UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) are developing a digital immigration system. This means they are replacing physical documents with an online record of your immigration status. This is known as an eVisa.

What is an eVisa?

An eVisa is an electronic record of a person’s immigration status.

It explains the immigration status of the holder, including the conditions of the immigration permission such as any limitations on their right to work.

Why do I need a UKVI account? 

It replaces the need for physical documents such as the biometric residence permit (BRP), ink stamps or vignette visa stickers in passports, or the biometric residence card (BRC).

You need to create a UKVI account to access your eVisa and share information about your immigration status and conditions, such as your right to work or rent in the UK, using the view and prove service.

You do not have to pay to create a UKVI account.

You can watch a video on how to create a UKVI account and access your eVisa.

In the future you’ll be able to use an eVisa to travel to the UK – you will not need to carry a physical document, except for your current passport, which must be registered to your UKVI account. Until the end of 2024 you will need to continue to carry your physical document when you travel, if you have one.

What do you need to do if you hold a BRP that expires at the end of 2024?

The expiry of your BRP card does not affect your immigration status. However, how you prove your status will change from 2025.

If you have a BRP will need to create a UKVI account to access your eVisa unless your immigration leave expires on or before 31 December 2024.  All BRP holders should take action now to create a UKVI account to access their eVisa at www.gov.uk/evisa.

You should retain your BRP after this process as you may need it for future applications to stay in the UK. You should also continue to use your BRP as you have previously, such as taking your BRP with you when you travel internationally, until it expires.

If you already have an eVisa (a digital immigration status) as well as a BRP, you do not need to create a UKVI account, as you already have one. You can find out if you already have a UKVI account by checking the email or letter that you were given when you were granted immigration status in the UK or go to www.gov.uk/evisa for further information.