UK eVisa Explained 2026: Electronic Visas, ETA & How It Works

Section A: What is an eVisa in the UK?

The UK eVisa is a secure digital record of an individual’s immigration status and the conditions attached to their permission to be in the UK. It records whether a person has the right to live, work or study in the UK, or rent in England, together with any restrictions that apply to that status.

An eVisa is not a visa application and it is not a separate form of immigration permission. It is the digital record of permission that has already been granted under the Immigration Rules. The underlying visa, leave or settlement status remains unchanged. What has changed is how that status is held, accessed and proved.

eVisas are accessed through a UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account and are used to generate share codes. These share codes allow employers, landlords and other authorised third parties to verify a person’s immigration status online using Home Office systems, rather than relying on physical documents.

The Home Office has made digital status the default method of proving UK immigration permission. Physical documents such as biometric residence permits, biometric residence cards and passport endorsements are being withdrawn and are no longer the primary means by which status is checked. In practice, individuals are now expected to rely on a UKVI account to access and share their status digitally.

The move to eVisas has shifted immigration risk away from physical documents and onto digital accuracy. Lawful status alone is no longer enough. Immigration permission also needs to be visible, accessible and technically correct at the moment it is checked.

Managing an eVisa correctly is therefore a practical requirement rather than an administrative exercise. Errors in account data, outdated passport details or difficulties accessing a UKVI account can cause immediate disruption. These issues commonly arise when travelling, starting a new job, renting accommodation or attempting to access services, even where the individual holds valid immigration permission.

Problems at this stage are rarely resolved by explanation after the event. Airlines, employers and landlords rely on what Home Office systems display at the time of the check. If digital status cannot be confirmed at that point, the outcome is often delay or refusal, regardless of the individual’s underlying entitlement.

Section B: Who needs an eVisa for the UK?

Anyone who holds immigration permission to live, work, study or join family members in the UK will either already have an eVisa or will be expected to access their status digitally through a UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account. For most visa holders, digital status is now the Home Office’s primary record of immigration permission.

This applies across the main visa categories, including sponsored work routes such as Skilled Worker and Global Business Mobility, student visas, family visas and other long-term routes. Individuals granted status under the EU Settlement Scheme also hold their immigration permission digitally, accessed through a UKVI account rather than through physical documentation.

British and Irish citizens do not hold eVisas and are not required to access digital status records. Visitors do not usually have an eVisa as a record of permission to live or work in the UK, although many visitors now need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), which is a travel permission and not an immigration status. The distinction is not the length of stay, but whether the person holds immigration permission that is recorded as an ongoing status.

Individuals with indefinite leave to remain or indefinite leave to enter evidenced by older physical documents remain lawfully settled. However, reliance on passport stamps, wet ink endorsements or expired cards increasingly creates practical difficulties. GOV.UK guidance encourages holders of older evidence to set up a UKVI account so they can access an eVisa record of their status and use online checks where needed.

In practical terms, people who do not yet have an accessible eVisa often encounter problems when asked to prove their status. Employers, landlords and carriers now expect to see digital confirmation. Where this cannot be produced, checks may fail even though the individual’s underlying immigration permission remains valid.

For this reason, individuals who hold valid immigration status but still rely on physical evidence should treat the transition to digital status as a priority, rather than waiting until a check is required.

1. BRP to eVisa transition

The transition from Biometric Residence Permits and Biometric Residence Cards to eVisas forms part of the Home Office’s wider move to a fully digital immigration system. Historically, BRPs and BRCs were used as physical proof of the right to live, work, study and access services in the UK.

From 2020 onwards, newly issued BRPs were given an expiry date of 31 December 2024, regardless of the length of the underlying immigration permission. That date related to the document itself rather than the person’s visa or settlement status, and was intended to align with the rollout of digital status.

The Home Office allowed a time-limited transitional period during which some expired BRPs and EUSS BRCs could be used for travel, but that ended on 1 June 2025. From 2 June 2025, expired BRPs and BRCs are no longer accepted for travel, and people need to rely on their eVisa being linked to their current passport or travel document.

