Ensure you can return to the UK in 2025 – navigating the eVisa rollout
As you may be aware, the UK is moving to a fully digital immigration system from 1 January 2025. You may already have received communication from the Home Office about this.
There are actions you must take to ensure you can access and properly evidence your UK immigration status from the start of next year. This is essential to ensure you can re-enter the UK if you travel, to prove your right to work and rent and to access certain services in the UK. Please read this email carefully and take action as soon as possible.
What is changing?
The Home Office is replacing physical immigration documents such as biometric residence permits (BRPs) with digital electronic visas (eVisas). Everyone who holds a BRP must ensure they have created a UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) account and accessed their eVisa before 1 January 2025.
Although all BRPs will expire on 31 December 2024, this does not affect the validity of your current permission to remain or Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR). It only affects the way in which you can view and prove your status from 1 January 2025.
If you have a BRP, please continue to travel with both your passport and your BRP until 31 December 2024.
What do I need to do?
It is extremely important that you take the actions below to ensure you can continue to travel to and re-enter the UK from 1 January 2025 onwards:
- Check if you may already have a UKVI account here.
- To create your UKVI account please visit Get access to your eVisa - GOV.UK and follow the instructions. You will be prompted to:
- Create your UKVI account
- Confirm your identity using the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app on a smartphone and your current BRP
- Link your eVisa to your account
- Once you can access your eVisa, check that it shows the correct expiry date of your visa and the correct category of permission to stay in the UK.
- Ensure your UKVI account is linked to your current passport. This is important as carriers and UK Border Force will use your passport details to check your immigration status. If you get a new passport, it is essential that you update your account so it is linked to your new passport before you travel.
If you already have an eVisa, now is a great time to check your eVisa access remains up to date. For example, by ensuring that you still have access to the email and phone number used to create your account and that your account is linked to your current passport and current BRP.
Please do not delay in taking these steps, as the deadline for the digital transition is fast approaching.
How can we help?
If you have any questions or would like further assistance, please contact us or your usual Charles Russell Speechlys immigration contact. We are here to help you navigate these changes.
