Transferring onto the UK's new e-Visa System

What is an eVisa?

An eVisa is an electronic record of a person’s immigration status. It removes the need for physical documents such as a biometric residence permit (BRP), passports containing a visa vignette sticker or immigration ink stamps, or a biometric residence card (BRC). The Government is aiming to deliver a border and immigration system which will be ‘digital by default’ by 2025 so are making steps to replace physical immigration documents with eVisas.

Who needs to take action?

Biometric Residence Permit holders

• All BRP holders should visit www.gov.uk/evisa now to create a UKVI account to access their eVisa.
• Once a customer with a BRP has created their UKVI account, they should update their account with any new passport or contact details. The ‘Update your UK Visas and Immigration account details’ service is an online service available to those who have a UKVI account which can be accessed here.
• People who hold a BRP that expires on 31st December 2024, and who have immigration leave to be in the UK beyond this date, do not need to apply to renew their BRP, as all recently issued BRPs are due to expire on this date. Instead, these people should create a UKVI account. Any BRP customer who has immigration leave that expires before 31st December 2024, but plans to remain in the UK, should seek to extend their visa in the usual way.
• BRP holders should continue to travel internationally with both their BRP, until it expires, and their passport. BRP holders should retain their BRP after they have created a UKVI account as they may need the reference number for future applications to stay in the UK.

Legacy paper document holders (passports containing ink stamps, vignette stickers, Home Office letters, etc.)

• Those who have indefinite leave to entre/remain and prove their rights using a passport containing an ink stamp or vignette sticks or use another type of legacy paper document should make a ‘No Time Limit’ application which is free to do and information on how to do so is available at www.gov.uk/evisa
• As part of the application process customers may need to travel to a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services Centre (known as a UKVCAS) to provide a photograph, and in some cases provide fingerprints.
• Successful No Time Limit applicants are issued a BRP, which they should use to create a UKVI account and access their eVisa. Customers can continue to use their BRP, BRC, or other legacy paper document alongside their eVisa, and they should continue to take it with them with their passport whenever they travel internationally to avoid unnecessary delays.
• Later in 2024, the Home Office will take steps to launch a revised No Time Limit application process which provides an eVisa directly, without issuing a BRP. Until then, if customers hold a legacy document there is no reason to delay making a No Time Limit application.

Biometric Residence Card (BRC) holders

• Customers who have a BRC and have been granted status under the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) already have a UKVI account and access to their eVisa (also referred to as an EUSS digital status).
• They can prove their rights through the view and prove service at www.gov.uk/view-prove-immigration-status and should keep their UKVI up to date with their current passport and contact details at www.gov.uk/update-uk-visas-immigration-account-details
• BRC holders who have not applied to the EUSS should visit www.gov.uk/evisa for information on what they need to do next.

eVisas and people making new visa applications

• Customers who successfully apply for a visa and are issued with a BRP up until autumn 2024 will also need to create a UKVI account to access their eVisa. They can do this using the steps outlined above and at www.gov.uk/evisa.
• From autumn 2024, most customers will no longer be issued with a physical document such as a BRP and will need to create a UKVI account to access their eVisa. Information on what to do to create a UKVI account will be contained in their decision notice and will also be available on www.gov.uk/evisa
• They will be able to use the ‘view and prove service’ (www.gov.uk/view-prove-immigrationstatus) through their UKVI account to prove their rights, and carriers will be able to automatically securely access an individual’s immigration status when they present the passport or national identity document associated with their UKVI account.

Support for vulnerable migrants

Up to £4 million of support will be available from September 2024 to a UK-wide network of voluntary and community sector organisations to provide valuable and independent support for vulnerable individuals, as part of the transition from physical immigration documents to eVisas.

The four national grant funded bodies are Migrant Help, Citizens Advice Scotland, the Welsh Refugee Council, and Advice NI, which are all now offering immediate, free support for vulnerable individuals in their transition to an eVisa. Dozens of community-based organisations, spread across the UK, will join the network of organisations actively offering support in the coming weeks. A full list of organisations, which will be updated over time, can be found here.

e-Visa Partner Pack

Supporting people through the process of transfering onto the new e-Visa is not considered providing immigration advice, which means it is not subject to the same restrictions. You can find detailed information and resources on how you can support those you are working with through the process of transferring onto the new e-Visa system, in UK Visas and Immigration's partner pack, below. It includes a toolkit, guidance for support services, and factsheets for those being supported.

The Government has also published a number of video animations explaining what an eVisa is and how to access one.