As such, expired BRPs and BRCs are no longer accepted for travel, and status checking is now primarily carried out through digital services and share codes.

Individuals with valid immigration permission whose BRPs have expired or are approaching expiry should ensure that they have created a UKVI account and can access their eVisa. Switching to an eVisa does not change the duration or conditions of leave. However, failure to keep passport details up to date within the account can result in difficulty proving status when it is needed.

Some individuals continue to carry expired BRPs as a practical contingency when travelling. These documents no longer confirm immigration permission, but may assist in resolving confusion where airline staff are unfamiliar with digital status checks.

2. If you have a passport stamp or vignette

If you were granted indefinite leave to enter or remain and your status is evidenced by a stamp or vignette in your passport, your underlying immigration status remains valid. Settled individuals who hold older evidence, such as a passport stamp or vignette, can use GOV.UK services to obtain an eVisa record of their status through a UKVI account (for example, see No Time Limit (NTL) applications).

Successful NTL applicants receive an eVisa, accessed through a UKVI account. The application does not change immigration status and is free of charge. Its purpose is to convert older forms of evidence into a digital record that can be accessed and verified online.

Once the application is approved, the individual’s indefinite status is held digitally and can be shared with employers, landlords and other organisations using Home Office systems. This removes reliance on outdated passport endorsements that many third parties no longer accept.

Keeping passport details up to date within the UKVI account is particularly important for settled individuals. Travel, right to work checks and right to rent checks are now tied to digital records rather than to physical stamps or vignettes.

Section C: What are eVisas used for?

An eVisa allows an individual to prove their immigration status online in situations where confirmation of permission is required. This includes employment checks, rental checks and international travel. The eVisa itself is not shared. Instead, limited information is made available through Home Office systems for a specific purpose and time period.

When a digital check is carried out, the third party does not see a person’s full immigration history. They are shown only the information relevant to the check being performed, such as whether work or rent is permitted and whether the permission is time-limited. Digital visibility, rather than legal entitlement, is what these checks rely on.

1. Right to work checks

UK employers are required to carry out right to work checks before employment begins. Where a worker’s status is held digitally, the check is completed online using a share code generated through the UKVI system.

An individual generates a share code via the GOV.UK ‘Prove your right to work’ service and provides this, together with their date of birth, to the employer. Share codes are valid for 90 days and provide temporary access to the relevant status information.

The employer can see whether the individual is permitted to work in the UK, the type of work allowed and any time limit attached to that permission. Where the right to work is time-limited, the employer is expected to carry out a follow-up check before the permission expires.

If passport details are missing, incorrect or still pending verification within the UKVI account, the right to work check may fail even where the individual holds valid immigration permission. Where a person cannot generate a share code or the online service cannot confirm status, employers may need to use the Employer Checking Service instead of relying on screenshots or documents.

Where a share code cannot be generated or does not display correctly, the employer cannot complete a lawful digital right to work check. Assurances from the worker, screenshots of accounts or copies of expired documents do not create a statutory excuse.

2. Right to rent checks

Landlords renting residential property in England are required to check that adult tenants have the right to rent. For individuals whose status is held digitally, this is done using the GOV.UK ‘Prove your right to rent in England’ service.

An eVisa holder generates a share code and provides this, together with their date of birth, to the landlord or letting agent. Share codes are valid for 90 days. Where the right to rent is time-limited, a follow-up check is required before the permission expires.

Digital status holders cannot rely on manual document checks. If the UKVI account information cannot be accessed or does not display correctly, the landlord or agent may be unable to complete the prescribed check.

If a digital right to rent check cannot be completed, the landlord or agent is expected to delay granting the tenancy. Requests for physical documents from eVisa holders do not satisfy the prescribed checking process.

3. Travel to the UK

Airlines and carriers are expected to verify immigration permission digitally when boarding passengers travelling to the UK. Following the end of transitional arrangements, expired biometric residence permits and biometric residence cards are no longer accepted as evidence of permission to enter the UK.

Carriers rely on digital confirmation of status linked to the traveller’s passport. If the passport is not correctly linked to the UKVI account, or if updates are still pending verification, the system may not confirm permission even where the individual holds valid leave.

