eVisa replacing physical immigration documents - Find out how to apply for yours

The way people are required to prove their immigration status is changing.

The Home Office is replacing physical immigration documents with a digital proof of immigration status - an eVisa - for those already living in the UK, as well as for new visa applicants.

An eVisa is an electronic record of a person's immigration status, removing the need for physical documents such as the Biometric Residence Permit (BRP), passports containing a visa sticker or ink stamps, or the Biometric Residence Card (BRC). It does not affect a person's immigration status or the conditions of their permission to enter or stay in the UK.

The introduction of eVisas is a key part of the Government's aim of delivering a border and immigration system which will be digital by default by 2025, enhancing the customer experience, deliver excellent value, and increasing the immigration system's security and efficiency.

For those in the UK who currently require a physical immigration document, you will now need to create a UK Visa and Immigration (UKVI) account to access your eVisa. Details of how to do this are available at www.gov.uk/evisa.

As physical documents that evidence immigration status expire, once you have created your UKVI account, you will be able to use it to view and share their status securely with third parties, such as employers or landlords.

Most new visa applicants will get an eVisa from Autumn 2024 onwards. All Biometric Residence Permits (BRPs) will expire on 31 December 2024. These should not be renewed, and instead BRP card holders should create a UKVI account to access their status going forward.

If you already have an eVisa, including if you have been granted status through the EU Settlement Scheme, you do not need to do anything other than keep your UKVI account up to date with your latest passport and contact details.

If you need support with this process, you can contact Migrant Help on 07483 170100, or by email [email protected]