The Court of Appeal has ruled on a dispute between supermarket giants Lidl and Tesco, upholding...
UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) are moving toward a digital immigration system.
What is an eVisa?
An eVisa is an online record of your immigration status and the conditions of your permission to enter or stay in the UK. You will need to create a UKVI account to be able to access your eVisa. The eVisa will be used to travel to the UK and eventually you will not be required to carry a physical document.
UNTIL YOU HAVE AN eVISA YOU WILL NEED TO CONTINUE TO CARRY YOUR PHYSICAL DOCUMENT
The following immigration status documents being replaced by the E-Visa are:
- biometric residence permits (BRP)
- biometric residence cards (BRC)
- passport endorsements, such as indefinite leave to enter wet ink stamps.
- vignette stickers in passports, such as entry clearance or visa vignettes.
Those with the above documents will need to create a UKVI account to access their eVisa and share information about their immigration status and conditions, such as right to work or rent in the UK, using the view and prove service.
The Home Office confirms the following benefits of an eVisa:
- 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 we 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.
Is there a cost to create a UKVI account?
This is free and there is no cost associated with this.
How to get an eVisa and a UKVI account?
For those with BRP cards
If you have a biometric residence permit (BRP) that expires on 31 December 2024, the Home Office will contact you and inform you on 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 sent to you to create a UKVI account.
For those with BRC cards:
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.
The details of how to access and use your eVisa (your digital status) can be found in your grant letter or email. Always carry your BRC with you.
For those with Indefinite leave to enter or Indefinite Leave to remain in the UK and currently prove your rights through a different type of physical document, such as a wet-ink stamp in your passport or a vignette sticker, then you should make a ‘no time limit’ (NTL) application. Once this is successful you will then receive a BRP card. Then you will be able to create a UKVI account to access your eVisa later this year.
How to use a UKVI account?
Once the UKVI account is created 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.
It is important to keep your personal details updated on this account. This can be done via your UKVI account.
Your eVisa will be linked to your passport in your UKVI account. You must keep your passport or ID card details up to date on your UKVI account.