Airlines make boarding decisions based on digital confirmation at the time of check-in, not on explanations of lawful status. Where systems cannot confirm permission, boarding may be refused regardless of the individual’s underlying entitlement.

Lawful immigration status and provable immigration status are not the same thing. Once a check fails, later clarification rarely resolves the immediate outcome.

Section D: How to Access & Manage your eVisa

Access to an eVisa is provided through a UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account. The account holds the digital record of immigration status and allows individuals to view their permission and share it securely with employers, landlords and other authorised third parties.

Creating and maintaining a UKVI account is now an operational requirement for most visa holders. Where the account cannot be accessed or contains incorrect information, digital checks may fail even though immigration permission remains valid.

1. Creating a UKVI account

To access an eVisa, an individual needs to create a UKVI account using the GOV.UK service. Account creation requires a valid email address and phone number and involves confirming identity using a compatible identity document.

Identity confirmation is usually completed using the UK Immigration: ID Check app. This process links the individual’s identity to their immigration record so that status can be displayed digitally. Once verification is completed, the immigration status is linked to the account.

Not all accounts are created at the same point in the immigration journey. Some individuals are invited to create an account automatically after a successful application, while others need to set one up in order to access an existing digital status.

2. Keeping passport details up to date

Passport details stored in the UKVI account has to match the passport being used for travel and for status checks. Airlines, employers and landlords rely on passport-linked digital records when verifying permission.

If a new passport is issued, the details have to be updated through the UKVI account. Updates are not always applied instantly and may require verification. During this period, digital status may not display correctly when checked.

Attempting to travel, start employment or enter into a tenancy while passport updates are pending carries risk. Even where immigration permission remains valid, digital confirmation may fail if the system cannot match the passport details.

3. Generating and using share codes

Share codes are generated through the UKVI account using the GOV.UK ‘View and prove your immigration status’ service. They allow third parties to access limited status information for a specific purpose.

Each share code is valid for 90 days and can only be used for the purpose selected when it is generated, such as proving the right to work or the right to rent. The individual also has to provide their date of birth so that the third party can access the record.

If a share code cannot be generated, expires before use or does not display correctly, the check cannot be completed. In these circumstances, explanations or alternative documents do not substitute for a successful digital check.

4. Timing issues

Timing is one of the most common causes of eVisa problems. Issues frequently arise where account updates are made shortly before travel, employment start dates or tenancy commencement.

If passport updates or identity checks are still pending verification when a check is carried out, digital status may not be visible. Once a check fails, subsequent confirmation rarely resolves the immediate issue.

Planning account updates well in advance of fixed deadlines reduces exposure and allows time to resolve verification delays before status needs to be relied on.

Section E: Common eVisa Issues & Tips

Despite the Home Office’s move to digital status, eVisa problems remain common. These issues rarely relate to the underlying immigration permission itself. Instead, they arise from technical failures, account access problems or mismatches between personal details and Home Office records.

Common problems include being unable to access a UKVI account, difficulty linking a new passport, incorrect personal details appearing on an eVisa, share codes failing to generate or expiring before use, and digital records not displaying correctly when checked by employers, landlords or carriers.

These failures often surface at the point where status needs to be proved. This includes airline check-in desks, onboarding processes for new employment or the start of a tenancy. At that stage, there is usually limited scope to correct errors quickly.

1. Travel disruption and carrier checks

Many travellers have experienced denied boarding or delays at overseas airports because airline staff were unable to confirm digital status. Carriers rely on automated systems to verify permission to travel. Where those systems cannot confirm status, boarding may be refused even if immigration permission exists.

In some cases, travellers are asked to log into their UKVI account on personal devices to demonstrate their status. While this may resolve confusion, it is not a guaranteed solution and depends on staff familiarity with the digital system.

Airlines assess risk at the point of departure. If digital confirmation cannot be obtained at that moment, explanations, correspondence or later verification rarely prevent refusal of boarding.

2. Employment and housing delays

Employers and landlords increasingly expect digital confirmation of status. Where a share code cannot be produced or does not display correctly, onboarding or tenancy start dates are often delayed.

