Section A: From BRPs to eVisas
The UK immigration system is moving away from physical proof of status. Biometric Residence Permits and Biometric Residence Cards are no longer the primary way immigration permission is evidenced. In their place, the Home Office is relying on a fully digital system known as eVisas. Status is now checked directly against Home Office systems, often before travel or employment begins, and increasingly without any physical document being reviewed.
The Home Office describes this approach as digital by design. From its perspective, a single online record is easier to update, harder to misuse and better suited to automated checks, including online right to work verification, and carriers can check permission before travel, because the eVisa is checked automatically when the linked passport is used.
For individuals and employers, the practical consequence is more fundamental. Immigration permission now exists as a digital record that has to be accessible, accurate and linked to the correct identity document at the point it is needed. Where that record cannot be retrieved, problems arise regardless of whether lawful permission exists.
This is why the transition from BRPs to eVisas has generated disruption, since the risk has moved away from document possession and towards system access, data accuracy and general timing issues.
| Evidence type | How status is proved | Common failure points | Practical implications |
| Biometric Residence Permit | Previously relied on as physical evidence, sometimes supported by online checks | Expiry date confusion, lost card, reliance on copies, passport mismatch | Increasingly unsafe to rely on as systems move to digital-only verification |
| Biometric Residence Card | Previously accepted as physical proof for certain categories | Acceptance varies by context, outdated reliance, inconsistent checks | Holders need to transition to digital evidence |
| eVisa | Verified online through a UKVI account using share codes | Account not set up, identity not verified, passport not linked | Digital record becomes the sole source of truth |
DavidsonMorris Strategic Insight
The Home Office has promoted the digital immigration system as being easier and more accurate for users than the old physical counterparts. In practice, that convenience is only possible if system access works as intended. Under the previous model, physically holding a BRP was reassuring and usually effective. Holding the document carried weight. Under the digital system, that reassurance has gone. What counts now is the information that appears at the exact moment a check is carried out, whether by a new employer, a landlord or an airline at the boarding gate. Those checks tend to happen at critical points, when timing matters and there is no bandwidth for delay.
Where something goes wrong, the person carrying out the check has no ability to fix it. They can only rely on what the Home Office system returns. If the record cannot be accessed or does not resolve correctly, the check fails. The issue then has to be taken up with UKVI before another attempt can be made. By that point, travel may already have been prevented and employment opportunities may have moved on.
Section B: What is an eVisa?
An eVisa is the Home Office’s digital record of a person’s UK immigration status. It replaces the role previously played by physical residence cards and acts as the authoritative source of information about a person’s permission to be in the UK.
The eVisa shows the type of permission held, how long it lasts and any conditions attached to it. It is accessed through a UKVI account, which functions as the gateway to viewing, updating and proving status.
Once logged into a UKVI account, a visa holder can generate a time-limited share code. That code allows employers, landlords and other third parties to check immigration status directly against Home Office systems. This removes reliance on copies, scans or physical documents and places verification entirely within the online checking framework.
Crucially, digital status is linked to the passport or travel document recorded on the account. Border systems already rely on that link, and airlines increasingly use it as part of pre-boarding checks. If the passport presented does not match the one linked to the eVisa, permission may not be recognised at the point of travel.
In practical terms, the eVisa system only works as intended when the UKVI account is active, identity has been verified and document details are accurate. Where those elements are missing or out of date, the system can fail even though lawful permission exists.
DavidsonMorris Strategic Insight
The eVisa has replaced the BRP, but it is far more than a change in format. The information held within the eVisa is used by employers, landlords, airlines and border systems whenever a check is carried out. At that point, the data presented by the system is the only information that can be relied on to pass or fail the check.
The eVisa system works well when data hygiene is good. It becomes unforgiving very quickly when it is not. Small issues that would previously have been overlooked, or resolved informally, now carry disproportionate consequences.
This is why seemingly minor problems, such as a passport renewal that was never updated in a UKVI account, can suddenly prevent travel, delay employment or block a check altogether.
Section C: What BRP holders need to do and by when
Most people searching for “BRP to eVisa” are trying to answer two questions quickly. They want to know whether they need to take action now and what happens if they do not. The Home Office expects individuals who rely on a BRP or BRC as evidence of permission to access their digital status through a UKVI account so they can prove their rights online when they travel, start work, rent property or deal with checks.
