Going digital: change to online eVisas to prove immigration status

Legal Updates

This blog has been updated on 19 August 2024, to reflect changes to the guidance on applying for an eVisa.

Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) cards show proof of your immigration status, and your rights to work and claim benefits. To read more about BRP cards, read this legal update here.

BRP cards which have been issued recently have an expiry date of 31 December 2024. After this date, no new BRP cards will be issued. This is because the Home Office is moving to an online visa system. This blog explains what we know about this plan. 

What are the plans? 

On the 31st December 2024, BRP cards will be abolished and there will be a change to digital, online eVisas. 

The information that the Home Office has given is here, including how to set up an online eVisa account, which you will need in order to access your information.

This Home Office guidance was updated on 6 August 2024, with the announcement that all individuals with a BRP can make an application for a UKVI account. This means you no longer need to wait for an invitation from the Home Office to make an application.

The guidance was updated again, on 15 August, with the additional information that you should ‘keep your expired BRP card as you may need it for future applications to stay in the UK or for your personal records’.

What does this mean? 

Just because your BRP card expires on the 31 December 2024, this does not necessarily mean that your leave (or visa) expires at that time. 

It means you will have to prove your identity digitally (online) after that. 

It is a good idea to check when your current grant of leave expires so that you can be prepared for your application when it comes. 

How will I be able to prove my status online? 

In order to access your eVisa and prove your immigration status, you will first need to make a UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account. Your account will be linked to a physical document, such as a passport or ID card. 

In order to create a UKVI account, you will need: 

  • Your date of birth
  • Your BRP number
  • Your passport (if you do not have a BRP)
  • Access to an email address and phone number
  • Access to a smartphone

Making an application for a UKVI account is free. Applying for a UKVI account does not affect your immigration status, or the conditions of your stay in the UK.

For guidance on making an application for a UKVI account, read this step-by-step guide published by FreeMovement here.

For more information and for guides in Arabic, Dari, Pashto and Ukrainian, click here.

What are the potential problems?

This is not a phased or gradual change to the UK visa system. It is sudden, and for that reason it has been said that it will create a ‘cliff edge’ for migrants to make sure they switch to digital visas. The government has been trialling the new system with a small group of people, and this article has reported a few problems with the trial.

It has been pointed out that this change to a digital system risks a repeat of the Windrush scandal, in which many people with valid right to live and work in the UK were unable to prove their immigration status. 

It is likely that people with limited access to the internet will struggle to access an online account, and the government has not put measures in place to address this.

If you are having problems using the e-visa system, please use this reporting form, developed by the3million and ILPA.

We will continue to keep this blog updated when we have more information about this change.


Discussion:

19 comments on “Going digital: change to online eVisas to prove immigration status

  1. R on

    Let’s say someone doesn’t have a status yet, just an ARC: Do ARCs need to be updated to an e-visa too? Or it has nothing to do with asylum seekers?

    Reply
    • RtR on

      Hi, thanks for your message. This does not apply to ARCs for asylum seekers as far as we know. The digitalisation will be for those who have been granted immigration status.

      Reply
  2. R on

    Does this apply to ARCs too? Or it has nothing to do with asylum seekers since there is no status yet? Just wondering since I couldn’t find the answer online
    Thank you!

    Reply
  3. Reuben on

    My girlfriend and I will be moving to the UK from New Zealand in 2025. Beforehand, we are going to be doing around 6 months of travel – from February 1st up until the middle of July. We are both going to apply for the youth mobility visa, which currently requires you to apply online and arrive in the UK within 6 months of your application date to pick up your BRP. Now that this system is going to change, will that mean we still need to arrive within the 6 month period? We are just trying to plan our travel around this, so it would be very helpful if anyone knows this.

    Reply
  4. Y on

    I’m yet to receive my email to switch to an e-visa (currently on ILR). When should I be expecting this and is there a contact number/email at Home Office I can chase?

    Reply
    • RtR on

      Hi there, thanks for your comment. If you have not yet received an invitation from the Home Office to make a UKVI account, the advice is that you need to wait. There is currently no way to request an invitation from the Home Office. In solidarity, Right to Remain.

      Reply
    • Kalpesh on

      U dont need to wait go on link and start creating ac and wait till apprpved to view in few days it dif wid case case and volume they getting every day

      Reply
  5. Slimster on

    We are not looking forward to seeing how this works when trying to leave/board a flight from many countries to the UK from January 1st 2025. So many airlines and border guards will have no clue about this.

    Of particular interest is leaving The Philippines as a Filipino with a UK BRP (married to UK Citizen). The Philippines immigration desk will have no idea and it will be an interesting delay at best while they verify everything. The BRP will be expired in their eyes. They ban citizens from leaving/travelling (yes, really, you can’t leave your own country without a lot of evidence you have a job abroad, or real proof you will return (such as job/children).

    Reply
  6. M on

    Hi, I applied online and received the email saying I can now view my eVisa but ended up with “We cannot prove your status”. I have spoken to the support team and they have said that if you have been granted leave to remain through asymun it is not part of the eVisa system yet. So I have no clue what to do next and the support just informed me to keep an eye on the upcoming updates. Do you have any suggestions?

    Reply
  7. Sarah Abdullah on

    My husband has refugee status, I am British. I helped him complete his eVisa application and he received the email to say his eVisa can not be viewed. However, when he logs in it just says ‘We can’t show proof of your status ‘

    I have spoken to others in the kurdish refugee community and they are all having the same issue.

    Reply
  8. Lucky Osabuohien on

    Hello, thanks for your effort to put this together.
    My question is if someone with a Brp that expires in 2027, does that person need to apply for the brp as well? It just the ones with 31 dec 2024. Because I haven’t received any invitation prior to that.
    Thanks.

    Reply
  9. Madhurima Datta on

    I have successfully set up E-visa. My question is when I will go to another country for holiday, how can I prove my UK leave to remain status as BRP will not work after December, 2024?

    Reply
  10. ANILKUMAR CHULAVANAKUZHYIL JOSEPH on

    If someone’s BRP is given till end of december and he need to leave UK and come back only in January, the person can travel and will not affect the person’s entry to UK in January? Need some guidance on this

    Reply
  11. Srividya Kath on

    Hi, we have not received email yet for the evisa link, BRP card will expire on Dec31st 2024. how can we request for evisa link ?

    Reply

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