Creating an eVisa Account
Anyone with a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) expiring on 31 December 2024 can now create an eVisa account. What does this mean, and what does it involve? Your questions answered.
Last week, UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) opened up eVisa registration to all current BRP holders after much anticipation over the last few months. This means that all current BRP-holders must apply before the end of 2024 for an eVisa account to continue to prove their status beyond the end of the year.
All BRPs expire either on or before 31 December this year – they are being phased out as part of the UK Government’s drive to modernise and digitise the visa system. After 31 December 2024, visa holders will need an eVisa to continue to prove their immigration status. The eVisa is linked to the holder’s unique biometric information (and passport information) and allows them to prove their immigration status digitally. The main and most obvious difference is that BRPs are a physical card, whereas an eVisa is entirely digital document, which the Government argues will protect against identity theft and fraud, whilst removing the risk of losing the card. Other benefits include greater convenience and security for all border users and cost savings to UK taxpayers. Of course the inevitable teething issues with any new system are to be expected, and there have already been some reports of incorrect visas being linked to the wrong eVisa account – so it’s important to stay vigilant and monitor your account!
Creating an eVisa account is a free and relatively easy process, most easily completed on an iPhone or tablet which is NFC-enabled (this is the case if the device is able to make contactless payments). Before you begin, you will need to hand:
Your BRP number (or the unique reference number from your most recent visa application);
Your passport (if you don’t have a BRP, or have lost it)*;
An email address and phone number; and
A smartphone or tablet which is NFC enabled.
* Holders of Indefinite Leave to Remain (also known as Settlement) who do not have a BRP and have been relying on a wet-ink stamp or visa sticker in their passport will need to complete a No Time Limit (NTL) application to apply for a BRP before then using the BRP to create an eVisa account.
Once you are ready with the above information and documentation, you must complete the following three steps to create your eVisa account:
Create your account: you will first need to create a UKVI account (which is where your eVisa will be accessed) – this is done here. You will be asked a short series of straightforward questions, involving your personal details and BRP (or passport) number, and then you should receive email confirmation that your UKVI account has been created, meaning you can now sign in.
Confirm your identity: using a smartphone, download the UK Immigration: ID Check app from your app store, and follow the instructions it gives to link your new account to your identity document. You will be asked to take a photo of your BRP (or passport) and your face. The app will also check your document’s information and you will also use your phone to scan the chip in your identity document – you may need to try multiple angles for this scanning step. You may not need to complete this step if you had a UKVI account from a previous visa application where the UK ID App process was used.
Link your UKVI account to your eVisa: find the task list on your UKVI account and complete every section of questions there. These questions will cover confirmation of your identity and BRP number, as well as contact preferences and account security questions. Read the declaration, then click submit. You will receive another email which allows you to view your eVisa via your UKVI account, which may take a week or two to arrive – it is normal for your eVisa not to be available straight away once you’ve completed the above steps.
Once your UKVI account has been created and successfully linked to your eVisa, you can use the ‘view and prove’ service to provide third parties with evidence of your immigration status in the UK (e.g. landlords or employers) – see here. Your biometric information and passport details should also automatically link to your eVisa status at the UK Border.
It’s important to remember that even after your UKVI account is created, you should still carry your BRP with you when travelling internationally to prove your immigration status at the UK Border, if required. We recommend continuing this practice until the end of 2024 while the new eVisa system is being rolled out. After 31 December 2024, the current guidance is to keep your expired BRP card as you may need it for future applications to stay in the UK or for your personal records.
If your details or circumstances change in any way, they must be updated as soon as possible on your UKVI account, using the webpage here. This is particularly important for new passport details.
If experiencing difficulties with the process, the Home Office has a video on their YouTube channel which explains it more thoroughly here.
There is also a lengthy information page on the gov.uk website (access it here) which will be updated throughout this year and next as eVisas are rolled out.
As always, if you have any unanswered questions or queries, please contact us at contact@eversageimmigration.com - our team of experienced UK immigration lawyers are happy to help!