Proving settlement with an eVisa

Where Things Stand

The move from physical cards to digital records is finished, not under way. Biometric residence permits stopped being issued at the end of 2024, and GOV.UK now states: “All BRPs have now expired and have been replaced by eVisas.”

An eVisa is a digital record of your identity and immigration status, including indefinite leave to remain. Settlement itself has not changed, and it does not expire. What changed is how you show it.

You might have held a BRP if you were granted permission to live or work in the UK on or before 31 October 2024. See our BRP guide for background.

Setting Up Your UKVI Account

1. Create the account: start at GOV.UK.
2. Link your status: you can use your BRP number, your passport, or the other identity details GOV.UK lists.
3. Check the record: confirm your name, date of birth and nationality are right, and report anything wrong through the GOV.UK update service.
4. Keep access: the account is now the only place your status lives, so keep the email address, phone number and sign-in details current.

Proving Your Status

To show settled status to an employer or a landlord:

• Sign in to your UKVI account.
• Generate a share code. GOV.UK says a share code lasts for 90 days, and you can use it as many times as you need before it expires.
• Give the share code and your date of birth to the person checking.
• They check it through the online checking service.

Right to rent checks are an England-only scheme. Landlords in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are not required to make them. Right to work checks apply across the UK. See our right to work guide.

What an Expired BRP Is Still Good For

GOV.UK says you might be able to use an expired BRP for 24 months after the expiry date printed on the card, or until 31 December 2026, whichever comes first. That use is narrow: getting access to your eVisa, creating a UKVI account, or making an application.

For anything else, GOV.UK is direct: “You can use your eVisa to prove your immigration status for any other reason.” Keep the old card until you are certain your account works, then treat it as a personal record rather than proof.

Travelling With an eVisa

GOV.UK says you can travel with your eVisa after you add your passport or travel document details to your UKVI account. Carriers and Border Force check your status against the passport you travel on, so if you renew your passport, update the account before you book.

For what to do next after settlement, see our guides on applying for citizenship, absence rules, contacting the Home Office, renting in the UK and visa fees.

Questions and answers