Digital Immigration Status

UKVI are replacing physical documents with an online record of your immigration status. You need to create a UKVI account to access your eVisa and share information about your immigration status and conditions, such as your right to work or rent in the UK, using the view and prove service. You do not have to pay to create a UKVI account.

What is an eVisa?

Updating your physical document to an eVisa does not affect your immigration status or the conditions of your permission to enter or stay in 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, which must be registered to your UKVI account. Until the end of 2024 you will need to continue to carry your physical document when you travel, if you have one.

The benefits of eVisas include:

they are secure and cannot be lost, stolen or tampered with, unlike a physical document
you will not need to wait for, or collect, a physical document after your application is decided – you might still need to provide biometric information in person, and UKVI will tell you if you need to do this
it will be quicker and easier to prove your status at the UK border, and share your status with third parties like employers and landlords

You can watch a video on what an eVisa is.

How will I use my UKVI account?

Once you have created your UKVI account you will be able to view the details of your eVisa online, for example your type of permission, when it expires and your conditions of stay in the UK.

You can update your personal information in your UKVI account, such as your contact details.

Your eVisa will be linked to your passport in your UKVI account. You must keep your passport or ID card details up to date in your UKVI account and tell ukvi about any changes, so that your immigration status can be easily identified at the UK border. You’ll still need to carry your current passport with you.

How do I get an eVisa and a UKVI account?

If you have a biometric residence permit

If you have a biometric residence permit (BRP) that expires on 31 December 2024, UKVI will tell you how to create a UKVI account and access your eVisa before the expiry date of your BRP.

If you have already been contacted to create an account, either by email or in a decision letter, you can now follow the instructions UKVI sent you to create a UKVI account.

If you have not yet been contacted about creating an account, you’ll be able to create your account and access your eVisa later in 2024. Sign up for updates on this page to keep up to date on when you’ll be able to access your eVisa.

If you have permission to stay in the UK, once you’ve created your UKVI account you will be able to sign in to the view and prove service to access your eVisa.

If you have a biometric residence card

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.

If you have a BRC and you have not been granted status under the EU Settlement Scheme, obtained another form of immigration leave, or become a British citizen, then your BRC is no longer valid, even if it appears to still be in date. This is because the UK has left the EU, and the EU free movement law no longer applies.