eVisa: A New Document for UK Residents

Confirming residency status in the UK is now possible through an eVisa, or electronic proof of immigration status. This is a digital immigration system developed by UKVI, which stores travelers' data in an online format and provides fast, simple, and secure access.

It should be noted that the eVisa is intended solely for immigration purposes and serves as an additional digital travel document.

What Is an eVisa?

An eVisa is an online document confirming immigration status, containing information about your residency status and the length of time you're permitted to stay in the country. Registering on the UKVI platform is required to obtain it.

The eVisa is linked to your passport, so it's important that your correct passport details are entered in your UKVI account. It's also worth noting that changing or renewing your physical documents has no effect on your eVisa.

It's also worth noting that until the end of 2024, when traveling, you must carry your physical BRP document along with your eVisa, until its validity expires.

Benefits of the eVisa

Along with no longer having to carry physical documents thanks to the eVisa, it offers a number of other benefits. The electronic format eliminates the risk of a document being stolen or lost. Sharing your immigration status with a third party is now very simple, done through a one-time QR code. Along with digitization, the time and mechanisms for crossing the border have also become simpler and faster.

UKVI and the eVisa

As mentioned above, to access electronic proof of immigration status, you need a UKVI account, which will contain information about your residency status and your rights to remain in the country. Creating a UKVI account is free.

UKVI, the eVisa, and your passport are all linked, which is why it's important that if any error is detected, you contact the relevant authorities to correct it and avoid possible delays when crossing the border.

It's important that your UKVI profile contains up-to-date information about your passport, ID card, and contact details.

How Do I Get an eVisa?

If you hold a BRP:

You can register with UKVI using your BRP and create a profile, which will give you access to the eVisa. Since most BRPs are expiring very soon, it's important to create your profile before it expires and to physically carry the document with you when traveling.

If you've lost your BRP or it was stolen, you'll need your travel document, passport, and visa application number to create a UKVI account. If you had permission to enter the country and held a BRP before October 31, 2024, but no longer have that document, though you still have a valid passport, you'll still be able to create a UKVI profile. In this case, identity verification may be required.

With the eVisa, you'll no longer need to request a new BRP, since BRPs are no longer being issued as of October 31, 2024.

If you hold another physical document:

If you have indefinite leave to enter and remain in the UK, and this right is confirmed by another type of physical document (for example, a wet-ink stamp in your passport), you should submit a "no time limit," or NTL application.

If you hold a BRC:

If you hold a Biometric Residence Card (BRC) and have status under the EU Settlement Scheme, this means you already have an eVisa, and no additional action is needed to obtain one. However, it's important to always carry your BRC document when traveling internationally.

If you hold a BRC but don't have EU Settlement Scheme status, or have already become a British citizen, then the BRC is no longer valid, even though it hasn't yet expired. This is because the UK has left the EU, and the EU's freedom of movement law no longer applies in the UK.

The UK's new eVisa, or electronic proof of immigration status, is a digital immigration system that ensures confirmation of the right to enter and remain in the UK through secure and efficient methods. The system involves registering on the UKVI platform, which also reduces the risk of documents being lost or stolen and simplifies the border-crossing process. It's important that all data in your UKVI account is accurate and up to date.