eVisa

In This Article

• What is a UK eVisa?
• How the eVisa replaced the BRP
• How to access your eVisa
• Using your eVisa for right to work
• Using your eVisa for travel
• Using your eVisa for renting
• eVisa vs BRP at a glance
• Common mistakes to avoid
• Frequently asked questions
• Related terms

What is a UK eVisa?

A UK eVisa is a digital record held within the Home Office's systems that confirms your immigration status in the UK. Think of it as the digital version of what the Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) used to show in physical form: your name, nationality, visa route, leave expiry date, and any conditions attached to your stay (such as "no recourse to public funds" or work restrictions).

The eVisa is not a separate type of visa. If you have been granted a Skilled Worker visa, a Student visa, or any other leave to remain, the eVisa is simply the digital format in which that leave is now recorded and shared. Your underlying immigration status does not change when you transition from a BRP to an eVisa.

How the eVisa Replaced the BRP

The physical Biometric Residence Permit was the standard form of evidence for non-EEA nationals with leave to remain in the UK from around 2008. From 31 December 2024, the Home Office stopped issuing BRPs for new grants of leave. Anyone granted leave from that point onwards received an eVisa instead.

Existing BRP holders were moved to the eVisa system at the same time. Your BRP card did not become invalid overnight (and your leave certainly did not expire with it), but the BRP is no longer accepted as the primary way to evidence your immigration status. You must use the eVisa share code system going forward for right to work checks and rental verification.

How to Access Your eVisa

To access your eVisa, you need a UKVI online account. If you applied for a visa from within the UK using the UK Visas and Immigration online portal, you may already have one. If not, you can create one at gov.uk using your passport and biometric information.

Once logged in, your account displays:

• Your current immigration status
• Your visa category and route
• Your leave expiry date
• Any conditions on your leave
• Options to generate share codes for employers, landlords, or the Home Office

If your details are wrong, you can request a correction through the same portal. Keep your account up to date, especially if you renew your passport.

One common frustration: the UKVI account interface can be slow, and sessions time out frequently. Have your passport and login details ready before you start.

Using Your eVisa for Right to Work

The standard method for right to work checks using an eVisa is the Home Office share code system:

1. Log into your UKVI online account
2. Select "prove your right to work"
3. Generate a nine-character share code (valid for 90 days)
4. Give the code and your date of birth to your employer
5. Your employer enters the code at the Home Office online checking service

The service shows your current status, any work restrictions, and the expiry date of your leave. Employers who complete this check correctly have a statutory excuse against a civil penalty if it later turns out you did not have the right to work.

Physical BRPs, vignette stickers, or passport stamps are no longer sufficient on their own for a compliant right to work check for most workers with time-limited leave.

Using Your eVisa for Travel

Your eVisa is linked to the specific passport you registered with your UKVI account. When you travel internationally, UK Border Force and airlines can verify your status electronically — you do not need to carry any physical document beyond your passport.

If you obtain a new passport, you must update your UKVI account before travelling. Your eVisa is linked to your old passport number until you update it, which can cause issues at the border or during check-in if airlines cannot verify your status.

When re-entering the UK, your biometrics and passport are scanned at the border. Your eVisa is verified automatically. If you encounter a problem, the Border Force officer can access your status manually using your details.

Using Your eVisa for Renting

Landlords in England are required to carry out right to rent checks. For eVisa holders, the process works through a similar share code system to right to work checks:

1. Log into your UKVI online account
2. Select "prove your right to rent"
3. Generate a share code
4. Provide the code and your date of birth to your landlord

Your landlord enters these details into the Home Office online service and receives a result confirming whether you have the right to rent and for how long. Landlords who complete this check in good faith have a statutory excuse if it is later found that you had no right to rent.

eVisa vs BRP at a Glance

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Not creating a UKVI online account. If you still have a BRP, you must still set up an account to access your eVisa. The BRP is no longer the primary evidence of your status.
• Failing to update your account after getting a new passport. Your eVisa is tied to a passport number. Travel or right to work checks can fail if the account still shows your old passport.
• Thinking your leave expires with your old BRP. Many BRPs issued before 2024 have an expiry date earlier than the actual leave granted. Your leave expiry is what matters, not the BRP card date.
• Sharing your UKVI account login details instead of generating a share code. Employers and landlords should never have access to your account. Always use the share code system.
• Generating a share code too far in advance. They expire after 90 days. Generate one when your employer or landlord actually needs it, not as a precaution weeks earlier.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a UK eVisa?

A UK eVisa is a digital record of your immigration status linked to your UKVI online account and your passport. It shows your visa type, expiry date, and any conditions on your leave, such as work restrictions. It replaced the physical Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) from 31 December 2024.

How do I access my UK eVisa?

You access your eVisa through your UKVI online account at gov.uk. Once logged in, you can view your visa status, share a right to work code with employers, and generate a share code for landlords or the Home Office.

My BRP expires in 2025. Do I still have valid leave?

Yes. BRPs were not the source of your leave — they were evidence of it. If your visa conditions grant you leave beyond your BRP's expiry date, that leave remains valid. You should create a UKVI online account to access your eVisa and use it as proof of status going forward.

Can I travel internationally using my eVisa?

Yes. Your eVisa is linked to your passport. Airlines and border control can verify it through UK border systems. You do not need a physical document to travel. If you change passports, you must update your UKVI account so your eVisa is linked to the new document.

How do I prove my right to work using an eVisa?

You generate a share code through your UKVI online account. The code is nine characters long and valid for 90 days. You give the code and your date of birth to your employer, who checks it on the Home Office online right to work checking service.

Related Terms

• Biometric Residence Permit (BRP)
• Visa Vignette
• Right to Work Check
• UKVI

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