Introduction
The way the UK records and verifies immigration status has changed fundamentally. Gone are the days of physical visa stickers in passports and Biometric Residence Permit cards carried in wallets. In their place is the UK eVisa – a fully digital record of a person’s immigration permission, stored securely online and accessible from anywhere in the world.
For anyone living, working, studying, or renting in the UK on a non-British or non-Irish status, the eVisa system is now central to everyday life. This guide explains clearly what the UK eVisa is, how it works, who it affects, and what you need to do to make sure your digital status is set up and working correctly in 2026.
What is a UK eVisa?
The UK eVisa is a secure digital record of an individual’s immigration status and the conditions attached to their permission to be in the UK. It records whether a person has the right to live, work, or study in the UK, or rent in England, along with any restrictions that apply to that status.
An eVisa is not a visa application in itself. It is the digital record of permission that has already been granted under the UK Immigration Rules. The underlying visa, leave, or settlement status remains unchanged – what has changed is how that status is held, accessed, and proved. Rather than carrying a physical card or document, a person’s status is now stored entirely online within the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) system.
How the transition happened
The move to a digital immigration system has been underway since 2018, but 2026 marks the point at which it became fully operational. Key milestones include:
End of Biometric Residence Permits (BRPs):Β All BRP cards expired on 31 December 2024 and are no longer valid for right to work, right to rent, or travel purposes. No new BRP cards are being issued as of January 2026.
End of physical visa stickers: From 25 February 2026, the Home Office stopped issuing vignette stickers in passports for visitor visas and most other visa categories. Every successful visa applicant now receives an eVisa linked directly to their passport and stored in a UKVI account.
Home Office travel documents go digital: From 11 March 2026, Home Office travel documents are automatically linked to UKVI accounts, allowing individuals to view their travel document alongside their eVisa online.
This shift is part of the UK’s wider Border 2025 programme, which aims to create a digital-by-default immigration system, reduce document fraud, and enable faster, analytics-based security screening at the border.
Who does the eVisa affect?
The eVisa system affects anyone who holds immigration permission in the UK but is not a British or Irish citizen. This includes:
- EU, EEA, and Swiss nationals with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme
- Skilled Worker visa holders and other sponsored work visa categories
- Student visa holders
- Family visa holders, including those on spouse, partner, and dependent routes
- Graduate route visa holders
- Those with indefinite leave to remain (ILR) or indefinite leave to enter (ILE)
- Former BRP or BRC holders whose status has been converted to a digital eVisa
British and Irish citizens are not affected – they hold automatic rights and do not need an eVisa. However, British dual nationals should be aware that they must now travel to the UK using a valid British passport rather than a foreign passport.
How to access your eVisa
eVisas are accessed through a UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account. Setting one up is free and does not affect or alter your immigration status in any way.
Create your UKVI account: Go to gov.uk/get-access-evisa and create your account using the email address linked to your immigration application. You will need your passport details and, if applicable, your BRP number or visa application reference.
Verify your identity: Complete identity verification using the UK Immigration: ID Check app on your smartphone. This involves scanning your passport chip and taking a selfie, which is matched against your biometric data using facial recognition.
Access your eVisa: Once verified, you can log in to your UKVI account to view your full immigration status, including your visa type, the conditions attached to it, and your expiry date.
Keep your details up to date: If you get a new passport, you must update your passport details in your UKVI account. Your eVisa is linked to your passport, and travelling or proving status with an unlinked passport can cause serious problems at the border or during right to work checks.
What information does an eVisa contain?
When you or an authorised third party views your eVisa, it shows the following information:
- Your full name and date of birth
- Your visa or leave type (for example, Skilled Worker, Student, Settled Status)
- The conditions of your permission, including any work or study restrictions
- The expiry date of your permission, where applicable
- Confirmation of your right to work and/or right to rent in England
How eVisas are used in everyday life
Proving your right to work: Employers can no longer accept BRP cards or passport stamps as proof of the right to work. Instead, you generate a share code through your UKVI account and provide it to your employer along with your date of birth. They use this to check your status through the government’s online service in real time.
Proving your right to rent: Landlords and letting agents in England use the same share code system to verify a tenant’s right to rent before entering into a tenancy agreement.
Travelling internationally: When you travel to the UK, border officers check your immigration status digitally through the Home Office system. Your eVisa is linked to your passport, so as long as your passport details are up to date in your UKVI account, the process is seamless. Physical documents are no longer required.
Accessing public services: eVisas can also be used to verify eligibility for certain public services and benefits where immigration status is relevant.
The eVisa and the Electronic Travel Authorisation – what is the difference?
The eVisa and the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) are two separate systems and are not the same thing. Understanding which one applies to you is important.
The eVisa is for people who hold UK immigration permission, such as visa holders, students, workers, and those with settled or pre-settled status. It is the digital record of their existing right to be in the UK.
The ETA is a pre-travel authorisation for nationals who were previously able to visit the UK without a visa, such as citizens of EU countries, the United States, Canada, and Australia. It is similar in concept to the US ESTA. From 25 February 2026, the ETA is mandatory for all such travellers. The cost of an ETA is Β£20 from 8 April 2026.
