The UK Home Office is pushing ahead with its plans to digitalize the immigration system. Millions of people in the UK with physical immigration documents are being urged to switch to an eVisa. UK is implementing digital immigration system with the aim to issue eVisas for nearly all visa holders living in the UK by 2025.

All UK immigrants possessing biometric residency permits (BRPs) need to open a UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account to get their eVisa. If you have a biometric residence permit (BRP) that expires on 31 December 2024,

From April 17, 2024, the Home Office began sending emails to all those possessing physical immigration documents known as biometric residency permits (BRPs), urging them to open a UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account to access their eVisa, a digital proof of their immigration status.

Invitations will be issued in phases before the process opens to all BRP holders in the summer of 2024.

Customers with physical and paper papers can create a UKVI account for free and easily access their eVisa. Creating a UKVI account has no effect on the customer’s current immigration status or rights in the UK.

Evaisa is accessible from anywhere and in real time, allowing clients to take control of their own data and quickly update the Home Office with new contact or passport information.

As far as the security of eVisa is concerned, they are securely linked with the holder’s unique biometric information in the same way as a BRP, to protect against identity fraud.

Minister for Legal Migration and the Border, Tom Pursglove MP, says, “Replacing physical immigration documents with eVisas will ensure firm control over who comes here to live, work or study, strengthening border security and preventing abuse of the immigration system, while delivering cost savings for UK taxpayers.”

Immigrants who already have an eVisa do not need to take any action. However, they should keep updating their UKVI account with any changes to personal information, such as a new passport or contact information. When traveling abroad, they need to keep their valid physical immigration documents with them until they expire.

Most physical papers, such as biometric residency permits or cards (BRPs or BRCs), are gradually being phased out, with the majority of BRPs expiring by the end of 2024. By 2025, both new and current clients will have entirely migrated to a digital immigration system, with the gradual phase-out of paper immigration paperwork.