eVisas

What an eVisa is

An eVisa is a digital record of a person's identity and immigration status. It also shows the conditions of that status, for example whether the person can work or study in the UK.

People get an eVisa when they are granted a visa or another type of permission to be in the UK. There is no fee to set up the account or to view the eVisa.

The move from BRPs to eVisas

eVisas have replaced physical immigration documents. Biometric residence permits (BRPs) were cards used to prove immigration status. People granted permission on or before 31 October 2024 may have one. GOV.UK says all BRPs have now expired.

An expired BRP may still work for a short time. GOV.UK says it can be used for 24 months after the expiry date on the card, or until 31 December 2026, whichever comes first. It can only be used to:

• sign in to view an eVisa and get a share code
• create a UKVI account
• apply to extend permission to stay

A visa sticker in a passport (called a vignette) stays valid until it expires.

Creating a UKVI account

An eVisa is reached through a UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account. Partners and children who are dependants each have their own account. A parent can manage a child's account. When the child turns 18, GOV.UK says the account details are updated so the child can sign in.

Many people already have an account. This includes anyone who used the "UK Immigration: ID Check" app when applying for a visa, or who applied to the EU Settlement Scheme. GOV.UK asks people with an account not to create a second one.

Creating an account needs a phone number and email address that work each time the person signs in. It also uses an identity document, such as a passport. The person then confirms their identity, usually with a smartphone app, and links the account to their eVisa. Access is usually immediate but can take up to 24 hours.

Proving status with a share code

A share code lets someone else check part of a person's immigration status online. The person gets it by signing in to the GOV.UK "view and prove your immigration status" service.

The checker also needs the person's date of birth. They see some personal details, but not the whole eVisa. A share code lasts 90 days and can be used many times. A new one can be made at any time.

Right to work. Employers check that a worker is allowed to do the job. A share code shows them the types of work allowed and for how long. People who are not British or Irish can use a share code or eligible immigration documents. GOV.UK says an employer cannot reject someone for choosing one of these options over the other.

Right to rent. Landlords in England check that a tenant can rent. The same choice applies: a share code or original immigration documents. There are no right to rent checks in Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland.

Keeping details up to date

Details are changed in the UKVI account itself. GOV.UK lists these changes to update:

• passport or travel document
• name
• mobile phone number
• email address
• home or postal address

A name or passport cannot be changed while a visa decision is pending. GOV.UK says out-of-date details can cause delays when travelling or waiting for a decision.

Travelling

The eVisa is checked at check-in with the airline or other carrier, and at the UK border, including the eGates. Travellers carry the passport that is linked to their UKVI account. People with more than one passport can add more than one.

A carrier may not let someone travel if their details are wrong. Border officials or carriers sometimes ask for extra proof. A share code for travel lasts 90 days, so it can be made before the trip. If a carrier cannot check an eVisa, GOV.UK says the carrier can contact the UK Border Force carrier support hub.

People with British or Irish nationality do not need an eVisa. They travel on their British or Irish passport, or on a passport with a certificate of entitlement.

If the eVisa shows the wrong details

GOV.UK lists different routes for different problems.

• Wrong details on the eVisa. The report an error with your eVisa service covers a wrong name, date of birth, nationality or immigration status. It also covers an eVisa that cannot produce a share code, or one that still cannot be viewed after 24 hours.
• Someone else can report it. A legal representative, employer, friend or charity worker can use the same service on a person's behalf.
• How long it takes. UKVI aims to fix most issues within 5 working days. Complex issues can take up to 15 working days.
• Wrong length or conditions of a visa. If the visa was applied for from inside the UK, GOV.UK says an administrative review is possible. This is a request for the Home Office to look again at its decision.
• Cannot sign in. There is a separate account recovery service, for example after losing a phone or changing email address.
• Other questions. UKVI runs an eVisa webchat. The GOV.UK contact UK Visas and Immigration tool points to the right team. Contact centre staff do not give advice about personal circumstances.

A regulated immigration adviser can help if an eVisa problem affects someone's own case.