1. Who needs to take action now
If you have a BRP or BRC and your immigration permission continues, you need a UKVI account to access your eVisa. The expiry date printed on many BRPs, including 31 December 2024, does not automatically reflect the end of permission, but it does signal that physical documents are being phased out.
Action is usually urgent where you are planning travel, starting a new role, changing employer, undergoing a repeat right to work check or renewing a passport. These are the points where digital verification becomes the gatekeeper, and problems surface without warning.
If you have status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you are already on a digital record, but you still need to be able to access and use it. Problems arise where an account cannot be accessed, details are incorrect or the passport being used for travel is not linked.
If you have indefinite leave to remain evidenced by an older passport endorsement and you do not have a BRP, you will usually need to make a No Time Limit application so that your permission is recorded digitally. That route results in an eVisa rather than a physical document.
2. Step by step: set up your UKVI account and access your eVisa
The Home Office process is designed to be free and completed online, but it only works smoothly where identity verification and document linking are done in the right order.
Start by creating a UKVI account using the details the Home Office holds for you. In many cases, you will be directed to use your BRP details and personal information to locate your record.
You then need to verify your identity. Most applicants complete this through the UK Immigration: ID Check app, which uses a scan of the BRP and a live facial image. Where the app route is not available, the Home Office provides alternative methods, but the account still needs to be activated and usable.
Once the account is created and identity is verified, you should sign in and confirm that your immigration permission appears correctly. You should also check the personal details shown on the record, including name, date of birth and the type and end date of permission.
You should then link the passport or travel document you actually use. This step is where many travel issues begin. If you renew your passport, replace it or travel on a different passport, the UKVI account needs to be updated so that carrier systems and border systems can match you to your permission.
After that, test the system while there is time to fix problems. You can do this by using the View and Prove service to generate a share code, even if you do not need one immediately. If you cannot generate a share code, or the eVisa record is missing or wrong, you should treat that as a live issue rather than an inconvenience.
3. Deadlines, travel cut-offs and what to rely on during transition
Many BRPs were issued with an expiry date of 31 December 2024 even where the holder’s permission continued beyond that date. The Home Office initially indicated that physical documents would cease to be relied on from the end of 2024, but implementation issues led to transitional arrangements.
For travel, there was an initial concession that allowed some expired BRPs and EUSS BRCs to be used beyond 31 December 2024. That concession was later extended so that people whose BRP or BRC expired on or after 31 December 2024 could use the expired document for international travel up to and including 1 June 2025, provided they still held underlying permission.
From 2 June 2025, an expired BRP or expired EUSS BRC is no longer acceptable evidence of immigration status for travel to the UK. At that point, the practical issue is not whether you have permission. The issue is whether your permission can be verified digitally against the passport you are travelling on.
In practical terms, you reduce disruption by treating digital access as the default and treating the physical card as a transitional artefact rather than a reliable fallback. If travel is planned, you should confirm UKVI account access, confirm the eVisa details are correct and confirm the correct passport is linked before you reach the airport.
| Date | What changed | Who is affected | Practical impact |
| 31 December 2024 | Many BRPs issued with this expiry date regardless of continuing permission | Most BRP holders | Card expiry does not equal visa expiry |
| 26 September 2024 | Replacement BRPs stopped being issued | Lost or stolen BRP holders | Status accessed digitally only |
| 31 October 2024 | BRPs stopped being issued for most new grants | New visa applicants | Digital status becomes standard |
| Up to and including 1 June 2025 | Expired BRPs/EUSS BRCs (expiring on or after 31 December 2024) could be used for travel where underlying permission continued | BRP and some BRC holders | Transitional travel tolerance only, digital setup still advised |
DavidsonMorris Strategic Insight
The biggest mistake BRP holders make is assuming they can deal with this later. The Home Office does not offer instant fixes for digital mismatches, and airlines or employers cannot wait while issues are resolved. For them, the outcome is binary. The check either passes or it fails.
Setting up a UKVI account early and keeping it accurate reduces risk, but it does not remove the need for active oversight. Treating digital status as something that can be fixed at the point it is needed is where most problems begin.
Section D: Practical implications for travel, work and verification
The shift to eVisas changes where and when immigration problems surface. Issues that once arose at the UK border or during an in-person check now tend to arise earlier, often before travel or before employment starts, when digital verification cannot be completed.
1. How travel checks now work in practice
When you travel to the UK, immigration permission is checked digitally against the passport recorded on your UKVI account. Border systems already rely on that link, and airlines are increasingly required to verify a passenger’s permission before boarding.
