Last reviewed: May 2026
Key facts:- The View and Prove your immigration status service is the official UK government service for viewing and proving immigration status digitally.
- Access is through a UKVI account, created when the holder first applied for their visa or status.
- The Home Office is rolling out eVisas to replace physical biometric residence permits and other immigration documents by the end of the rollout period.
UK Visa and Immigration Hub › View And Prove Uk Immigration Status
Most UK immigration status is now held digitally rather than as a physical card or stamp in a passport. The View and Prove your immigration status service is where holders can see their own status and generate share codes for employers, landlords and other checkers. This upgraded guide explains how to access the service, what it shows, how the move to eVisas works, and what to do if access is lost.
Accessing the Service
The View and Prove your immigration status service is at gov.uk/view-prove-immigration-status. Access is through a UKVI account, signed in with the holder email address, password and identity document number.
The UKVI account is created automatically when the holder applies for a visa, EU Settlement Scheme status or other immigration permission. The account credentials are sent to the holder by email at the time of the application decision.
For older immigration status that pre-dates the digital system, the holder may need to create a UKVI account through the gov.uk account creation process. This typically requires the original BRP number and identity verification.
What the Service Shows
Once signed in, the View and Prove service shows the holder current immigration status, the conditions of stay, the expiry date (if applicable), and the rights granted - right to work, right to rent and right to access public funds.
The service does not show detailed application history or sensitive personal information beyond what is relevant to the current status. Older applications and refused applications are held separately in the Home Office records and accessed through Subject Access Requests under the Data Protection Act 2018.
Where the holder has multiple grants of status (for example, a BRP and a separate eVisa following a status change), the service shows the most recent status with appropriate references to historic decisions where relevant.
Generating Share Codes
From the View and Prove service, the holder can generate share codes for different purposes. The most common are right to work codes (for employers) and right to rent codes (for landlords in England). General-purpose codes are available for other circumstances.
Each share code is 9 characters and valid for the purpose-specific period - 90 days for right to work and right to rent, 30 days for general purpose codes. The code is shared with the recipient, who looks it up on the corresponding gov.uk Check service.
Multiple share codes can be active at the same time. The holder can generate as many codes as they need. The View and Prove service shows a history of codes generated, which can be useful for record-keeping.
The eVisa Rollout
An eVisa is a digital record of immigration permission held in the Home Office system rather than as a physical document. The eVisa rollout has progressively replaced biometric residence permits, vignettes in passports and other physical documents.
EU Settlement Scheme status was issued as an eVisa from the start of the scheme in 2018. Points-based visa categories started moving to eVisa in 2021 and onwards. The Home Office has set deadlines for the full eVisa transition, with physical BRPs scheduled to be phased out over the coming years.
Holders of physical BRP cards should ensure they have access to their UKVI account, because once the physical card is phased out the digital status is the only way to prove immigration status. The Home Office runs awareness campaigns to remind BRP holders to set up account access.
Losing Account Access and How to Recover
Losing UKVI account access is a serious issue because without it the holder cannot generate share codes. The first step is the gov.uk account recovery process, which uses the email address linked to the original application plus identity verification.
Where the recovery process fails (for example, the original email no longer works), the holder should contact UKVI through the gov.uk contact form. Identity verification may require submitting a fresh set of identity documents and answering security questions.
Holders should keep their UKVI account credentials secure. Email account compromise is a significant risk because the email is the recovery channel. Two-factor authentication on the email account is strongly recommended to protect both the email and the UKVI account.
Preparing for the Move to eVisas
Verify UKVI account access. Sign in to View and Prove regularly to check the account works. The Home Office has run campaigns reminding BRP holders to ensure account access before the physical card is phased out.
Update contact details. The UKVI account should have current contact details so that the Home Office can communicate effectively. Outdated email addresses are a common cause of account recovery problems.
Save the eVisa as a PDF. Once the eVisa is issued, save a PDF copy with the immigration status details. The PDF can be useful as a backup but the gov.uk service remains the authoritative source.
Travel with both physical and digital. During the transition, carry both the physical BRP (where still in date) and have access to the gov.uk View and Prove service. Airports and border posts will accept both during the transition period.
