UK eVisa Transition Explained (2026)

Status First: What the eVisa Actually Is

For a migrant in the UK, the eVisa is not a new visa, a new application, or a new status. It is the digital record of an immigration permission that already exists. Skilled Worker leave, Student visa leave, family route leave, pre-settled status, settled status, and indefinite leave to remain are all now expressed as eVisas inside a UKVI account. The physical BRP, where one was ever issued, was an evidential document for that underlying permission; the eVisa now performs the same evidential role, but digitally and without an expiry tied to a card.

The first practical decision for any migrant is therefore not how to apply for an eVisa, but how to access the UKVI account that holds it. The route to access depends on whether a BRP was ever issued, whether the migrant entered through a UK Visa application centre, and whether the leave was granted under the EU Settlement Scheme.

Why the Transition Happened

The Home Office moved to the eVisa for three reasons stated on gov.uk: to reduce the cost and security risk of physical cards, to align UK immigration with the wider rollout of electronic travel authorisations, and to make right-to-work, right-to-rent, and border checks faster. The 31 December 2024 expiry on most BRPs was the anchor date for the transition. From early 2025, the eVisa became the primary evidence of status for most migrant categories.

Creating a UKVI Account

A UKVI account is created at gov.uk through the create-a-uk-visas-and-immigration-account service. The migrant provides their BRP number (or visa application reference where no BRP was issued), date of birth, and contact details, then verifies identity through the ID Check app using the chip on their passport or BRP. The account is single-person: each migrant aged 16 or over needs their own account, and a parent or guardian manages the account of a child under 16.

Once created, the account links to the underlying immigration record held by the Home Office. The migrant can view their leave type, expiry date, and any conditions (such as a maximum number of working hours for student visa holders).

Linking the BRP and Current Travel Document

Linking begins with the BRP. Where the migrant held a BRP, the BRP number and details are used during account creation to attach the existing immigration record. Once the account is open, the migrant adds their current passport. This is the step that most often goes wrong: a migrant who renews their passport without updating the UKVI account finds that border carriers cannot verify their eVisa at check-in, because the eVisa is linked to a passport number that no longer exists.

The update-your-uk-visas-and-immigration-account-details service on gov.uk handles passport changes. The migrant uploads the new passport, identifies the old document being replaced, and the eVisa attachment is updated. The change is usually live within a short period but should not be left until the day of travel.

Generating and Sharing a Share Code

A share code is the migrant's primary tool for proving status. It is generated at gov.uk view-and-prove-your-immigration-status, with three core variants: prove right to work, prove right to rent, and prove status to someone else (for banks, universities, the DVLA, and similar). Each variant is purpose-locked: a right-to-work share code cannot be used by a landlord, and vice versa, because the Home Office discloses different fields depending on the purpose.

The share code is time-limited, typically valid for 30 days from generation or 90 days from view by the recipient, depending on the variant. Once expired, the migrant generates a fresh code. The code is paired with the migrant's date of birth on the recipient side: the recipient enters both at the Home Office checking service and sees a verified status page, which they can save as a PDF for their records.

Employer Right-to-Work Checks Under the eVisa

Right-to-work checks for migrants are now almost entirely online. The employer uses the Home Office employer-checking service, enters the share code and date of birth provided by the worker, and obtains a verification page showing the worker's name, photograph, status, expiry date, and any work conditions. The employer prints or saves the page; that record forms the statutory excuse against illegal working civil penalties under the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006.

The physical BRP is no longer accepted as the basis of a compliant right-to-work check for new hires in most categories from 2025 onward. Migrants without a working UKVI account therefore face delays in starting new employment, even where their underlying leave is valid. Setting up the account before job-search begins is the practical mitigation.

Landlord Right-to-Rent Checks Under the eVisa

For tenancies in England, landlords (or their letting agents) check right-to-rent before granting a residential tenancy. The eVisa flow mirrors the employer flow: the tenant provides a right-to-rent share code, the landlord verifies it at the Home Office checking service, and saves the result. The landlord then has a statutory excuse against renting-to-an-illegal-migrant civil penalties for the period covered by the check. Where the leave is time-limited, the landlord must repeat the check before the leave expires.

Travel and Border Implications

The eVisa changes how a migrant travels back to the UK. Carriers (airlines, train operators, ferry companies) check the eVisa at boarding by reading the passport linked to the UKVI account. The migrant does not show a BRP or a paper visa; the carrier's system queries the Home Office. Where the linked passport does not match the document presented, boarding can be refused. Two practical implications follow: the migrant must keep the UKVI account passport field current, and the migrant should travel with the same passport that is linked to the account.

At the UK border, eGates accept eligible eVisa holders for certain categories, while others use staffed desks where Border Force officers verify status against the Home Office record. Either way, the eVisa itself is invisible to the migrant during border crossing: it is queried in the background.