From a traveller’s perspective, this means the key risk point is no longer arrival at the UK border. It is the point at which the airline checks your details against Home Office systems. If your passport is not correctly linked, or your eVisa cannot be retrieved, you may be treated as not holding permission even where you do.
Passport changes are a common trigger for disruption. Where a passport has been renewed, replaced or changed, the UKVI account needs to be updated before travel. Carrying an expired BRP or relying on historic documents does not resolve a digital mismatch once carrier systems are engaged.
2. Using digital status for work, rent and other checks
For employment and renting property, immigration status is proved using the Home Office online service rather than a physical document. The visa holder generates a share code through the View and Prove service, which allows the employer or landlord to verify permission directly.
The share code is time-limited and only works where the underlying UKVI account is active and accurate. Screenshots, printouts or copies of a digital status page do not create a compliant check and should not be relied on in place of the prescribed online process.
Repeat checks, where required, also rely on digital status. Where employers or landlords previously retained copies of BRPs as part of their records, those documents no longer provide protection once digital verification is required.
3. Common failure points and why they arise
Most problems under the eVisa system arise from incomplete setup rather than from the absence of permission. Typical failure points include an account that has not been fully activated, identity verification that has not completed successfully, or a passport that has not been linked or updated.
Name discrepancies, changes of nationality and data mismatches can also prevent systems from recognising a valid status. These issues often become visible only when a share code cannot be generated or when a carrier check returns no result.
Because these failures tend to surface at short notice, they are frequently misinterpreted as immigration refusals. In reality, they are access and verification problems that require correction within the UKVI system.
4. What to do if your eVisa cannot be accessed or is wrong
If you cannot see your eVisa in your UKVI account, cannot generate a share code or notice that details are incorrect, the issue should be treated as urgent where travel, work or checks are imminent.
The Home Office provides an online route to report errors with an eVisa and to update passport and personal details. While corrections are being processed, it is sensible to retain all existing evidence of permission and avoid relying on assumptions that status will be recognised automatically.
Where employment or travel is time-sensitive, unresolved digital issues can create knock-on consequences even where permission exists. Addressing these problems early, before they intersect with a deadline, is where most disruption is avoided.
Official guidance on reporting errors and updating details is available at https://www.gov.uk/evisa/report-error-evisa and https://www.gov.uk/update-uk-visas-immigration-account-details.
| Evidence presented | Compliant check | Statutory excuse risk | Employer response |
| Share code from View and Prove | Yes | Low if completed correctly | Complete and retain online check record |
| Screenshot of online status | No | High | Request share code and recheck |
| Expired BRP | No as a standalone method | Medium to high | Use online service instead |
| Copy or scan of BRP | No | High | Carry out prescribed online check |
| Worker cannot access UKVI account | No | High if employment starts | Delay start until compliant check completed |
DavidsonMorris Strategic Insight
Under the eVisa system, travellers are now screened before boarding, often well before they reach the UK border or encounter Border Force. If a problem arises at that stage, it is highly unlikely that travel will go ahead that day. Airlines rely on the result returned by the system and have no scope to override it.
The same applies to right to work and right to rent checks. Where the required result is not returned by the Home Office service, the issue cannot be fixed on the spot. Resolution is rarely quick and never instant, which is why checks that fail at the point of need tend to have immediate and disruptive consequences.
Section E: Employer compliance risks during the BRP to eVisa transition
For employers, the move from BRPs to eVisas changes how right to work risk crystallises. The legal framework for checks has not been rewritten, but the evidential landscape has shifted. Physical documents no longer provide a reliable fallback where digital verification fails.
1. Where employer risk now arises
The main exposure arises where checks are attempted but cannot be completed because the worker’s digital record is not accessible. An employer may be satisfied that the individual holds permission, but if the Home Office online service does not return a compliant result, the statutory excuse is not secured.
This commonly happens where a UKVI account has not been set up, identity verification is incomplete or the passport presented for the check is not the one linked to the digital record. These are not theoretical issues. They surface at onboarding, during audits and at repeat check points.
Assuming that a BRP, even one showing a 31 December 2024 expiry date, can fill that gap is where employers expose themselves. Once digital verification is required, reliance on physical cards, screenshots or historic copies does not protect against liability.
2. Start dates and what to do when checks cannot be completed
Where a compliant online right to work check cannot be completed before employment starts, the safest position is to delay the start date. Beginning work without the statutory excuse in place creates immediate exposure, even if the worker later proves they held permission at the time.
