A UK eVisa is a digital record of your identity, your immigration status and the conditions attached to it, and it's replaced physical documents such as the biometric residence permit. You reach it through a free UKVI account, and as of Nov 2026 GOV.UK says it usually appears straight away once linked, though it can take up to 24 hours.
If you've been given permission to live, work or study in the UK, your proof of that is now digital. I've worked through the GOV.UK guide eVisas and your online immigration status, read on 2 Nov 2026, to explain what the eVisa is, who needs one, how to set up the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account that holds it, and how to use it with employers, landlords and airlines.
GOV.UK is clear that you don't pay anything to set up a UKVI account or to access your eVisa. Everything below is taken from that guide, in plain English, with the official service names so you can find each step yourself.
What the eVisa records, and who needs one
An eVisa is a digital record of your identity and immigration status, for example your visa type or whether you have indefinite leave to remain (settlement), plus the conditions of that status, such as whether you're allowed to work or study. You'll get one when you successfully apply for a visa or other permission to be in the UK, and GOV.UK confirms that includes people with status under the EU Settlement Scheme.
eVisas have replaced physical immigration documents. If you have a biometric residence card (BRC), GOV.UK says you may still be able to use it in some situations, and a visa vignette (sticker) stays valid until it expires. You don't need an eVisa if you're visiting with an electronic travel authorisation (ETA), if you have permission to stay in the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man or Gibraltar, or if one of your nationalities is British or Irish, in which case you travel on that passport or a passport with a certificate of entitlement.
Setting up your UKVI account, step by step
Before you create anything, check whether you already have an account. GOV.UK says you will if you've ever used the 'UK Immigration: ID Check' app when applying for a visa, created an account during a visa application, replaced a BRP or BRC with an eVisa, or applied to the EU Settlement Scheme. If you already have one, you shouldn't create another.
- Have a phone number and email address ready that you can use every time you sign in.
- Gather one of these if you have it: a valid passport plus your visa application number (a global web form, or GWF, number or a unique application number, or UAN); a valid passport plus your BRP number; or your expired BRP, which you can use for 24 months after the expiry date on the card or until 31 Dec 2026, whichever comes first.
- Create the account on GOV.UK.
- Confirm your identity. You'll need a smartphone to install an app, though GOV.UK offers another way if you don't have a valid passport or expired BRP, or can't use a smartphone or the app.
- Link the account to your eVisa. You can't see the eVisa until both steps are done, and you can link it later if you skipped it at the start.
Partners and children who join you as dependants need their own UKVI accounts. If you're setting one up for someone who can't use the internet, or for your child, use your own phone number and email address so you can sign in. When they can manage it themselves, or a child reaches 18, GOV.UK says you should update the account with their contact details.
Settled on an old stamp? The free no time limit route
This is the part of the GOV.UK guide many long-term residents haven't heard about. If your settlement is shown by a wet ink stamp or vignette with no expiry date, getting an eVisa is your choice. To get one, you make a free 'no time limit' (NTL) application. It won't change your immigration status, and you can keep using your physical document while the application is processed, which GOV.UK says can take up to 6 months.
You'll need a phone number and email address, the passport you used when you last entered the UK, and the physical document showing your settlement if you have it. After applying, you'll have your fingerprints and photo taken at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) service point and provide supporting documents, either by uploading them yourself or paying to have them scanned at the appointment. GOV.UK warns not to make an NTL application if your proof of settlement is something else, such as an expired BRP or EU Settlement Scheme status, because there's a different way to reach your eVisa.
Proving your status at work, at home and at the border
Your eVisa shows your rights in the UK, for example to work, rent or claim benefits. To prove your status to an employer or landlord, you sign in and get a share code. They'll need the code and your date of birth, and they won't see your eVisa itself, only some personal details you're told about when you generate the code.
| What you're doing | What GOV.UK says you'll need or get |
|---|---|
| Viewing your eVisa | Your sign-in details (passport, national identity card, BRC, expired BRP or UKVI customer number) plus your sign-in phone or email |
| Getting a share code | A code that lasts 90 days and can be used as many times as you need before it expires |
| Travelling | A valid passport or travel document that you've added to your UKVI account |
| Reporting an error | An email or UK postal address, your name, date of birth and nationality, and a reference such as a passport, GWF, UAN or customer number |
Before any trip, GOV.UK says you must check your UKVI account and eVisa details are correct, because your carrier may not let you travel if they're wrong, and you may be delayed at the border. Your eVisa is checked when you leave and enter the UK and when you check in to return. If a carrier or border official asks for more proof, you can get a share code, which is valid for 90 days and can be used more than once, or show a physical document if you have one. If you hold more than one nationality, add the passport you'll travel on. Carriers that can't check an eVisa can contact the UK Border Force carrier support hub.
Updating details and fixing a wrong eVisa
Keep your account current whenever you change your passport or travel document, name, mobile number, email, home address or postal address. You can also correct your date of birth, add a nationality or passport, and change your photo if you can't be recognised from the current one. You can't change your name or passport while you're waiting for a visa decision, and changes to name, date of birth or nationality need an identity document that shows the change. If you're abroad, a biometric passport lets you update passport details, name and nationality yourself; without one, you can only update your passport number and expiry date.
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Report an error if your eVisa shows the wrong details, if you can view it but can't get a share code, if the Home Office set up your account and you've never been able to sign in, or if you still can't view it after 24 hours. Someone else, such as a legal representative, employer, friend or university staff member, can report it for you. GOV.UK says UKVI aims to fix most issues within 5 working days, and complex ones can take up to 15 working days.
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My plain advice on your UK eVisa
Set up and link your UKVI account now, rather than the week you start a job or book a flight, and follow the GOV.UK guide eVisas and your online immigration status step by step. Check your passport is on the account before every trip, update it the moment your passport, name or phone number changes, and get a fresh share code whenever someone asks. If anything on the eVisa looks wrong, report it straight away, as fixes can take up to 15 working days.
Frequently asked questions
Does a UK eVisa cost anything?
No. GOV.UK says you don't need to pay to set up a UKVI account or access your eVisa. The no time limit application for people settled on an old stamp is also free.
How long does a share code last?
GOV.UK says a share code lasts 90 days, and you can use it as many times as you need before it expires or get a new one whenever you need one.
Is my BRP still valid?
eVisas have replaced physical documents. GOV.UK says an expired BRP can still be used to create a UKVI account for 24 months after the expiry date on the card or until 31 Dec 2026, whichever comes first.
Why can't I see my eVisa yet?
GOV.UK says it usually appears straight away once linked to your UKVI account, but it can take up to 24 hours. If you still can't see it after that, report an error.
Do I need an eVisa if I'm a dual British citizen?
No. If one of your nationalities is British or Irish, you don't need an eVisa. You travel with your British or Irish passport or a passport with a certificate of entitlement.
How long does it take to fix an eVisa error?
GOV.UK says UKVI aims to fix most issues within 5 working days, and complex issues can take up to 15 working days.
