eVisa UK: Everything You Need to Know

Updated 27 March 202611 min read

What you need to know

The UK eVisa is your digital immigration status. It replaces physical BRPs and visa vignettes. You access it through your UKVI account on GOV.UK and use share codes to prove your status to employers, landlords, and others. This guide covers everything you need to know about the eVisa system in 2026.

Preparing a UK visa application?

Get a personalised document checklist and eligibility check — free.

Check your eligibility

What Is a UK eVisa?

A UK eVisa is a digital proof of your immigration status. Instead of carrying a physical card (BRP) or having a sticker in your passport (vignette), your immigration permission is stored electronically in a government database and linked to your passport number.

The move to eVisas is part of the UK's transition to a fully digital border and immigration system. The government has been working towards this since the introduction of the EU Settlement Scheme in 2019, which was one of the first routes to issue purely digital status.

You can view your eVisa, check the conditions of your stay, and generate share codes to prove your status through the GOV.UK online service.

Who Has an eVisa?

If you hold any form of UK immigration permission, you should now have an eVisa. This includes:

If you applied for your visa after the eVisa system launched, your status was issued digitally from the start. If you had an older physical document, your status was transferred to the digital system.

The End of BRPs

Biometric Residence Permits (BRPs) expired on 31 December 2024. If you had a BRP, it is no longer valid as proof of your immigration status, regardless of the expiry date printed on the card.

Your underlying immigration permission has not changed. If your visa was valid until 2027, for example, it is still valid until 2027. What has changed is how you prove that status. Instead of showing your BRP, you now use the online eVisa service.

You should keep your expired BRP as a form of identification (it still contains your photo and biometric data), but you cannot use it to prove your right to work, rent, or travel.

How to Access Your eVisa

To view your eVisa, follow these steps:

  1. Go to the View and prove your immigration status page on GOV.UK.
  2. Log in with your UKVI account. If you do not have one, you will need to create an account and link it to your immigration record.
  3. Verify your identity. You may need to use the UK Immigration: ID Check app to scan your passport or BRP.
  4. Once logged in, you can see your immigration status, the conditions of your stay (such as work restrictions), and the expiry date of your permission.

If you have never created a UKVI account, the process can take some time. Start well before you need to prove your status to an employer or landlord.

Proving Your Status with Share Codes

When you need to prove your immigration status to a third party, such as an employer checking your right to work or a landlord checking your right to rent, you generate a share code.

  1. Log in to the online service.
  2. Select what you want to prove (right to work or right to rent).
  3. The system generates a 9-character share code.
  4. Give the share code and your date of birth to the person checking your status.
  5. They enter the code on the employer/landlord checking service on GOV.UK.

Share codes are valid for 90 days. If the code expires before it is used, you can generate a new one at any time. There is no limit on how many share codes you can create.

Preparing a UK visa application?

Get a personalised document checklist and eligibility check — free.

Check your eligibility

Linking Your Passport to Your eVisa

Your eVisa is linked to your passport number. This is how border officers and the online system verify your identity. If you get a new passport, you must update the link.

To update your passport details:

  1. Go to the Update your UKVI account details service on GOV.UK.
  2. Log in to your UKVI account.
  3. Follow the instructions to add your new passport details.
  4. You may need to scan your new passport using the ID Check app.

Do this before you travel. If your eVisa is linked to an old passport, you may face difficulties at the border. Airlines may also refuse to board you if they cannot verify your immigration status electronically.

Travelling with an eVisa

When you travel to the UK, border officers check your immigration status digitally. They scan your passport and your eVisa record appears on their system. In most cases, you do not need to show any physical document beyond your passport.

However, there are practical considerations:

  • Make sure your passport is linked. If your eVisa is connected to a different passport number, the border officer will not see your status.
  • Carry a printout as backup. While not officially required, printing a screenshot of your eVisa status page can be useful if there are system issues at the border.
  • Airlines may check before boarding. Some airlines verify immigration status electronically before you board. Ensure your eVisa is up to date before travelling.

Common Problems and Solutions

I cannot access my UKVI account

If you cannot log in, try resetting your password. If that does not work, call the UKVI contact centre. They can help you regain access to your account. See our guide to contacting the Home Office for the correct phone numbers and email addresses.

My eVisa shows the wrong information

If your eVisa displays incorrect details (wrong name, wrong visa type, wrong expiry date), contact UKVI immediately. Do not ignore errors. Incorrect information can cause problems with employers, landlords, and at the border.

My employer does not accept share codes

Employers are legally required to use the online checking service for people with eVisas. They cannot insist on seeing a physical document. If your employer refuses to accept your share code, direct them to the GOV.UK employer guidance.

I got a new passport but have not updated my eVisa

Update it as soon as possible using the online service. If you need to travel urgently, carry both your old and new passports. The border officer may be able to match your record manually, but this is not guaranteed and can cause delays.

eVisas and the Right to Work

Employers in the UK are legally required to check that every employee has the right to work before employing them. For eVisa holders, this check is done online using share codes. The process is:

  1. You generate a right-to-work share code from your UKVI account.
  2. You give the code and your date of birth to your employer.
  3. Your employer enters the details on the GOV.UK checking service.
  4. The system confirms your right to work and displays any restrictions (such as maximum hours for students).

Employers must complete this check before your first day of work. If they fail to check, they risk a civil penalty of up to £60,000 per illegal worker.

eVisas and the Right to Rent

Landlords in England are also required to check your immigration status before renting to you. The process is similar to the right-to-work check: you generate a right-to-rent share code and give it to your landlord.

Right-to-rent checks apply in England only. They do not currently apply in Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland, though the law may change.

Next Steps

If you have not already, set up your UKVI account and check that your eVisa is accurate. Update your passport link if you have a new passport. Familiarise yourself with the share code process so you are ready when an employer or landlord asks.

For official guidance, visit the GOV.UK eVisa page.

Related guides:

This guide is general information, not immigration advice. Immigration rules change frequently. For advice on your specific situation, consult an OISC-registered adviser or immigration solicitor. Always check GOV.UK for the latest rules.

Preparing a UK visa application?

Get a personalised document checklist and eligibility check — free.

Check your eligibility