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What are eVisas?

Since 2020, UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) have not been issuing Biometric Residence Permits (BRPs) with an expiry date later than 31 December 2024, even if your actual visa expiry date (usually confirmed on your visa decision letter or email) is actually later than this.

UKVI are phasing out BRPs and no longer issuing them. This came into effect from 31 October 2024. If your visa application was decided after this date, you will not have been issued with a BRP.

UKVI have created a set of videos that provide more information on the following:

• What is an eVisa?
• How to create a UKVI account and access your eVisa
• How to travel with your eVisa
• How to prove your immigration status with your eVisa

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Who already has an eVisa?

If you already have a UKVI account, you should be able to log into the account and access the eVisa. You should already have a UKVI account if you used the UKVI ID check app to apply for your current visa. This may be because you:

• have pre-settled or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme; or
• are a EU/EEA/Swiss national who applied for their most recent UK visa outside or inside the UK using the app; or
• are a non-EU/EEA/Swiss national who applied to extend your visa inside the UK using the app

If you do not already have a UKVI account, you will need to create one and use the UKVI ID check app to complete steps to confirm your identity.

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Who else can get an eVisa?

All students that have a visa to be in the UK that is valid for more than six months should now be able to set up an eVisa. It is important that you take this action as soon as possible and before your BRP expires on 31 December 2024 in case you need to travel outside the UK.

If your visa for the UK is valid for six months or less, for example because you are studying a short course or because you are in the UK as a Visitor, you’ll not be able to activate an eVisa. You’ll have an alternative form of evidence to show your right to be in the UK such as a vignette (sticker in your passport).

The systems employers and landlords use to complete right to work and rent to rent checks are separate from the eVisa system, so you still need to activate your eVisa even if you have already generated a share code for an employer or a landlord.

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I’m planning on applying for a new visa soon

If your current visa expires after 31 December 2024, you should still activate an eVisa for your current visa if is still valid.

You should apply for your new visa in the usual way before your current visa expires.

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My passport has changed since I applied for my last visa but before I have activated by eVisa

You should be able to activate your eVisa by either logging into your existing account with your old passport details or by creating a UKVI account with your new passport.

We understand that you’ll still need to use the ‘update your account’ service after activating your eVisa to ensure the eVisa is linked to the new passport:

 

If any of your details have changed in the new passport (eg name, nationality, gender) you may be asked to send the new passport to UKVI.

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How do I apply for an eVisa?

You will need:

• a smartphone (you can borrow a friend or family member’s phone if your phone is not compatible with the app. No data is stored in the app once this step of the application process is complete); and
• a mobile phone number; and
• an email address; and
• a valid passport with your BRP number or visa application number* (if you don’t have a BRP or a copy of the BRP details); or
• your BRP card

*Your visa application number is either the reference number you have been given starting with ‘GWF’ or the unique application number (UAN) from your visa application (this is usually a 16-digit number starting with ‘1212-’ or ‘3434-’)

You must give a phone number and email address you can access regularly as you will need to use these every time you log into your eVisa. Keep this in mind if you are considering adding a helper to your eVisa account.

Before travelling, you should also ensure that you have linked your current passport to your eVisa to avoid problems entering the UK.

If you have a passport with a microchip in it (your passport should have a symbol that confirms this if it’s chipped) you should be able to scan your passport in the app rather than your BRP to set up your UKVI account. If you use the passport rather than the BRP, it should mean that you do not need to link your passport separately later on.

If your passport does not have a chip, you will need to use your BRP and use the service below to link your passport to your eVisa before you travel.

 

For more instructions on how to set up your eVisa:

Free Movement have also published a useful step by step guide that may help you:

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I have issues scanning my passport in the UKVI ID check app

The UKVI ID check app will not be able to scan passports that don’t have a chip. Our understanding is that after you start the application process you can now confirm if your passport doesn’t have a chip and the app should let you take a picture of the passport instead. We also understand that if your passport does not have a Machine Readable Zone (MRZ - usually a two line code on the data page of your passport containing chevrons “<<”) you may be asked to contact UKVI for further help, and you may be requested to send the passport to them.

If scanning the chip fails the first time, use the ‘try again' option. Ensure the phone you’re using is in contact with the passport, and hold the phone still when the screen says “Accessing chip”.

When taking a photo of the passport biographic page, make sure that the full page is in the camera frame on the app screen and there is no glare or shadow that covers the picture, text or MRZ.

Contact ISSAC for help if you are having problems with this step. We’ll check to see if it’s something we can help with or whether you’ll need to contact UKVI directly.

