What is an eVisa

The UK will be introducing a purely digital immigration system in 2024. BRPs are currently only issued up to 31 December 2024 and your BRP will then be replaced with a digital visa called an eVisa. An eVisa is an online record of your immigration status which you will be able to access through a UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account. It will show the conditions of your permission to enter or stay in the UK. Please note, accessing your eVisa does not change your immigration status – it only gives you digital access to the immigration status you currently have.

There are several benefits of an eVisa over a BRP:

• they are secure and cannot be lost, stolen or tampered with
• you will not need to wait for, or collect, a physical document after your application is decided
• it will be quicker and easier to prove your status when travelling to the UK, with the University, employers or landlords

If you hold a Student visa BRP with an expiry date of 31 December 2024 but your visa expires beyond this date, you will need to create a UKVI account to access your eVisa. This new system is now open for visa holders so you can create your account and access your eVisa.

Until the end of 2024 you will still need to carry your BRP (if you have one) when you travel to the UK. In the future you’ll be able to use an eVisa to travel to the UK – you will not need to carry a physical document, except for your current passport.

If you do not have a BRP

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. Once you have a BRP, you’ll be able to create a UKVI account to access your eVisa. Later this year, the NTL application will provide you with a UKVI account and access to your eVisa rather than a BRP.

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.

Accessing my eVisa

You will need to complete the following three steps to access your eVisa:

1. create a UKVI account
2. confirm your identity and submit the form

You will need a smartphone or laptop, your identity document (BRP), and access to the UK Immigration: ID check app.

1. Create a UKVI account

To access your eVisa, you first need to create a UKVI account. It is free to create an account and can be done easily online. To create the account online, go to the gov.uk web page and select "Start now". Next complete the sections with the following details:

• your name
• date of birth
• email address
• mobile phone number
• identity document - we advise you to use your BRP for the identity document

Please check the details carefully when creating the account, particularly the BRP number and expiry date.

2. Confirm your identity and submit the form

After you have created your UKVI account and logged in, the online form will direct you to download the "UK Immigration: ID check" app on your phone. You can then use the app to scan your BRP. You can delete the app from your phone once your identity is confirmed.

Once the scanning is complete, you will be directed back to the online form to complete the following sections:

• Confirm your BRP or application number - if you are using your BRP card, please enter the BRP expiry date as it is shown on the card
• Your location
• Contact preferences
• Account security questions

After all of these sections are complete, you can submit the form. After the form is submitted, it may take a couple of days to get access to the eVisa.

Once your details are confirmed, you should get an email confirming that you can access the eVisa. You can then log into your UKVI account to view the details of your eVisa online. Your eVisa should show the following details:

• your personal details
• type of permission
• expiry date
• conditions of your stay

Sharing your eVisa details with third parties

You can share your immigration status information with third parties, such as employers or landlords, by generating a share code in the view and prove service. You can get a new share code whenever you need one – you don't have to remember a single unique code to be able to prove your status.

Keep your details up to date

You should keep your personal information and contact details up to date in your UKVI account.

Add your passport to your UKVI account

If you created the account using your BRP card, you must add your current passport details to your account after you have access to your eVisa. If you update or renew your passport, you will need to update your passport details on your UKVI account.

If you have a dual nationality, you should add the passport you'll use to travel to your account. If you have a passport for both nationalities, you can add both to your account.

You should ensure you add any identity documents to your account before your travel outside of the UK.

Adding a new passport where there are changes to your personal details

If your personal details, such as your name or sex, have changed, you will need to update these on your UKVI account by providing an updated passport or identity document that confirms the change. Please note, if your personal details have changed, you can only update these on your UKVI account from inside the UK.

If you are outside the UK, you won't be able to use the update your UKVI account details service to add your new passport. This means you may experience delays when you travel if you try to use your new passport. You should consider applying for a temporary visa to allow you to re-enter the UK. You can then use the update your UKVI account details service when you are back in the UK.

Travelling with your eVisa

When you are travelling outside of the UK, you will still need to carry your current passport with you. You should also continue to carry your BRP with you (if you have one) until it expires on 31 December 2024.

Please check your eVisa details are correct before you travel in or out of the UK. If you have a new passport, or any of your personal details have changed, you need to update these on your UKVI account before you leave the UK. Please ensure you leave enough time to update your UKVI account before you travel.

If you’ve updated your passport details on your UKVI account, but you are still waiting for confirmation your UKVI account has been updated, you should also carry your old document with you, if possible, to avoid unnecessary delays at the border.

If you cannot access your eVisa

If you cannot access your eVisa, you will need to show your carrier you valid passport. You will also need to show your valid proof of your permission to enter or stay in the UK. This can be:

• passport endorsement such as a wet ink stamp
• vignette sticker in your passport
• expired BRP card

As long as your immigration permission is still valid, you can continue to use your expired BRP until 31 March 2025 to travel to the UK.

If you don't have any of the above documents, you may experience delays or complications when try to travel back to the UK. If you can't access your eVisa, and don't have any other evidence of your immigration permission, you should consider applying for a temporary visa to return to the UK.

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