EU Settlement Scheme and the eVisa

Pre-settled status and settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme have always been digital. There was never a BRP for these categories. The eVisa rollout therefore changed less for EUSS holders, but did unify the user experience: pre-settled, settled, and other migrant categories now use the same UKVI account, the same share code system, and the same employer and landlord checking flow.

What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It

Three recurring issues are documented on gov.uk help pages. First, account lockout: the migrant cannot pass identity verification because the linked email or phone number is outdated. The recovery route is the help account service, which involves submitting evidence to UKVI. Second, status not showing: the migrant has a leave grant but the eVisa screen is empty, usually because the underlying record was not migrated. The route is to contact UKVI through the resolution form. Third, passport mismatch: the migrant travels on a new passport that was not linked, and is refused boarding. The route is to update the account before re-booking; emergency travel documents are sometimes arranged through UK consular services, but this is slow and costly.

Sponsored Workers and Students Under the eVisa

For Skilled Worker and Student visa holders, the sponsor (employer or education provider) sees the same eVisa data through their own Home Office portal. A migrant changing employer or course informs both the new sponsor and the Home Office, and the eVisa updates to reflect the new sponsorship. The right-to-work flow then reflects the new conditions, and previous share codes generated under the old sponsorship become inaccurate.

Indefinite Leave to Remain and Naturalisation

Holders of indefinite leave to remain (ILR) hold a permanent eVisa in their UKVI account, with no expiry date on the leave itself. The passport link still needs maintaining: travel can be disrupted by an unlinked passport even though status itself is permanent. Naturalisation as a British citizen ends the eVisa: from grant of citizenship, the migrant uses a British passport and the UKVI account is closed.

Dependants and Linked UKVI Accounts

A dependant on a Skilled Worker, Student, or family-route visa holds an independent UKVI account even where the leave is conditional on the main applicant's status. The dependant's share code is generated from the dependant's own account, not from the main applicant's, which matters for employers carrying out right-to-work checks on a dependant who is also working. Where the main applicant's leave is curtailed (for example, on termination of sponsored employment), the dependant's eVisa updates to reflect the curtailment, but the practical consequence (the date by which the dependant must leave the UK or apply for fresh leave) is communicated separately. Children under 16 are managed through a parent or guardian sub-account, with the parent generating share codes on the child's behalf for school enrolment, NHS registration, and similar verifications.

Evidence of Continuous Residence Through the eVisa

For migrants approaching indefinite leave to remain or naturalisation, the UKVI account record becomes the primary documentary trail of continuous residence. Where the older paper visa and BRP record showed leave granted, the eVisa shows leave granted plus a running history of variations, including employer changes, address updates, and any conditions imposed. The migrant can download a status summary at gov.uk view-and-prove-your-immigration-status, which is accepted as supporting evidence for settlement applications under Appendix Long Residence and the standard work-route settlement provisions. Gaps in the digital record, where leave was granted before the UKVI account system existed, are evidenced through the older BRP, passport vignettes, and Home Office grant letters, which the migrant retains rather than discards.

Disclaimer

This article is general information about UK rules and processes at the time of writing. It is not legal, immigration, tax, or financial advice. Rules and figures change. Verify the current position with the relevant authority (gov.uk, HMRC, FCA, or a regulated adviser) before acting on anything here.

Frequently asked questions

Does a migrant need to apply for an eVisa separately from their existing visa?

No. The eVisa is not a new immigration application. It is the digital expression of leave that has already been granted. The migrant creates a UKVI account at gov.uk, links it to the existing immigration record, and the eVisa appears inside that account.

What happens if the linked passport expires or is replaced?

The migrant updates the UKVI account through the update-your-uk-visas-and-immigration-account-details service on gov.uk before travelling. A passport not linked to the account can cause carriers to refuse boarding, even when the underlying immigration status is valid.

How does an employer check the right to work of a migrant with an eVisa?

The migrant generates a right-to-work share code at gov.uk view-and-prove-your-immigration-status. The employer enters the code and the worker's date of birth at the Home Office employer-checking service and saves the verification page, which provides a statutory excuse against illegal-working civil penalties.

Is the BRP still valid for proving status alongside the eVisa?

Most BRPs expired on 31 December 2024 on their printed face. From 2025 onward, the eVisa is the primary evidence of immigration status. Employers and landlords carrying out new checks use the digital flow rather than the card.

Can pre-settled or settled status holders use the eVisa system?

Yes. EU Settlement Scheme status has always been digital, and holders use the same UKVI account, share code, and verification flow as other migrant categories. The unifying of the user experience was one of the explicit goals of the eVisa rollout.

What proof of status does the migrant carry physically?

There is no physical eVisa document. The migrant carries the passport linked to the UKVI account. Where third parties want a printed reference, the share code is the equivalent: a short alphanumeric code that the recipient verifies digitally through the Home Office checking service.