The change from BRPs to eVisas – what you need to do

UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) are developing a digital immigration system. This means they are replacing physical documents with an online record of your immigration status, known as an eVisa. So with the change from BRPs to eVisas, what do you need to do?

Biometric Residence Permits (BRPs) are being phased out from 1 January 2025 to be replaced with the electronic registration system. BRP holders will therefore rely on an eVisa to prove their immigration status from 1 January 2025. Due to this change, BRP holders will need to set up access to a UKVI eVisa account to access their eVisas.

You can read about this further at: Online immigration status (eVisa) – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

Setting up your UKVI/eVisa account

Your BRP will be stated only to be valid until 31 December 2024 albeit that you may have valid leave in the UK beyond this date. You can continue using your BRP before it expires on 31 December 2024 and you should carry it with you whenever you leave the UK and re-enter until this date.

You must therefore create a UKVI account to register your eVisa before 31 December 2024, though we would advise that you do so as early as possible. You can create the UKVI account at https://www.gov.uk/get-access-evisa. You will need your BRP and access to an email address or phone for delivery of a one-time passcode by email or text to set up the account.

You will also be asked to download the “UK Immigration: ID check app” on your smartphone. You should follow the steps within the app to verify your identity, which will include taking a picture of your BRP and your face. An online guide to using the app can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/using-the-uk-immigration-id-check-app.

You should receive an email when your eVisa is ready to view. You can then check and prove your immigration status, by logging into your UKVI account and selecting the “View and Prove” service at: https://www.gov.uk/view-prove-immigration-status.

Should you be unable to see your eVisa details as soon as you create your UKVI account, you do not need to anything. UKVI will contact you directly by email once your eVisa is available to view, which can take up to a few days. You can continue to use you BRP to prove your immigration status until your eVisa details are available.

Once you have created your UKVI account, it is important that your UKVI account has up to date details of your passport. You can add your passport to the account at https://www.gov.uk/update-uk-visas-immigration-account-details. It is important that you have your current passport registered to your UKVI account prior to travelling outside of the UK to avoid any delays at the border when re-entering the UK.

Note that the Home Office have also provided instructions which advise on how to create your UKVI account, including a video tutorial, available at the following links – Online immigration status (eVisa) – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) and How to create a UKVI account and access your eVisa (video) – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

Keeping your UKVI eVisa accounts up to date

It is important that you keep your personal details on your UKVI account up to date. You must update your account if your passport or travel document changes so you can continue to access your account and to avoid any unnecessary delays at the UK border.

The Home Office states that you must report the following changes: