25 February 2026 Changes
From 25 February 2026, enhanced digital status checks will apply when travelling to or from the UK. Airlines will verify immigration status electronically against the document recorded in the UKVI account.
If the passport number presented at check-in does not match the document linked to your digital status, the carrier may not receive confirmation of valid leave. In practice, that can mean boarding is refused.
Historically, a valid visa vignette or residence card often resolved issues at the airport, but this will no longer be permissible from 25 February. Digital records now determine whether a carrier receives confirmation that you hold valid immigration permission. Airlines and other carriers are under legal obligations to check status before departure. They can only act on what the system tells them.
Who does this affect?
Anyone relying on a digital immigration record, such as an eVisa or settled status, should review their UKVI account now. This includes holders of eVisas, EU Settlement Scheme status holders and individuals whose Biometric Residence Permit has been replaced by a digital record.
If you have renewed your passport, added a second nationality or replaced a lost document, your UKVI account does not update automatically. You need to update it yourself.
What UKVI is asking you to check
The checklist is as follows:
a. Your passport or identity document number.
b. The expiry date.
c. Your recorded nationality.
If anything has changed, update your UKVI account before you travel. If you are preparing to apply for settled status and your identity document has changed, update your account first.
DMS Perspective
This is the latest stage in the UK’s transition to a digital immigration system. While your underlying immigration status will not change or be affected, how you prove that status in real-world situations will.
In pre-boarding checks, carriers can only rely on digital confirmation of status. If there are issues with the information presented on the system, boarding may be refused.
The timing of this warning comes ahead of half-term and spring travel, when problems are likely to arise for travellers. If you hold digital status, log into your UKVI account and check your details before you travel. It is a five-minute task that could prevent disruption and inconvenience when you need to rely on it.
Need Assistance?
If you rely on digital immigration status and have any questions about travel after 25 February 2026 or how to check your UKVI account, book a fixed-fee telephone consultation with one of our specialist immigration advisers.
