Understanding the eVisa (online immigration status)

Introduction

In line with the ‘digital by design’ strategy of the Government, the Home Office has been gradually introducing the eVisa amongst other measures with the aim of digitalising the immigration system.

What is an eVisa?

An eVisa is a record of your immigration status in the UK online. It also provides you with details of your permission and conditions of stay in the UK.

The rollout of the eVisa is being done gradually and many of our clients have received an email already from the Home Office to view the eVisa. For those, who have not been contacted, it is recommended to follow our 5 steps guide to see if your eVisa is available.

As of 2025, you should be able to use your evisa to travel to the UK and will not need to carry a physical document except your current passport which must be registered to your UKVI account.

Step-by-step guide to get your eVisa

There are 5 main steps involved in the eVisa process:

1. Create a UKVI account

You will need:

• Access to a smartphone and a mobile phone number
• An email address 
• Your BRP card or a valid passport with your BRP number or visa application number (this is your GWF or UAN)

Link to the UKVI:

https://apply-to-visit-or-stay-in-the-uk.homeoffice.gov.uk/sorted/ever-had-brp/sar_in_uk?uid=105d0baf-ba83-47bd-a841-cfb60984943a&cookiesPreferencesURL=https%3A%2F%2Fapply-to-visit-or-stay-in-the-uk.homeoffice.gov.uk%2Fdashboard%2Fcookies&cookiesPolicyDomain=apply-to-visit-or-stay-in-the-uk.homeoffice.gov.uk&analytics=true

2. Link your eVisa to your UKVI account

You will have option to link the eVisa to your UKVI account and please ensure that this is completed.

3. Complete the identity check

You will need to complete the ID check and download the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app on your android or iphone.

Please find the QR code to the app and the link to the app:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/using-the-uk-immigration-id-check-app

4. View your eVisa

You should receive a notification to confirm that your eVisa is ready to view. Please check that the details on the eVisa are accurate.

5. Add a travel document to the UKVI account

Please make sure that the passport or travel document linked to your eVisa is up-to date. 

Any discrepancy between the eVisa and your travel document may affect or delay your travel plans.

Travelling with the eVisa

Your travel document and your eVisa should be up to date. When travelling you will still be required to travel with your current passport, and we would recommend that you have old passport with you whilst the eVisa is being rolled out. This is more pertinent if you have informed the Home Office, of a new passport and are waiting for your UKVI account to be updated.

Sharing your eVisa with third parties (e.g HR and Landlord)

You can use a ‘share code’ to prove your status to others. This will include sharing your status to landlords or your HR for e.g,

https://www.gov.uk/view-prove-immigration-status