UK immigrants with biometric residency permits (BRPs) need to open a UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account to obtain their eVisa. UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) has developed a digital immigration system to replace physical documents with an online record of the immigration status. This is known as an eVisa, an online record of one’s immigration status and the conditions of permission to enter or stay in the UK. One will need to create a UKVI account to be able to access the eVisa.
Effectively, one will be able to use an eVisa to travel to the UK without carrying a physical document, except for the passport, which must be registered to the UKVI account. Your eVisa will be linked to your passport in your UKVI account. You must keep your passport or ID card details up to date in your UKVI account.
UKVI replaces physical documents with an online record of the immigration status. The documents being replaced are biometric residence permits (BRP), biometric residence cards (BRC) and passport endorsements, such as indefinite leave to enter wet ink stamps vignette stickers in passports, such as entry clearance or visa vignettes.
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. There is no fee to be paid to create a UKVI account and it is free of cost.
Once you have created your UKVI account you will be able to view the details of your eVisa online, for example your type of permission, when it expires and your conditions of stay in the UK.
From the UKVI account, you can share your immigration status information with third parties, such as employers or landlords, by generating a share code in the view and prove service, which will give them time-limited access to your immigration status information. You can get a new share code whenever you need one – you do not have to remember a single unique code to be able to prove your status.
If you have another physical document
If you have indefinite leave to enter or indefinite leave to remain (also known as settlement) and you currently prove your rights through a different type of physical document, such as a wet-ink stamp in your passport or a vignette sticker, then you should make a ‘no time limit’ (NTL) application.
If your NTL application is successful, you’ll get a BRP to prove your rights. You should carry your BRP, along with your passport, when travelling internationally. Once you have a BRP, you’ll be able to create a UKVI account to access your eVisa later this year.
If you have a biometric residence card
If you have a biometric residence card (BRC) and you have been granted status under the EU Settlement Scheme, then you already have an eVisa and you do not need to take any action to obtain one.