This risk is often underestimated where the failure appears technical rather than immigration-related. A share code that cannot be generated, or a service that returns no result, has the same legal effect as not carrying out a check at all.
Employers should resist pressure to proceed on the basis of reassurance, screenshots or pending updates. Where delays occur, they should be documented internally, and the worker should be directed to resolve the digital issue before work begins.
3. Repeat checks and historic reliance on BRPs
For workers who require follow-up checks, the end of BRPs removes a safety net that many employers relied on. Retained copies of BRPs no longer provide protection once digital status is the prescribed method.
Where a repeat check falls due, the employer needs to complete the online check against the worker’s current digital record. If the worker cannot access their eVisa at that point, the employer faces the same decision as at initial onboarding: pause work or accept risk.
Employers who treat repeat checks as administrative renewals, rather than compliance checkpoints, are more likely to be caught out as physical documents fall away.
4. Employer controls that reduce exposure
Employers that manage the transition well tend to introduce simple but firm controls. These include requiring confirmation of UKVI account access before onboarding, instructing workers to link and test their passport details early and building time into recruitment processes for digital issues to be resolved.
Internal guidance should make clear that screenshots, expired cards and informal evidence are not acceptable substitutes for a compliant online check. Where responsibility for checks is delegated, training should reflect the shift to digital-only evidence and the consequences of getting it wrong.
Most enforcement action arises not from deliberate non-compliance but from process drift. Treating the eVisa system as a compliance control, rather than a background administrative change, is what separates employers who remain protected from those who are exposed.
DavidsonMorris Strategic Insight
Old habits built around physical documents will heighten compliance exposure under the eVisa system. If an online check can’t be completed, the statutory excuse won’t exist. It’s as cut-and-dry as that.
In practical terms, that leaves employers with a hard choice between delaying employment until a compliant check can be completed or proceed without protection and accept the risk that follows.
Section F: Summary
The move from BRPs to eVisas in real terms means physical documents are being phased out, digital records are becoming the sole source of reference and both individuals and employers are expected to adjust their practices accordingly.
For visa holders, risk sits in delay, incomplete account setup and outdated passport links. For employers, exposure lies in right to work checks carried out on assumption rather than verified status. The transition period offers limited tolerance rather than protection, and treating the eVisa system as optional or administrative is where problems begin to surface.
Section G: Need Assistance?
The transition from BRPs to eVisas has created practical risks that are not always addressed in Home Office guidance, particularly around travel disruption, right to work checks and employer compliance exposure. Where there is uncertainty about digital status, passport linking or verification timing, early advice can prevent problems escalating.
We provide fixed-fee telephone consultations for individuals and employers who need clarity on how the eVisa system applies to their specific circumstances. Our advisers can assess your position, identify gaps in your digital record and explain the steps needed to reduce risk before issues arise.
Section H: FAQs
Do I still need my BRP if I already have an eVisa?
If you have successfully set up your UKVI account and can access your eVisa, the digital record is your primary evidence of status. During the transition period, it is sensible to retain your BRP, particularly for travel, but reliance should shift to the eVisa.
My BRP expired on 31 December 2024 but my visa is still valid. Is my status affected?
The expiry date printed on many BRPs does not reflect the end of immigration permission. Where permission continues, status remains valid. The expiry date reflects the transition away from physical cards rather than a loss of leave.
Can I travel if I have not set up my UKVI account yet?
Travel may still be possible during the transitional period, but risk increases where digital status is not accessible. Airlines are increasingly required to verify status electronically before boarding. Setting up a UKVI account in advance reduces the risk of travel disruption.
What happens if my passport details are wrong in my UKVI account?
If passport details are incorrect or out of date, your eVisa may not be recognised at the border or during checks. Passport changes should be updated in the UKVI account before travel or employment verification takes place.
Can my employer accept a screenshot of my eVisa?
A screenshot does not provide a compliant right to work check. Employers should use the Home Office online service and rely on a valid share code to obtain the statutory excuse.
What should I do if I cannot generate a share code?
If a share code cannot be generated, this usually points to an issue with account setup, identity verification or linked documents. The issue should be resolved through the UKVI account before relying on the status for work or travel.
Are replacement BRPs still issued if my card is lost or stolen?
Replacement BRPs are no longer issued. Immigration status is accessed digitally through the UKVI account, and updates are made online rather than through physical document replacement.
