is important to keep your current passport or travel document details updated in your UKVI account. For further guidance, the Home Office has released this promotional video on how to prove your status with an eVisa.
Carriers will continue to accept BRPs/BRCs which expire on 31 December 2024 as valid evidence of permission to travel, as part of a transitional arrangement in place until 31 March 2025.
If you need to make a new application for permission to stay in the UK, you should follow the usual application process. There will be information and guidance provided during your application process if you need to create a UKVI account.
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