Where to Get Free Independent Help
The Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC) regulates immigration advisers in the UK. The OISC adviser register at gov.uk lists qualified advisers who can provide regulated immigration advice on prove your immigration status uk. Advice from a non-regulated person is a criminal offence under the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999.
The Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants (JCWI) is a charity that provides free advice and casework support on immigration and nationality issues. JCWI is OISC-regulated and can take on representation in some cases. The JCWI website at jcwi.org.uk lists current services.
Citizens Advice provides free initial advice on prove your immigration status uk and can refer onwards to OISC-regulated immigration advisers for casework. Some local Citizens Advice offices have OISC accreditation for level 1 or 2 immigration advice.
Refugee Council, Refugee Action and similar charities provide specialist advice for refugees and asylum seekers. The British Red Cross also operates an immigration and refugee service. For asylum-related queries, the Migrant Help national service is the first point of contact.
For employment-related immigration issues (Skilled Worker visa sponsorship, right to work checks, etc.), the Home Office sponsor compliance team is the relevant body. The gov.uk sponsor licence pages set out the rules and obligations for licensed sponsors.
The Immigration Tribunal handles appeals against Home Office decisions on visas, settlement and citizenship. The tribunal is independent of the Home Office and decides cases on the evidence. The First-tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber) is the entry point; appeals go to the Upper Tribunal and ultimately to the Court of Appeal.
Putting It All Together
The rules above set out the legal framework, the practical steps and the support routes available. Where the situation is straightforward, the gov.uk pages and the official tools should be enough to act on. Where the situation is more complex, the free advice services listed in the previous section can usually clarify the position and identify the right next step. Many issues that look intractable at first turn out to be resolvable once the right service is engaged.
Keeping written records of communications and decisions throughout is good practice. Where a decision needs to be challenged later - through an internal complaint, an ombudsman, a tribunal or a court - the quality of the contemporaneous record often decides the outcome. Dates, names, reference numbers and copies of correspondence are the building blocks of any later dispute. The gov.uk advice pages and the relevant ombudsman or tribunal websites all set out the evidence they consider when reviewing decisions, and gathering that evidence from the start is one of the most effective protections available.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do I access my immigration status?
The View and Prove your immigration status service at gov.uk/view-prove-immigration-status. Sign in with your UKVI account credentials.
What if I have a physical BRP card?
Physical BRPs are being phased out. Ensure you have access to your UKVI account so you can generate share codes when the physical card expires. The Home Office runs awareness campaigns about the transition.
How do I generate a share code?
Sign in to View and Prove and select the type of code needed (right to work, right to rent, other). The code is generated immediately and can be shared with the recipient.
Can I see my application history?
The service shows the current status and relevant details. Detailed application history is in the Home Office records and can be requested through a Subject Access Request under the Data Protection Act 2018.
What is the difference between View and Prove and Visit?
View and Prove is for people with UK immigration status who need to prove it. Visit visas and electronic travel authorisations are separate processes for those entering the UK temporarily.
How do I recover account access?
Use the gov.uk account recovery process. If that fails, contact UKVI through the gov.uk contact form. Identity verification may require fresh documents and security questions.
When will my BRP be phased out?
The Home Office has set deadlines for the eVisa rollout. Specific dates depend on the visa category and the original BRP expiry. The latest dates are on the gov.uk eVisa pages.
Can I generate a share code from outside the UK?
Yes. The View and Prove service is accessible from anywhere with internet access. Share codes can be generated and shared with UK employers or landlords from abroad.
What if I do not have internet access?
The Home Office can issue a paper status letter on request for those without internet access. The paper letter has the same legal effect as the digital service but is more cumbersome to update.
Will my eVisa work at the airport?
Yes. Border Force checks immigration status through the same digital system. Travellers should also have their passport. The eVisa is recognised at UK ports of entry.
How We Verified This
Information is taken from the gov.uk View and Prove your immigration status service guidance, the Home Office eVisa rollout pages on gov.uk, the Immigration Rules and statement of changes on gov.uk, and the Home Office EU Settlement Scheme caseworker guidance.
