eVisas
The UK Government is transitioning to a digital system, requiring individuals with a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP), Biometric Residence Card (BRC), or passport endorsements or vignette stickers to create a UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account and apply for an eVisa.
Contents
What is an eVisa
What action is needed?
People who have physical immigration documents need to create a UKVI account (GOV.UK) to access their eVisa.
An eVisa is defined by the Home Office as an online record of your immigration status and the conditions of your permission to enter or stay in the UK.
eVisas are proof of your immigration status and specify conditions such as your right to work and right to rent in the UK.
The Home Office has created a video titled What is an eVisa? Which will help you learn more about what an eVisa is and why it is needed. The video is only available in English.
If you have a BRP
Expired BRP (biometric residence permit) cards should be replaced with an eVisa where possible Online immigration status (eVisa) – GOV.UK
Each child needs an eVisa and this must be done in separate applications. If they are not able to do this themselves, a parent, guardian or responsible adult can set this up for them using this guidance: creating a UKVI account for a child (GOV.UK).
It is important to know that updating your physical document to an eVisa does not affect your immigration status or the conditions of your permission to enter or stay in the UK.
It is recommended you keep your BRP card after you have activated your eVisa account, even if the card has expired.
To apply for an eVisa
If you have an expired BRP card, you should apply for an eVisa, this can be done in 3 steps
- create a UKVI account Create a UKVI account to get access to your eVisa (online immigration status) – GOV.UK
- confirm your identity
- link your account to your eVisa
The Government have made a video explaining How to create a UKVI account and access your eVisa: video
To apply for your eVisa you must have access to:
- A smart phone, with the UK Immigration ID app downloaded.
- Your BRP, application number
- Your BRP or passport
There are other videos from the government to help with your eVisa on
- How to update or recover your account
- How to view and prove your online immigration status video
- How to travel with your eVisa
If you have any issues, difficulties, or errors with an eVisa, please see below support options.
Getting support with your eVisa
The UK Government has funded national and local organisations across the North West to assist individuals in applying for their eVisa. For a full list of providers across the UK, you can visit the List of organisations (www.gov.uk)
For organisations working specifically in the North West you can download our list of organisations 2024 (Word, 54KB)
Organisation | Contact details | Eligibility | Location |
Telephone: 07483 170 100 Email: [email protected] | National | ||
Telephone: 0800 319 6092 Email: [email protected] | All locations in UK | ||
Telephone: 0208 572 0300 Email: [email protected] | Anyone interested in this service should complete this form (a caseworker can also complete it on their behalf). | National – remotely and in person in London, Birmingham and Liverpool. | |
Cheshire, Halton and Warrington Race & Equality Centre
| Telephone: 01244 400730 Email: [email protected] | Ukrainian and Arabic translation available. | Cheshire – Tuesday drop in, or appointment via email or phone. |
Telephone: 0151 522 1400 Email: [email protected] | Merseyside – offices in Walton, Wavertree, and Garston | ||
Telephone: 07955 366 338 or 0333 305 8570 Email: [email protected] or [email protected] | Greater Manchester | ||
Telephone: 0161 669 5868 Email: [email protected] | Individuals need to be residents of Oldham. You can either ring for support or complete the online eVisa Referral form. | Greater Manchester (Oldham) | |
Telephone: 0151 305 1070 Email: [email protected] | Merseyside, Cheshire | ||
Telephone: 07915 252 300 or 07915 251 295 Email: [email protected] | Merseyside | ||
Telephone: 0161 833 0377 Email: [email protected] | Greater Manchester | ||
Telephone: 0151 649 8177 Email: [email protected] | Merseyside |
You can ask for help with creating a UKVI account and getting access to an eVisa.
We Are Group can help people who:
- Do not feel confident using a computer or mobile device
- Do not have access to the internet
- Do not have access to a device that accesses the internet
[email protected]
Text ‘VISA’ and a number to call you on to 07537 416 944
Telephone: 03333 445 675
Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm
Reporting an error with an eVisa
If you notice any error with your eVisa, such as your name, photograph or an status details are incorrect, you can use an online service to report it and request for the error be corrected: Report an error with your eVisa – GOV.UK. People without ID who have an account created by the Home Office can also use this service to update their email address and mobile number.
eVisa Resources
- The government have created a collection of eVisa support videos – GOV.UK to help with all aspects of your eVisa including setting up an eVisa, using the view and prove and travelling with an eVisa.
- Lancashire County Council has a dedicated eVisa page on their website, with translated guidance available in Arabic, Dari, Pashtu, and Ukrainian.
- Free Movement offers a detailed step-by-step guide on applying for an eVisa (freemovement.org.uk).
- Right to Remain has provided a summary of the transition to eVisas
- Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit (GMIAU) has published a briefing on eVisas and the expiry of Biometric Residence Permits (BRP) (gmiau.org).
- RSMP has produced a number of awareness posters, with translation available. You can download them here:
- eVisa poster ARABIC 2024 (PDF, 586KB)
- eVisa poster CANTONESE 2024 (PDF, 297KB)
- eVisa poster DARI 2024 (PDF, 505KB)
- eVisa poster ENGLISH 2024 (PDF, 378KB)
- eVisa poster FARSI 2024 (PDF, 510KB)
- eVisa poster KURDISH 2024 (PDF, 592KB)
- eVisa poster PASHTO 2024 (PDF, 486KB)
- eVisa poster RUSSIAN 2024 (PDF, 402KB)
- eVisa poser UKRAINE 2024 (PDF, 385KB)
If you are supporting someone with an eVisa
It is important to note that supporting someone with setting up an eVisa account is not considered immigration advice and it is free to create an account. Anyone can support with setting up an eVisa account.
Right to Remain have produced guidance on how to support someone with the transition to eVisa (righttoremain.org)
If you're an employer
Employers should continue to instruct new and prospective employees who need to verify their immigration status to use the online right to work service to generate a share code. This share code can then be used to verify their right to work through the service at Checking a job applicant’s right to work – GOV.UK
There is also a video to explain how an employer can check someone’s right to work How to view and confirm an applicant’s right to work: video – GOV.UK
For current employees, employers are protected from civil penalties as long as the initial right to work check followed the guidance in place at the time. A follow-up check is only required if an employee’s permission to stay is set to expire, as indicated by the original check.
The Home Office recommends that employers inform their staff about these changes and the shift to a fully digital system. This could involve directing employees who rely on physical immigration documents to the relevant section of the Gov.UK website for up-to-date information: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/online-immigration-status-evisa.
If you’re a landlord or housing provider
Individuals with an eVisa can only prove their right to rent with the Home Office online service: Prove your right to rent in England: Overview (www.gov.uk) Once they have done so, a 9 digit share code will be produced and this should be shared with the landlord/provider. This alongside other details, such a date of birth should enable a landlord to prove someone’s right to rent.
There is a video that explains how to view and confirm someone’s right to rent How to view and confirm someone’s right to rent: video – GOV.UK
Share codes have specific numbers at the start to prove their intended purpose, for landlords, the share code should start with a R to stand for renting. Landlords are unable to accept any other type of share code.