The Home Office is changing the process for proving immigration status in the UK. The new approach will phase out physical documents like BRPs (Biometric Residence Permits) and passports with vignettes, replacing them with a digital immigration status called an 'eVisa'. This update affects all non-UK and Irish nationals who have visas valid beyond 31 December 2024 but whose BRP cards expire on that date. The eVisa will serve as digital proof of your visa, enabling employers, landlords, and universities to easily verify your immigration status for work, rental, or study purposes in the UK.
BU is not involved in this process, so please visit gov.uk/evisa for up-to-date information.
Information for new students
The Home Office will cease issuing BRP cards for new entrants to the UK for applications made after the 1 November 2024, anyone with a visa application made after this date will not be issued a BRP and will only have a digital status, if you arrive in the UK before this date you may still be issued a BRP which will be valid until 31 December 2024.
For students enrolling in September 2024 if you are issued a BRP, even if you have a digital status, you will need to bring this with you to the International Student Document Checking Sessions (link here) to have it checked and a copy taken.
Information for all BRP holders
All holders of BRP’s that expire on 31 December 2024 can now create a UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account to access their eVisa, this is completely free, please be aware of anyone trying to charge you for this service as there are many scams about this. For more information on eVisas you can visit the government website.
If you already have an eVisa you do not need to do anything further.
How to create a UKVI Account
You will need access to either a smartphone or a laptop and a strong internet connection.
Watch the How to create a UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account and access your eVisa video.
What you will need
You will need your BRP number or application number, this may be called a UAN or start with GWF. Your application number was automatically created during the visa application process. A copy of it will have been sent to you by email or post. If you do not have any of this information, go to gov.uk/evisa.
You will need your identity document; this can be a passport or BRP card, your date of birth, email address, and mobile phone number.
Access to the UK Immigration ID Check app.
Step 1
Create your UKVI account by going to this webpage gov.uk/evisa.
Step 2
Fill in your details and click create account, a confirmation will be emailed, then you can sign in, confirm your identity by using the UK Immigration ID check app and follow the instructions. The app will ask you to take a picture of your BRP card or passport and also to take a picture of your face.
Step 3
Link your account to your eVisa – to do this you will need to complete all the sections of the task list, then confirm you have read the declaration and submit, you will then receive an email when your eVisa is ready to view, in some cases it can take up to a few days. Once your eVisa has been created it will be linked to your identity document.
Sharing your eVisa
Once your eVisa is ready you will need to use the UKVI’s View and Prove service to share your eVisa with anyone that requires it.
We will be in contact with students that we require an eVisa from towards the end of the year.
Finding and reporting errors
For students once you have your eVisa you need to check that the length is correct, you should have the full length of your course plus either one, two or four months extra depending on the total length of your course. If your whole course is less than six months you should have one month extra, if it is between six months and twelve months you should have two months additional leave and if your course is twelve months or longer you should have four months additional. Most BU courses are twelve months or longer so you should have four months extra, if you do not, please contact the Immigration Advice and Compliance Team on [email protected] for us to check and advise you if there is an error on how to get it corrected.
Travelling with your eVisa
Once your eVisa has been created it is linked to your travel documents (passport in most cases). Until the end of 2024 it is recommended that you continue to travel with your BRP if you have one.
If you update your passport, you must ensure that you update your UK Visas and Immigration account to link your e-visa to your new passport before you travel.