NEW - eVisa support programme in Wales
From 31 December 2024, all BRP cards will be replaced by an eVisa.
If you live in Wales and would like support in creating your UKVI account or applying for an eVisa, the Welsh Refugee Council can help.
Book your eVisa appointmentWhat is an eVisa?
An eVisa is an online record of your immigration status and the conditions of your permission to enter or stay in the UK. You will need to create a UKVI account to be able to access your eVisa.
Updating your physical document to an eVisa does not affect your immigration status or the conditions of your permission to enter or stay in the UK.
In the future you’ll be able to use an eVisa to travel to the UK – you will not need to carry a physical document, except for your current passport, which must be registered to your UKVI account.
Until the end of 2024 you will need to continue to carry your physical document when you travel, if you have one.
The benefits of eVisas include:
- they are secure and cannot be lost, stolen, or tampered with (unlike a physical document)
- you will not need to wait for, or collect, a physical document after your application is decided – you might still need to provide biometric information in person, and we will tell you if you need to do this
- it will be quicker and easier to prove your status at the UK border, and share your status with third parties like employers and landlords
Why do I need a UKVI account?
UKVI are replacing physical documents with an online record of your immigration status.
You need to create a UKVI account to access your eVisa and share information about your immigration status and conditions, such as your right to work or rent in the UK, using the view and prove service.
You do not have to pay to create a UKVI account.
Watch a video on how to create a UKVI account and access your eVisa
How will I use my UKVI account?
Once you have created your UKVI account you will be able to view the details of your eVisa online, for example your type of permission, when it expires and your conditions of stay in the UK.
You can update your personal information in your UKVI account, such as your contact details.
Your eVisa will be linked to your passport in your UKVI account. You must keep your passport or ID card details up to date in your UKVI account and tell us about any changes, so that your immigration status can be easily identified at the UK border. You’ll still need to carry your current passport with you.
If you’ve told the Home Office you have a new passport and you’re still waiting for confirmation that your UKVI account has been updated, you should also carry your old document with you, if possible, to avoid unnecessary delays at the border.
You can share your immigration status information with third parties, such as employers or landlords, by generating a share code in the view and prove service, which will give them time-limited access to your immigration status information. You can get a new share code whenever you need one – you do not have to remember a single unique code to be able to prove your status.
The Home Office will continue to share relevant information about your immigration status automatically with some government departments and other public authorities. This will reduce the need for you to interact with online services when proving your immigration status.
Watch a video on how to travel with your eVisaHow do I get help?
To access support, please contact the Welsh Refugee Council via the online form to book an appointment. If you have any questions about applying for an eVisa, please email our team and someone will be in touch.
Frequently asked questions
- Who needs to set up an eVisa?
Anyone with leave to remain in the UK for longer than 6 months will need an eVisa. If your BRP card expires on 31 December 2024, you must set up an eVisa. If you do not set up your eVisa by this date, you will still be able to create one afterwards, but it may be harder for you to prove your immigration status.
- My BRP expired on 31/12/2024. Can I set up an eVisa?
If your BRP card expires after 31 December 2024, you can still set up an eVisa if you have valid leave to remain beyond the BRP expiry date.
- Do I need to set up an eVisa for the Children’s?
Children will need their own UKVI account. A parent or guardian can set up eVisa access for a child by providing the child’s BRP card and date of birth. The parent or guardian can use their own phone number and email address to create the UKVI account. When the child can manage their account, the parent or guardian can transfer it to them.
- How to set up eVisa if the BRP is lost, stolen, or damaged
If your BRP is lost or stolen, you can no longer get a replacement BRP. You must report it to the Home Office. If you have a passport and visa application number, you can use these to create your UKVI account/eVisa. If you do not have a passport, you may need to attend a video interview with the Home Office to verify your identity. If your BRP is lost, stolen, or damaged, complete this form Request your reference number
- Do asylum seekers need an eVisa?
Sanctuary seekers will continue to use the Application Registration Card (ARC). An eVisa will not be issued during the asylum process.
- How do I access my eVisa if I am granted permission to stay or settle in the UK, such as Refugee status, on or after 31 October 2024?
If you were granted permission to stay or settle in the UK on or after 31 October 2024 and did not possess a valid passport when you applied, the Home Office will set up your UKVI account and provide details on accessing your eVisa within 14 days of the date on your decision letter. If you do not receive details about your eVisa within 14 days, please contact your legal representative or responsible adult who may have received this information on your behalf.
- Can I use the refugee travel document to set up eVisa access?
Currently, it is not possible to use a Home Office-issued travel document, such as a refugee travel document, to create a UKVI account. You will need to use your BRP to set up eVisa access and apply for a Home Office-issued travel document.
- How to use eVisa to prove I have leave to remain in the UK
If you have an eVisa/UKVI account, you need to get the share code from the online service to prove your immigration status. Click here to View and prove your immigration status. Once logged in to your UKVI account, you can select the ‘Get a share code’ option. The online service will ask you why you need a share code, with three options to choose from:
- ‘To prove my right to work’
- ‘To prove my right to rent in England’
- ‘To prove my immigration status for anything else’
Make sure to select the correct option. For example, if you are using the share code to open a bank account, choose ‘To prove my immigration status for anything else’. Provide the share code and your date of birth to the checker, who will use the online service to verify your immigration status.
The share code is a 9-character unique code, valid for 90 days. You can reuse it as many times within that period.
- How to get a share code for an employer to prove the right to work
A share code is a 9-character unique code made up of numbers and letters that verifies your right to work in the UK. To generate a share code for your employer, sign in to your UKVI account and select ‘To prove my right to work’. Click here to View and prove your immigration status
Provide the share code and your date of birth to your employer, who will use the online service to verify your right to work.
- How will the move to eVisa impact travel for those with Home Office-issued travel documents?
It is not currently possible to add a Home Office-issued travel document to a UKVI account or use one to create a UKVI account.
If you apply for and are issued, a Home Office travel document, continue to carry this document with you while travelling. The Home Office has advised carriers to accept a Home Office travel document as evidence of permission to travel to the UK.
- Travel outside the UK – what do I need to do?
If you have an eVisa, you should:
- Check all your details are correct
- Obtain your share code before travelling and save it
- Carry your expired biometric residence permit and your National Passports
The Home Office will allow carriers, such as airlines, to initially accept a biometric residence permit (BRP) that expires on 31 December 2024 as valid evidence of permission to travel. This arrangement has been extended until 31 March 2025, but it will be kept under review. Media factsheet: eVisas – Home Office in the media
If you have any additional questions, please email us at evisa@services.wrc.wales. If you need in-person assistance, you can book an appointment at one of our offices using the following link: Book an eVisa Appointment