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?

Your eVisa is a digital record in the Home Office's systems that confirms your immigration status. It shows the same information the old BRP card did: your name, nationality, visa route, leave expiry date, and any conditions on your stay (such as "no recourse to public funds" or work restrictions).

It is not a separate type of visa. If you hold a Skilled Worker visa, a Student visa, or any other leave to remain, the eVisa is just the format in which that leave is now recorded. Your underlying immigration status stays the same whether it was on a BRP card or in the eVisa system.

How the eVisa Replaced the BRP

The physical Biometric Residence Permit was the standard proof of status for non-EEA nationals from around 2008. On 31 December 2024, the Home Office stopped issuing BRPs. Anyone granted leave after that date gets an eVisa instead.

Existing BRP holders were migrated to the eVisa system at the same time. Your BRP card didn't become invalid overnight, and your leave certainly didn't expire with it. But BRPs are no longer accepted as the primary way to prove your immigration status. You need to use the share code system for right to work checks and rental verification going forward.

How to Access Your eVisa

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

Once logged in, your account shows your immigration status, visa category, leave expiry date, any conditions on your leave, and options to generate share codes for employers, landlords, or the Home Office.

If your details are wrong, request a correction through the same portal. Keep your account current, especially after renewing your passport.

Fair warning: 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 tied to whichever passport you registered with your UKVI account. Airlines and UK Border Force verify your status electronically, so you don't need any physical document beyond your passport.

Got a new passport? Update your UKVI account before you travel. Until you do, the eVisa still points to your old passport number. That can cause problems at check-in or at the border.

When re-entering the UK, your biometrics and passport are scanned automatically. If something goes wrong, the Border Force officer can look up your status manually.

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

The biggest one: not creating a UKVI online account. Even if you still have a physical BRP, you need the account. The card alone is no longer accepted as primary evidence of your status.

Another common problem is forgetting to update your account after getting a new passport. Your eVisa is tied to a passport number, so right to work checks and travel can fail if the account still points to your old one.

Many people also assume their leave expires when their BRP card does. It doesn't. BRPs issued before 2024 often show an expiry date earlier than the actual leave granted. Your leave expiry is what matters.

Two smaller but avoidable mistakes: sharing your UKVI login credentials with employers or landlords (use the share code system instead, never your account details), and generating share codes too early. They expire after 90 days, so create one when it's actually needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a UK eVisa?

It's the digital replacement for the BRP card. Your eVisa lives in the Home Office's systems and records everything the old card used to show: visa type, expiry, and conditions like work restrictions. The switchover happened on 31 December 2024.

How do I access my UK eVisa?

Log into your UKVI account at gov.uk. From there you can view your status, generate share codes for employers or landlords, and check your leave conditions.

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

Yes. The BRP was never the source of your leave. It was proof of it. If your visa grants leave beyond the card's printed expiry date, that leave still stands. Set up your UKVI online account so you can prove your status through the eVisa system.

Can I travel internationally using my eVisa?

Yes. Border systems verify it electronically through your passport. No physical card needed. Just make sure your UKVI account is linked to your current passport, not an expired one.

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

Log into your UKVI account, select "prove your right to work," and generate a nine-character share code. Hand the code plus your date of birth to your employer. They enter it into the Home Office checking service.

Related Terms

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

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