The UK is moving to a digital immigration system. From 25 February 2026, most successful applicants for UK visit visas and most other UK visa types receive an eVisa only, with no vignette sticker. BRP cards have already been phased out.
If you hold a UK visa, here’s how to create your UKVI account, access your eVisa, and travel without trouble.
What Is a UK eVisa and Who Needs One in 2026?
A UK eVisa is a digital record of your immigration status. It replaces physical documents like Biometric Residence Permits (BRPs), Biometric Residence Cards (BRCs), and vignette stickers in passports.
Your eVisa is linked to your passport through a free UKVI account. The status itself doesn’t change — only how you prove it.
Who Needs a UKVI Account
- Anyone who held a BRP, BRC, or visa vignette and still has UK leave to enter or remain
- Anyone with indefinite leave to enter or remain (settled status) using older documents like ink stamps
- People granted a new UK visa from 25 February 2026 onwards
- Children with UK immigration status — they need their own account, set up by a parent or guardian
Setting up the account is free. You don’t need to reapply for your visa or pay a new fee.
Key Changes
The UK Home Office is rolling out eVisas in phases. Several key milestones have already taken effect. Here are the dates that matter most for travellers visiting the UK.
| Date | What Changed |
|---|---|
| 31 December 2024 | All BRPs and BRCs expired |
| 25 February 2026 | Most new UK visit visas and most other UK visa types are issued as eVisa only, without a vignette sticker |
| 11 March 2026 | Home Office travel documents auto-link to your UKVI account within 2 working days |
| 30 June 2026 | Final deadline for former BRP holders (expired 31 Dec 2024) to use that BRP to set up a UKVI account |
What This Means for Travellers: You can no longer rely on a physical visa sticker or BRP card to enter the UK. Carriers and Border Force now check your status digitally through your passport linked to your UKVI account.
How to Create Your UKVI Account: Step-by-Step
Setting up a UKVI account is free and takes about 10 minutes if your documents are ready. The full process from GOV.UK has three parts.
Check If You Already Have an Account
You don’t need a new account if you:
- Applied to the EU Settlement Scheme
- Used the UK Immigration: ID Check app for your last visa
- Already received a UKVI account confirmation email
If unsure, sign in at gov.uk/get-access-evisa using your existing email before creating a new one.
Create Your Account on GOV.UK
Go to the official UKVI account setup page. You’ll need:
- A current passport, or your expired BRP (until 30 June 2026), or your visa application reference number
- An email address and phone number you can access each time you sign in
- A smartphone for the next step
Fill in your details and click “Create Account.” A confirmation email will follow within minutes.
Verify Your Identity With the App
Download the UK Immigration: ID Check app from the App Store or Google Play.
Open the app, scan your passport or BRP, then take a clear selfie. The app matches your face to your document chip.
Link Your Account to Your eVisa
Once verification is complete, click “Confirm and Submit” in the app. You’ll get a second email — usually within a few days — confirming your eVisa is now live in your account.
What to Do If You Have a BRP, BRC, Vignette, or Ink Stamp
The eVisa replaces three older formats. What you do next depends on which one you held.
Biometric Residence Permits (BRPs)
All BRPs expired on 31 December 2024. You can still use the expired card as proof of identity when setting up your UKVI account, but only until 30 June 2026.
Keep the expired BRP safe — you may need it for future immigration applications. If it’s lost, a passport or visa reference number works just as well.
Biometric Residence Cards (BRCs)
BRCs were issued to non-EEA family members of EEA nationals, including under the EU Settlement Scheme. If you have settled or pre-settled status, your eVisa is already created — sign in to your UKVI account to access it.
If your BRC was not granted settled status, you may still qualify for a late EU Settlement Scheme application if you’ve lived in the UK since before 31 December 2020.
Wet-Ink Stamps and Vignette Stickers
If your status is shown by an old ink stamp or sticker — common for those with indefinite leave to remain — apply for a free No Time Limit (NTL) application. This converts your status into a digital record so you can create a UKVI account.
Travelling and Proving Your Status With an eVisa
Without a physical card, you prove your immigration status digitally. There are two main ways: through your passport at the border, and through a share code for employers, landlords, or transport carriers.
At the UK Border
Add your current passport details to your UKVI account before you travel. UK Border Force and most airlines can read your status automatically when you scan your passport.
According to GOV.UK travel guidance, carriers receive a “Valid Permission to Travel” or “No Permission to Travel” response when you check in.
Using a Share Code
A share code is a time-limited link that lets a third party view your status. Generate one through the View and Prove service.
- Travel share code: valid for 90 days — useful before flights to the UK if a carrier requests confirmation
- Employer share code: for new jobs and right-to-work checks
- Landlord share code: for renting in England
Before Every Trip
- Sign in and confirm your passport number is current
- Update any expired travel documents in your account
- Search cheap flights to the UK and hotels in London on Wego before you book
Frequently Asked Questions
Is creating a UKVI account free?
Yes. Setting up your UKVI account and accessing your eVisa is free. The Home Office never charges for this service. Avoid third-party sites asking for payment.
Can I still travel if my BRP has expired?
Yes, your underlying immigration status is unaffected by BRP expiry. But you must have created a UKVI account and linked your passport to prove your status at the border.
What if I don’t have a smartphone for verification?
You can use a friend or family member’s smartphone for the ID Check app, or visit an Assisted Digital service for free help.
Do children need their own UKVI account?
Yes. Every individual with UK immigration status needs a separate account. A parent or guardian can manage a child’s account on their behalf.
What happens if I get a new passport?
Sign in to your UKVI account and update your passport details before you travel. The system links your eVisa to whichever passport is currently registered.
Sources
- GOV.UK: eVisas — access and use your online immigration status
- GOV.UK: Set up a UKVI account to access your eVisa
- GOV.UK: Travel with your eVisa
- GOV.UK: View your eVisa and get a share code
- GOV.UK: Updates on the move to eVisas
- GOV.UK: No Time Limit (NTL) application
- House of Commons Library: Replacement of UK residence permits with eVisas
Disclaimer: Wego strives to ensure all information presented in this article is accurate and up to date at the time of publication. Travel policies, prices, visa requirements, and conditions can change rapidly. We strongly recommend verifying critical details with official sources before making travel decisions. Wego does not accept liability for any inaccuracies, oversights, or changes that may occur after publication.
