The UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) announced in October 2023 that they will be transitioning from physical immigration documents to an online record system known as an eVisa.
What is an eVisa?
The eVisa is a digital record of a person’s immigration status in the UK. It will indicate the conditions of a person’s permission to stay or enter the UK.
In the future, an eVisa will be sufficient for travel to the UK when used alongside a physical passport. However, until then, you should continue to carry any physical documents you possess, along with your passport.
What UK Immigration Documents Will the eVisa Replace?
In the future, the eVisa will replace the following: Biometric Residence Permits and Cards, passport endorsements, and vignette stickers in passports.
Why is my Biometric Residence Permit only valid until 31 December 2024?
Many individuals are concerned that their Biometric Residence Permits (BRPs) are only valid until 31 December 2024, even though their leave to remain in the UK extends beyond that date.
Firstly, the expiration date on the BRP will not impact a person’s immigration status, right to work, access to services, benefits, or ability to travel.
The Home Office is replacing BRPs with eVisas, aiming to complete the transition by 31 December 2024.
Benefits of the eVisa?
The eVisa will simplify the process of proving your status at the UK border and make it easier to share your status with landlords and employers.
Your immigration status will be accessible online from anywhere in the world.
According to the UK Government, the eVisa will also eliminate the need to wait for or collect a physical document after your application is finalized, though biometric information may still need to be provided in person.
The eVisa is considered more secure as it cannot be lost, stolen, or tampered with.
When am I eligible to enable my eVisa?
Unless you have received an email from the Home Office, you may not be able to create your account or view your eVisa yet.
Individuals who currently have permission to stay in the UK and hold a BRP, BRC, or other physical documents proving their immigration status do not need to take any action unless instructed by the UK Government. Updates will be provided throughout 2024 regarding when and how to register for a UKVI account.
Steps to Enable Your eVisa:
You will receive an email from the UK Government with instructions on how to enable your eVisa. If you haven’t received this email, it may not yet be possible to create your account or view your eVisa.
Steps to enable your eVisa:
- Create a UKVI account on gov.uk
- Insert your personal information (date of birth, BRP number, passport number, email address and phone number)
What if I don’t have a BRP and only have a vignette sticker in my passport?
Some individuals with Indefinite Leave to Remain may only have a physical document, such as a wet-ink stamp or a vignette sticker in their passport, as proof.
After inquiries with the Home Office, it has been confirmed that such vignettes will not be digitized until autumn 2025. The Home Office will provide further details closer to that time. Until then, you can continue to rely on a valid vignette in your passport.
If you have lost your vignette or wish to obtain an eVisa before the Home Office digitizes these vignettes. It is recommended to apply for a ‘No Time Limit’ (NTL) application. Upon approval, you will receive a BRP card, which you can use along with your passport when traveling outside the UK. Once you have a BRP, you will be able to create your UKVI account and access your eVisa online later in 2024.
How to get a UKVI Account and an eVisa?
If UKVI has contacted you to create an account, follow the instructions provided to set up your account.
Once registered, you will be able to view and prove your immigration status online and share it with third parties, such as employers or landlords, through a share code. The UKVI will also automatically share your immigration status with other government departments and public authorities.
If you have a BRP and haven’t been contacted about creating an account, you will be able to do so later in 2024.
How First Move Immigration can help you?
The UK Government will continue to provide updates on the eVisa throughout the coming months and 2024. They will inform you when to register for a UKVI account and what steps to take.
If you currently have permission to stay in the UK and hold a BRP, BRC, or other physical documents proving your immigration status, no immediate action is required.
First Move Immigration will keep clients informed as more information becomes available. Feel free to consult your First Move Immigration advisor for more details or assistance with your eVisa application.