How to register for a new ‘e-visa’

 From 1 January 2025, all UK visas will be digital “e-visas”. All new visas will be issued as e-visas and every visa issued before 31 December 2024 will need to be converted to an e-visa.

Having a digital e-visa means that there is no longer a physical document, such as a stamp or vignette in a passport or a Biometric Residence Permit card. Instead, a visa is connected to a person’s passport which is registered on a Home Office database.

The Home Office has now invited all current BRP card holders to go through the process of digitising their visas. Here is a guide to getting your e-visa.

  1. You need to create an online account with UK Visas and Immigration. Follow this link to begin the registration process: https://www.gov.uk/get-access-evisa
  2. You will need your BRP card number, your email address, your telephone number and access to a smartphone.
  3. Answer the questions regarding your current BRP card and then ‘create an account’.
  4. Add your personal details and your BRP details and then add your email address and telephone number. You will then receive six digit verification codes to register them so that you can now log in to your account using your BRP number, date of birth and a verification number sent to either your email or as an SMS.

Once you have created a UKVI account, you should then change your logging in document from your BRP to your passport.

Once you have registered online, you now have a digital e-visa. Since there is no longer a physical document, you no longer need a BRP card to travel into the UK. You can now present your passport at the border and your status will be confirmed when your passport is scanned. It is advisable to also carry the confirmation of your status that you can find the paragraph below regarding demonstrating your right to work.

You can also show employers and landlords your immigration status by sharing a link to a secure online page that shows them your visa status. You do this by following one of the links below and logging in exactly how you logged into your UKVI account. You can then send a ‘share code’ by email to your desired recipient.

If you need help registering for an e-visa, get in touch with Oliver O’Sullivan via email at Oliver.OSullivan@wellerslawgroup.com .