From a compliance perspective, employers and landlords have limited flexibility. If the prescribed digital check cannot be completed, they are expected to pause the process rather than rely on assurances or alternative documents.

Digital checks protect organisations from liability. Proceeding without a successful check creates compliance exposure and is not mitigated by the individual’s explanation.

3. What Home Office guidance does not explain clearly

Home Office guidance focuses on how the digital system is intended to operate. It provides less clarity on how issues play out in real-world scenarios.

Updates to passport details are not always applied immediately and may require additional verification. During this period, digital status may not display correctly. Contacting UKVI does not pause risk, prevent checks from failing or protect against the consequences of a failed check.

Airlines, employers and landlords act on what Home Office systems show at the time of the check. They are not required to wait for corrections or take account of explanations after the event.

4. Getting help and escalation limits

Issues with accessing a UKVI account or errors in displayed information should be reported using the official GOV.UK services. The UKVI Resolution Centre can assist with technical access problems and account-related issues.

UKVI contact channels cannot provide immigration advice, confirm future outcomes or amend immigration decisions. They also do not provide protection if a check fails or a carrier refuses boarding.

Where errors affect employment, housing or imminent travel and cannot be resolved quickly through official channels, professional advice may be appropriate to assess risk and options.

Once a check fails, later clarification rarely fixes the immediate outcome. For this reason, addressing eVisa issues early is often the only effective risk management strategy.

Section F: Employer eVisa Compliance Risks & Best Practices

The shift to eVisas has changed how risk arises for employers, and how it should be managed. The most common failures no longer relate to eligibility but to timing, visibility and system dependency.

1. Treat digital visibility as a compliance requirement

Having lawful immigration permission is not enough if that permission cannot be confirmed digitally at the point of check. Employers should work on the basis that compliance depends on what Home Office systems display in real time. If a share code fails or returns incomplete information, the right to work check has not been completed, regardless of assurances or documentation offered by the worker.

2. Build time buffers into onboarding

Passport updates, identity verification and account corrections are not always applied immediately. Employers that schedule start dates tightly around visa expiry, travel or account changes expose themselves to unnecessary risk. Building in lead time allows digital records to settle before checks are required and reduces pressure on both the business and the worker.

3. Do not rely on screenshots or informal evidence

Screenshots of UKVI accounts, emails from the Home Office or copies of expired documents do not form part of the prescribed right to work process. Relying on them does not provide a statutory excuse. Compliance protection only arises from completing the correct digital check using a valid share code and retaining the required records.

4. Train teams on when to pause, not escalate

When a digital check fails, the correct response is usually to pause onboarding rather than attempt to fix the issue internally or escalate informally to UKVI. Contacting UKVI does not validate employment or reduce liability. Clear internal guidance on when employment cannot start protects managers from making well-intentioned but risky decisions.

5. Track follow-up checks with the same rigour as initial checks

Time-limited permission continues to require follow-up right to work checks. Digital status does not remove this obligation. Employers should diarise expiry dates based on the status shown in the digital check and re-run the process before permission ends. Assuming extensions or pending applications are sufficient is a common compliance error.

6. Pay attention to legacy status holders

Workers with indefinite leave, EU Settlement Scheme status or older documentation often present higher operational risk because their status may not be readily accessible or up to date digitally. Employers should expect to see a share code even from long-standing staff and should not assume that length of residence equates to digital readiness.

7. Escalate early where checks block business needs

Where eVisa issues threaten start dates, continuity of employment or project delivery, early professional advice can help assess options and manage risk. Waiting until a check has already failed limits flexibility. From a compliance perspective, prevention is significantly more effective than remediation.

For employers, the strategic shift is clear. Immigration compliance is now tightly linked to digital process management. Businesses that adapt their onboarding and right to work procedures accordingly reduce exposure and avoid disruption that can otherwise arise even where workers hold valid immigration permission.

Section G: Summary

The UK’s move to eVisas marks a fundamental shift in how immigration status is recorded and proved. For most visa holders, digital status is now the Home Office’s primary record, and physical documents no longer carry the practical weight they once did. While underlying immigration permission may remain valid, it increasingly counts for little if that status cannot be accessed and verified digitally at the moment it is checked.

In practice, eVisa issues rarely arise because a person does not have permission. They arise because of technical failures, outdated passport details, pending updates or account access problems. These issues tend to surface at high-risk points, such as travel, employment start dates or tenancy agreements, when there is limited scope to resolve them quickly.

Employers, landlords and carriers are required to rely on digital confirmation and have little discretion where checks fail. Explanations after the event rarely undo the immediate consequences. Managing an eVisa accurately and proactively is therefore a core part of immigration compliance, not an optional administrative step.

Section H: Need Assistance?

If you are experiencing problems with an eVisa, are unsure whether your digital status is displaying correctly, or are facing time pressure due to travel, employment or housing, early advice can prevent a technical issue turning into a serious disruption.

DavidsonMorris advises individuals and employers on UK immigration status, digital right to work and right to rent compliance, and resolving eVisa and UKVI account issues. We focus on identifying risk early, clarifying what can and cannot be fixed through UKVI systems and advising on practical next steps where timing or compliance is critical.

To discuss your situation, arrange a fixed-fee telephone consultation with one of our immigration advisers.

Section I: eVisa UK FAQs

What is an eVisa for the UK?

An eVisa is a secure digital record of a person’s immigration status held by UK Visas and Immigration. It confirms the conditions attached to a person’s permission, such as whether they can work, rent, study or remain in the UK, and replaces reliance on most physical immigration documents.

Is an eVisa the same as a visa?

A visa is the immigration permission granted under the Immigration Rules. An eVisa is the digital record of that permission. It does not create or change immigration status, but it is now the main way that status is accessed and proved.

Do I need to apply separately for an eVisa?

In most cases, no separate application is required. Many people already have an eVisa linked to their immigration permission and need to create a UKVI account to access it. Individuals with older forms of evidence, such as passport stamps, may need to apply for a No Time Limit update to obtain a digital record.

How do I check my UK immigration status online?

You can view your eVisa by logging into your UKVI account through the GOV.UK “view and prove your immigration status” service. From there, you can see your status details and generate share codes when required.

How do I prove my right to work or right to rent?

If your status is held digitally, you need to generate a share code through your UKVI account and provide this, along with your date of birth, to your employer or landlord. Physical documents are not accepted for digital status holders.

Can my employer delay my start date because of an eVisa issue?

If a digital right to work check cannot be completed correctly, employers are expected to delay employment. Assurances, screenshots or expired documents do not provide a lawful alternative.

Can my landlord refuse to grant a tenancy if my eVisa cannot be checked?

If a digital right to rent check cannot be completed, landlords and agents are expected to pause the tenancy process. They cannot rely on physical documents where a digital check is required.

Can I travel to the UK without a BRP if I have an eVisa?

Yes, provided your eVisa is correctly linked to your current passport and displays accurately. Expired BRPs are no longer accepted as evidence of permission to enter the UK.

What happens if my passport details are not updated before I travel?

If your passport is not correctly linked to your UKVI account, carriers may be unable to confirm your permission to travel. This can result in denied boarding, even if your immigration permission remains valid.

Does contacting UKVI protect me if something goes wrong?

UKVI contact channels can help with technical access or account issues but do not pause checks, prevent refusals or provide protection if a carrier, employer or landlord cannot verify status.

Is an eVisa the same as an ETA?

An ETA is a digital travel authorisation for short-term visitors from certain countries. An eVisa is a digital record of immigration status for people who hold permission to live, work or study in the UK.

Is there a fee to get an eVisa?

There is no separate charge for an eVisa itself. Standard visa application fees and the Immigration Health Surcharge still apply where relevant, but access to digital status does not carry an additional fee.

What should I do if I cannot access my eVisa?

You should use the official GOV.UK services to report access problems or errors in your digital status. Where issues affect imminent travel, employment or housing and cannot be resolved quickly, professional advice may be appropriate to assess risk and next steps.

Section J: Glossary

Section K: Additional Resources & Links