I have indefinite leave to remain in an old passport. Can I rely on that?
Historic passport endorsements can still evidence status, but the Home Office expects indefinite leave to be recorded digitally. Applying for No Time Limit status results in an eVisa rather than a physical document.
Do employers need to change how they carry out right to work checks?
The legal framework for right to work checks has not changed, but reliance on physical documents is falling away. Employers should expect digital-only evidence to become the default and ensure checks are completed using the Home Office service.
Can I still travel to the UK using an expired BRP or EUSS BRC?
Travel on expired BRP/BRC (expiring on/after 31 December 2024) was tolerated up to and including 1 June 2025, and from 2 June 2025 digital verification is now the primary requirement.
When should I seek professional advice?
Advice is advisable where digital status cannot be accessed, travel is imminent, an employer is unable to complete a compliant check or historic documents are being relied on. Early advice often prevents disruption and compliance exposure.
Section I: Glossary
| Term | Meaning |
| Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) | A physical card previously issued to many UK visa holders as evidence of immigration permission and identity details. BRPs are being phased out as status moves to digital records. |
| Biometric Residence Card (BRC) | A physical card issued to certain individuals, including some granted status through the EU Settlement Scheme, as evidence of their rights in the UK. It is being replaced by digital status. |
| eVisa | A secure online record showing a person’s UK immigration status, including the type of permission, validity dates and any conditions attached to it. |
| UKVI account | An online account with UK Visas and Immigration that allows a visa holder to access their eVisa, update linked identity documents and generate share codes for verification. |
| UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) | The Home Office division responsible for the UK immigration system, including visa decision-making, digital status services and online checking tools. |
| View and Prove | The Home Office online service used to view digital immigration status and generate a share code so third parties can verify a person’s permission directly. |
| Share code | A time-limited code generated through the View and Prove service that allows an employer, landlord or other third party to check a person’s status online. |
| Right to work check | The process employers use to verify that a person has permission to work in the UK. For many visa holders, this is completed using the Home Office online service with a share code. |
| Statutory excuse | The legal protection an employer can rely on against a civil penalty for illegal working, where the employer has carried out the prescribed right to work check correctly and at the correct time. |
| No Time Limit (NTL) | An application process for people with indefinite leave to remain who need their status recorded on a digital system. Successful NTL applicants receive an eVisa rather than a physical document. |
| Entry vignette | A short-term visa sticker placed in a passport to allow travel to the UK before digital status is used as the ongoing evidence of permission. |
| Carrier checks | Pre-boarding checks carried out by airlines and other carriers to confirm a passenger has the required permission to travel to the UK. These checks increasingly rely on digital status and linked passport details. |
| Border Force | The UK border control function responsible for immigration checks on arrival. Border systems can access digital status where it is linked correctly to the traveller’s passport. |
| eGates | Automated border control gates that use passport data to support entry checks. Digital immigration records are designed to integrate with automated border processes. |
Section J: Additional resources & links
| Resource | What it covers | Link |
| Online immigration status (eVisa) | Official Home Office guidance on what an eVisa is, who needs one and how digital status works. | https://www.gov.uk/guidance/online-immigration-status-evisa |
| Prove your right to work to an employer | Guidance for visa holders on generating share codes and allowing employers to verify status online. | https://www.gov.uk/prove-right-to-work |
| Employer right to work checks | Home Office guidance for employers on carrying out compliant right to work checks and maintaining a statutory excuse. | https://www.gov.uk/check-job-applicant-right-to-work |
| Update your UKVI account details | Instructions on updating passport details, personal information and linked documents in a UKVI account. | https://www.gov.uk/update-uk-visas-immigration-account-details |
| UK Immigration: ID Check app | Information on using the Home Office app to verify identity when setting up or updating digital status. | https://www.gov.uk/guidance/using-the-uk-immigration-id-check-app |
| No Time Limit applications | Guidance for individuals with indefinite leave to remain who need their status recorded digitally. | https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/application-to-transfer-or-confirm-status-no-time-limit-ntl |
| DavidsonMorris eVisa guidance | Practical legal guidance on the UK eVisa system, transition risks and compliance issues. | https://www.davidsonmorris.com/evisa-uk/ |
| Contact DavidsonMorris | Telephone consultation and tailored advice on BRP to eVisa issues for individuals and employers. | https://www.davidsonmorris.com/contact/ |