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How do I show evidence of my eVisa?

When entering the UK, you need to present your valid passport. The Border Force Officer will scan your passport and check the eVisa that is linked to your passport. This is why it is important to make sure your current valid passport is linked to your eVisa before you travel.

UKVI have advised that until 31 December 2024 you should still travel with your BRP if you leave and re-enter the UK before the date your BRP expires, and show it when you re-enter the UK.

To prove your visa status for other reasons (for example, for registration at the University) you need to use the following service on the UKVI website and generate a share code online. This is similar to how you show evidence of your right to rent or right to work in the UK:

Using the view and prove service above will mean that you generate a 'share code' which is valid for a third party to check your visa status for 90 days. After this time, you would need to generate a new code. UKVI advise that you use this service to generate a share code before you travel to the UK. The airline carrier may use the share code to check that you have permission to travel.

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Checking your visa

It is very important that you check your eVisa to ensure that all of the following are correct:

• Your personal details are correct and match the details in your passport (eg name, nationality, date of birth) 
• The conditions (eg the restrictions on your visa such as the maximum hours you can work in term-time)
• The length of your visa. If you are not sure when your visa should expire, refer to:

Student Visa duration

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What if there are errors or problems with my eVisa?

You should contact ISSAC if you think there are any errors on your eVisa. ISSAC can send a form to UKVI on your behalf to request a correction if you have a visa in one of the following categories:

• Student
• Child student
• Graduate
• Dependant partner
• Dependant child

And if the error on your eVisa is one of the following:

• Start date of the eVisa 
• End date of the eVisa (more information can be found on our Student Visa duration page)
• Conditions of your visa (for example work conditions - if the working hours or type of work permitted on the eVisa are incorrect)
• sponsor licence number (for the University of ��«Ӱҵ, this is EGTNN8XR7)
• Category for visa
• Dependant category is wrong (for example if it says you are a dependant of a student when you should be dependant of a graduate)
• Image (for example if your eVisa shows someone else’s picture)

We will then advise you on what to do next. We may advise you to report the error here:

For technical problems, you’ll need to contact UKVI for help:

If you’re having problems, you can also report your case to the eVisa problems web site using the form below. This is managed by 3million, in conjunction with the Immigration Law Practitioners Association (ILPA) and the Open Rights Group who are building an evidence base on eVisa problems to try to get a solution for visa holders whose eVisa isn't working:

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My passport has changed since I activated my eVisa

If your new passport does not show any change to your personal details (eg name, nationality, sex marker) you can use the ‘update your UKVI account’ service to add your new passport to your account. You can do this if you are inside or outside the UK:

 

If you’re inside the UK and your personal details in the new passport are the same as the old passport, you should be able to take a photo of the new passport and upload it. If any of these are different in the new passport, you may be asked to send the new passport to UKVI for verification.

If you are outside the UK and your new passport shows your personal details have changed, you cannot use the ‘update your UKVI account service’ and you will need to apply for and obtain a temporary visa before you travel back to the UK:

You will then need to update your UKVI account or activate your eVisa (depending on whether you already have a UKVI account) after you enter the UK.

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Recovering your UKVI account

If you no longer have access to the phone or email you used to create the account, you can use the service here to recover it: 

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I am unable to travel or return to the UK within the period on my visa vignette

If you’re unable to travel to the UK before the 'valid to' date on your vignette, it's possible that you will miss the latest possible registration date on your course. You should contact ISSAC for further advice on what to do next:

Contact ISSAC

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I have a BRP, what should I do when it expires?

UKVI now advise you to keep any previous BRPs you have held. Using an expired BRP may help you when submitting a future visa application as it may help you be able to use the UKVI ID check app, and prevent you from needing to attend a biometric appointment at a visa application centre. 

Previously, they advised you should return BRPs to them when they expired, but you are no longer required to do this unless they contact you specifically to ask you to.

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I have lost my BRP

UKVI no longer issues any BRPs, even to replace existing ones.

If your BRP has been lost or stolen, visit the page below:

Lost/stolen passport or BRP

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Proving your right to work or rent

The that you use to show your eVisa cannot be used as evidence of your right to work or rent in the UK. An employer or landlord must use the relevant right to work or right to rent checking service instead. These services work in a similar way as the ‘view and prove’ service for your eVisa.

To do this, you must:

1: Request and download a ‘share code’ online, using the relevant GOV.UK page:

2: Send this to your employer or landlord via email.

3: They will use the ‘share code’ to confirm your immigration status and save this evidence themselves.

For more information on how to prove your status in the UK, visit: