The introduction of the new UK eVisa will replace the BRP, BRC, and other visa stickers. The UK visa holders will not need to carry their physically issued visas or biometric residence permit cards after 2024.
The UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) is willing to impose the new rules starting this Summer and throughout 2024. The new digitalized immigration status will replace the old system. The eVisa will be only an online record of the immigration status instead of cards and stickers.
What is the UK eVisa?
The UK eVisa is an online record of the immigration status and conditions attached with permission to stay in the UK. This new eVisa is accessible through a UKVI account. There will be no effect of this change in terms of visa conditions at all. Technically, the new eVisa is not new in the UK as millions of applicants have already got it through the EU Settlement Scheme.
Which visas will be replaced by UK eVisa?
According to the latest information issued by the UKVI, the following types of visas will be replaced by the new eVisas:
- passport endorsements, such as indefinite leave to enter wet ink stamps;
- biometric residence permits (BRP);
- vignette stickers in passports, such as entry clearance or visa vignettes; and
- biometric residence cards (BRC).
The holders of the visas as mentioned above will still have to carry their normal visa cards till the end of 2024. After that, only the online status will be enough for the checks and controls.
Benefits of the eVisa
Through eVisas:
- it will be easier and quicker to share your immigration status at the UK borders and to third parties such as renting a property or employers through a share code;
- these secure and cannot be stolen, tampered with, and lost; and
- it will save time—as one doesn’t have to wait to collect it from the UK embassies or post offices;
- you can change your details such as your passport number or email address in the UKVI account online; and
- information about your rights to work or rent, and claim to benefits.
You still need to carry your previous passport if you have it renewed and it is not updated in the UKVI account on eVisa.
How to apply for the UK eVisa?
You can apply for the UK eVisa through the UKVI online website here. You should already have an account on the UKVI visa services portal as currently all visas are applied for online. If you cannot access it, you can make a new one with a new email ID. You must access it fully through your passport, ID, or Biometric Residence Permit (BRP). Contact customer service here if you still cannot access the UKVI account. The eVisa service is free of cost to use.
UKVI is step-by-step contacting the BRP and visa holders to apply for the eVisa. Some are being contacted through phone calls and some through letters. The people who have not received these invitations yet will be contacted late this year through eVisa letter.
Applying through ILR
If you hold “Indefinite leave to Remain” (ILR) status and you use a physical visa sticker on your passport or vignette wet ink stamps on your passport, you should change it to “no limit application” instead. This will help you to first get a BRP that can later be used to access the eVisa.
Applying through BRC
If you have a BRC and you applied the immigration status through the EU settlement scheme, you already have an eVisa. You can access it through the grant letter or email you received from the UKVI. You do not need to do anything else except when traveling abroad, carrying the BRC with you.
If you have acquired the BRC through other immigration programs, or you got British Citizenship—your BRC is no longer valid even if it shows longer validity.
Applying through British Citizenship
If you have completed the naturalization process in the UK and hold a British passport, you do not need to apply for the eVisa. The same is true for the passport holders of Ireland.
Files from gov.uk, visa-guru.com, and Immigration Expert Umer Rasib.