The two systems are mutually exclusive – if you hold a UK eVisa, you do not need an ETA, and vice versa.
Benefits of the eVisa system
The Home Office has highlighted several advantages of moving to a fully digital immigration system:
- Enhanced security:Β There is no physical document to lose, steal, or tamper with. Status is tied to biometric data and held securely within Home Office systems.
- Real-time accessibility: You can access your immigration status from anywhere in the world, at any time, using your UKVI account.
- Easier updates: If your personal details change, such as a new passport or a change of name, you can update them directly in your UKVI account without needing to apply for a new physical document.
- Faster verification: Employers, landlords, and carriers can verify status instantly online, reducing delays and administrative burden.
- Fraud prevention: Status is linked to unique biometrics, making it significantly harder to falsify or manipulate than physical documents.
Common problems and what to do
Despite the benefits, some individuals have encountered difficulties with the eVisa system. Common issues include:
Incorrect information on the eVisa: If your name, visa type, or conditions are displaying incorrectly, you should contact the UKVI helpline as soon as possible to have the record corrected before it causes problems with an employer, landlord, or border officer.
Unable to set up a UKVI account:Β If you are struggling to access the system, the Home Office provides an Assisted Digital service for those who are not confident using computers. Community organisations funded by the Home Office can also offer practical support.
Passport not linked to eVisa: Always ensure your current passport is linked in your UKVI account. If you have renewed your passport without updating your account, your status may not be visible to carriers or border officers.
Share codes not generating: If you cannot generate a share code, check that your account details are accurate and your status is current. If problems persist, contact the Home Office directly.
How Lawsentis can help you
The UK eVisa system represents the most significant change to how immigration status is held and proved in decades. While the system offers real benefits, it also comes with complexity – and the consequences of getting it wrong can be serious, from being denied boarding at an airport to losing a job offer or a tenancy.
At Lawsentis, our immigration law specialists have extensive experience helping individuals and organisations navigate the UK’s evolving digital immigration system. We can assist with:
- Setting up and troubleshooting UKVI accounts and eVisa access
- Correcting errors on eVisa records and liaising with the Home Office
- Advising on the implications of passport changes and travel with an eVisa
- Helping employers build compliant right to work procedures under the new digital system
- Supporting landlords with right to rent obligations in an eVisa environment
- Advising visa holders, settled status holders, and those with legacy immigration documents on their current position
Whether you are an individual trying to access your eVisa for the first time, or a business updating its compliance procedures, Lawsentis is here to help you get it right.
Contact us today to speak with one of our immigration advisers. We provide clear, practical, and personalised advice β no jargon, no unnecessary delays.
Top 10 most frequently asked questions about the UK eVisa system
1. What is a UK eVisa?
A UK eVisa is a digital record of your immigration status and the conditions of your permission to be in the UK. It replaces physical documents such as BRP cards and visa stickers in passports. It is stored securely in the Home Office’s online system and is accessed through a UKVI account.
2. Do I need to apply for an eVisa separately?
Not necessarily. If you have been granted a visa, leave to remain, or settled/pre-settled status, your eVisa record already exists in the Home Office system. What you need to do is create a UKVI account so that you can access it. Creating an account is free and does not change your immigration status.
3. Is the eVisa system free to use?
Yes. Creating a UKVI account and accessing your eVisa is completely free of charge. There is no fee to generate share codes or to view your immigration status online.
4. What happens if I get a new passport?
You must update your passport details in your UKVI account as soon as possible. Your eVisa is linked to your passport, and if your new passport is not registered, carriers may deny you boarding and border officers may be unable to verify your status.
5. Can I still use my old BRP card to prove my status?
No. BRP cards are no longer valid for right to work, right to rent, or travel purposes. They expired on 31 December 2024. You must now use your eVisa and generate a share code to prove your status digitally.
6. What is the difference between an eVisa and an ETA?
An eVisa is the digital record of UK immigration permission held by visa holders, students, workers, and settled/pre-settled status holders. An ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation) is a pre-travel check for nationals who previously visited the UK without a visa. You need one or the other, never both.
7. How do I prove my right to work now that physical documents are no longer accepted?
Through your UKVI account, you generate a share code – a 9-character alphanumeric code beginning with “W” – and share it with your employer along with your date of birth. Your employer uses these details to check your status in real time through the government’s online checking service.
8. What should I do if my eVisa shows incorrect information?
Contact the UKVI helpline as soon as possible to report the error and have it corrected. Do not wait until you need to prove your status to an employer, landlord, or airline, as incorrect information can cause significant disruption.
9. What if I cannot use the internet or a smartphone to access my eVisa?
The Home Office provides an Assisted Digital service for people who struggle with digital technology. Community and voluntary organisations funded by the government can also provide face-to-face support. Contact the UKVI helpline to find out what support is available to you.
10. Does having an eVisa mean my immigration status has changed?
No. The eVisa is simply a new way of holding and displaying the immigration permission you already have. Your underlying visa, leave, or settlement status is unchanged. What has changed is the format in which it is stored and accessed.
Note:
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For guidance specific to your circumstances, please contact Lawsentis.