The Home office are introducing eVisas as standard and are moving to a ‘digital by default’ border and immigration system by 2025. As part of this, the Home Office is replacing physical immigration documents with a digital proof of immigration status (an eVisa), for those already living in the UK but also for those applying for a new visa.
Article Updated October 3rd 2024
What is an eVisa – Transition to eVisas – Legacy Documents – Applying for a child – Creating an account – Travel – Get Help
RMC has been supported with Funding from the UK Government to support people to better understand eVisas and to help those that need extra support to apply for one.
What is an eVisa?
An eVisa is an electronic record of a person’s immigration status. It will become the default by 2025 and will replace:
- Biometric residence permits (BRP)
- Biometric residence cards (BRC)
- Legacy paper documents such as a passport containing an ink stamp or vignette sticker (where the holder has indefinite leave to enter or indefinite leave to remain)
For further information please visit the Home Office’s website: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/online-immigration-status-evisa
How will the transition to eVisa take place?
Everyone that currently has a physical document now needs to create a UKVI account to access the eVisa and prove their immigration status and conditions (right to work/rent)
It is free to create an account and the immigration status and conditions attached to the current permission to stay will remain the same.
The service is now open for all BRP holders who needs to create a UKVI account to access their eVisa and share information about their immigration status and conditions, such as their right to work or rent in the UK, using the view and prove service.
There are some groups who will not need to do anything:
- Those who already have an eVisa (eg EU nationals with leave under EUSS)
- British passport holders and Irish citizens, including those who previously held an immigration status but have since acquired British citizenship, do not need to do anything
You can check if someone already has an eVisa here – View and Prove your Immigration Status
People with Legacy Documents
There is a number of migrants that have permission to stay but only hold ‘legacy documents’ such as vignettes in passports, passport stamps or paper documents confirming grant of Indefinite leave to remain.
These people should be making an online application (free) – ‘No Time Limit’ in order to receive a BRP that will allow them to set up a UKVI account.
The Home Office has stated that later this year, the No Time Limit process will provide successful applicants with a UKVI account and access to their eVisa, rather than providing a BRP.
Apply for your children
A parent, guardian, or responsible adult can set up a UKVI account for a child. To do this, they will need the child’s identification document and date of birth. The adult can use their own contact information, including their phone number and email address.
Once the child is capable of managing their own UKVI account, or upon turning 18, the account can be transferred to them. This can be done by either the adult or the child by updating the phone number and email address through the update your UK Visa and Immigration account details service.
How to make a UKVI account
Applicants should download the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app on their smartphone
You will need a valid BRP/BRC or passport and access to email and a phone number
Make sure your UKVI account is always updated with any new passport or contact details.
The eVisa is linked to the passport so not updating it might caused problems when trying to prove status/travel ‘
For further support you can watch this video outlining how to get your eVisa and how to access your eVisa
Travelling
The Home Office is advising BRP holders to continue to use their valid BRP and passport when travelling internationally.
Those that have already a UKVI account should make sure the passport they intend to travel on is the one linked to their account (any updates on documents and details – ‘Update your UK Visas and Immigration account details’)
‘During 2024, the Home Office is taking steps to allow carriers, including transport operators such as airlines, ferry, and international train operators, to securely and automatically access the immigration status of passengers travelling on their services when they present their passport which is linked to their UKVI account. This will automate the existing routine checks completed whenever a passenger presents their passport when travelling internationally.’
Get help
RMC is on hand to help the most vulnerable, and those that are unable to apply for an eVisa themselves, to do so.
Our team is available via our drop in services through Birmingham and the Blackcountry.
To see our centres and how the drop in works, click here
See more about how RMC is supporting new arrivals already.
