The UK is set to replace physical biometric immigration cards with e-visas by 2025.
The UK government has announced that "You will not need a BRP from 1 January 2025. You'll be able to prove your immigration status online, without a BRP,"
Currently, individuals from non-EU countries residing in the UK, including students, workers, immigrants, and their dependents, are issued BRPs as proof of their immigration status. These cards contain a chip that Border Force officers can use to cryptographically verify the document's authenticity and a person's identity through biometrics, including a facial photograph and fingerprints.
The new Home Office development signals a shift towards a digital approach, where biometrics are collected but physical cards or in-passport vignettes are not issued. Instead, applicants receive an e-visa that can be verified online, serving as digital proof of their immigration status.
What is an E-Visa UK?
The UK Electronic Visa (E-Visa) is digital evidence of your immigration status and conditions of stay in the UK. It is an online record and is required for applicants who require current immigration status to enter or leave the UK and can be used to share relevant information such as the right to work or the right to rent. E-Visa will allow applicants to verify their immigration status at the border without having to carry any documents other than the current passport to prove the physical residence permit, and it will be faster and easier to prove the migrant’s identity.
Digital visas are secure and, unlike physical documents, cannot be lost, stolen or tampered with. Additionally, there is no need to wait to collect actual documents after your visa application has been decided. However, an applicant might still need to provide biometric information in person, where UKVI will tell to the applicant if they need to do this when submitting an application.
Who needs an E-Visa for the UK?
Millions of foreign nationals have already received an E-Visa, for example, those who applied through the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) after the UK left the European Union. However, as a digital by default system is now being rolled out by UKVI across most visa categories, soon almost all visa applicants will have an E-Visa.
The documents being replaced in the UK by E-Visa are:
Updating any existing physical document to an E-Visa will not affect your immigration status or the conditions of your permission to enter or stay in the UK.
How can I get an E-Visa?
If you have a BRP
Since 1 January 2020, new BRPs have been issued with an expiry date of 31 December 2024, regardless of the individual’s period of leave. This is because E-Visas are planned to be in place by this date, reflecting the individual’s actual period of leave. UKVI is now contacting BRP holders by email and post to invite them to set up a UKVI account in order to update permission to the form and access their E-Visa, before their BRP expires on 31 December 2024. You do not need to take action until you receive this notification.
If you have a passport stamp or vignette
If you rely on a passport endorsement or sticker to confirm your status for indefinite leave to enter or indefinite leave to remain, you will need to take action and make a no-time limit(NTL) application. When successful, you will have a BRP to prove your status and rights. Once you have a BRP, you will be able to create a UKVI account to access your E-Visa later this year.
It is important to note that those that have a Biometric Residence Card (BRC) and have been granted status under the EU Settlement Scheme, will already have an E-Visa and there is no action to take to obtain an E-Visa. You should find further information in the grant letter.
If you need to make a new application for permission to stay in the UK
You should follow the usual application process, where there will be information and guidance provided during your application process if you need to create a UKVI account. You will need to prove your identity as part of a renewal application, either by using the ID check app or by attending a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) service point.
How can I access the UKVI Account?
Once you receive the notification, you can create a UKVI account, you will need to register for a UKVI account to access the view and prove service. You can see the guidance and see video information What is an EVisa?
You will need to register for a UKVI account to access the view and prove service and see your E-Visa. There is no charge to register for a UKVI account. Once you have an account, you can access and securely share with third parties, such as employers or landlords, relevant details about your status and any conditions attached.
A shared code gives others limited access to your immigration status information and allows you to obtain a shared code whenever you need it, eliminating the need to remember a single unique code to prove your status. Some information about your immigration status may be automatically shared with some government departments and other public authorities for the purpose of convenience.
If your passport information changes, you must notify UKVI in your UKVI account. This means that your immigration status can be easily identified and verified at UK borders. If you have requested to update your passport information through your account but have not received confirmation, you should also carry the old document with you if possible to avoid unnecessary delays at the border when entering or leaving the country.
From April 2024, BRP holders will have instructions emailed directly to the individual on how to do this. These emails will be sent out in phases before the service becomes available to all BRP holders in the summer of 2024. BRP holders who have not yet received an email should not worry as the process will soon be opened to all without an invitation, and there is no need to contact the Home Office in the meantime.
For expert advice and assistance regarding any aspect of UK immigration law, contact us on 0203 865 6219 or leave a message.