UK eVisa Explained: Everything You Need to Know in 2026

The UK immigration system has moved further towards digital status. For many people, the document that proves their permission to enter or stay in the UK is no longer a physical card or a visa sticker. It is an eVisa, which is an online record held by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI).

That change can make it easier to view and share immigration status, but it also creates new responsibilities. A visa holder must be able to access the correct UKVI account, check that the eVisa shows the right status, and make sure the passport used for travel is linked to the account. A mistake may cause difficulty at airline check-in, at the UK border, when starting a job, or when proving a right to rent.

This guide explains how the UK eVisa system works in 2026, what changed on 1 July 2026, how to create and maintain a UKVI account, and what to do when the digital record is missing or incorrect. For advice about a visa application or an immigration status problem, you can review ARK Law's UK immigration practice or request a confidential consultation.

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At a Glance

An eVisa is your digital immigration status. A UKVI account is the online account used to access it. Before travelling, check that the eVisa is correct and that the passport or travel document you will use is linked to the account.

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What Is a UK eVisa?

A UK eVisa is an online record of a person's immigration status and the conditions attached to that status. It can show the type of permission held, the date it expires, and any relevant restrictions, such as whether the person can work or access public funds.

The eVisa does not create a new immigration status. It is the digital evidence of the status that the Home Office has granted. Moving from a biometric residence permit (BRP), biometric residence card (BRC), vignette, stamp or other physical document to an eVisa should not, by itself, change the person's underlying rights or the expiry date of their permission.

People commonly use an eVisa to:

• Check the details and expiry date of their immigration permission
• Generate a share code for an employer, landlord or another authorised organisation
• Support travel to and from the UK
• Show a right to work or right to rent where an online check is required
• Keep their passport, contact details and personal information connected to their immigration record

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What Is the Difference Between an eVisa and a UKVI Account?

The terms are connected, but they do not mean the same thing.

• The eVisa is the digital record of your immigration status.
• The UKVI account is the secure online account used to view and manage access to that record.

A person may have been granted immigration permission but still be unable to view the eVisa if the status has not been linked correctly to the UKVI account. Creating duplicate accounts can also make the position more confusing. GOV.UK advises people who already have a UKVI account not to create another one.

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What Changed for UK eVisas in 2026?

The transition to digital immigration evidence continued throughout 2026. The most important operational change for new applicants took effect on 1 July 2026.

UKVI stopped issuing visa vignette stickers to successful new applicants from that date. In most cases, a successful applicant now receives an eVisa and must sign in to a UKVI account to view the permission before travelling to the UK.

Where a person applied through a visa application centre and the centre retained the passport, the passport may be returned while the application is still being processed. A successful decision does not necessarily mean that a new sticker will be placed inside the passport.

Some applicants who cannot use an acceptable identity document may be issued with a Form for Affixing a Visa (FAV). The person may need to collect the form from the visa application centre. When linked to the eVisa, the FAV allows the person to travel. The instructions in the decision communication should be followed carefully.

The Home Office also confirmed that Home Office travel documents began being automatically linked to UKVI accounts from 11 March 2026. The physical travel document must still be carried when travelling overseas.

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Who Needs an eVisa?

A UKVI account can be used to access an eVisa by people who hold a UK visa or settlement, including many people with indefinite leave to remain. Dependants, including partners and children, normally need their own UKVI accounts to access their own eVisas.

You may already have an account if you previously:

• Used the UK Immigration: ID Check app during an application
• Created an online account when applying for a visa
• Replaced a BRP or BRC with an eVisa
• Applied under the EU Settlement Scheme

There are circumstances where a person does not need an eVisa. For example, a visitor travelling with an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) does not use an eVisa simply because they hold an ETA. British and Irish citizens also do not use an eVisa to prove their right to enter the UK as British or Irish citizens.

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UK eVisa and ETA: They Are Not the Same

An eVisa and an ETA serve different purposes. Confusing them can lead to the wrong application or incorrect travel assumptions.

• An eVisa records immigration permission that has already been granted, such as permission under a work, study, family or settlement route.
• An ETA is permission to travel to the UK for certain non-visa nationals who do not already hold UK immigration status. It is generally relevant to short visits and does not itself grant permission to live or work in the UK.

A traveller should check whether they need a visa, an ETA, or can travel using an existing UK immigration status. The correct answer depends on nationality, purpose of travel and the permission already held.

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How to Create a UKVI Account and Access Your eVisa

The online process varies slightly according to the identity document and application history, but the main stages are usually as follows:

1. Check whether you already have a UKVI account. Search your email for UKVI account confirmation messages and try the official View and Prove service before creating a second account.
2. Use an email address and mobile number that you can access reliably. These details are used to sign in and receive security codes.
3. Provide the requested identity and application information. Depending on the circumstances, this may include a valid passport, a visa application number, a BRP number, or an eligible expired BRP.
4. Confirm your identity. Many users complete this stage through a smartphone and the UK Immigration: ID Check app, although alternative routes may be available where a person cannot use the app or does not hold the expected identity document.
5. Link the UKVI account to the eVisa. Creating the account alone is not always enough. You must complete the linking process before the eVisa can be viewed.
6. Sign in and check every important detail. Confirm your name, nationality, photograph, type of status, expiry date and conditions.

GOV.UK currently states that an expired BRP can be used to create an account for up to 24 months after the expiry date printed on the card or until 31 December 2026, whichever comes first. This is an operational deadline and should not be treated as permission to delay if you still need to access your eVisa.

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What Should You Check When You View Your eVisa?

Do not assume that a successful login means the record is correct. Check the information against your decision letter and your current passport:

• Your full name and date of birth
• Your nationality and photograph
• The immigration route or status granted
• The start and end dates of your permission
• Work, study or public funds conditions
• The passport or travel document linked to the account

If the eVisa shows the wrong status, an incorrect expiry date, missing conditions or another material error, use the official process to report an eVisa error. Keep screenshots, decision letters and any confirmation emails. These records may be important if the problem affects travel or another legal deadline.

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How Do eVisa Share Codes Work?

A share code allows an authorised third party to check selected information about your immigration status online. Different services may be used depending on what you need to prove, such as a right to work, a right to rent, or another aspect of status.

The organisation should complete the relevant online check using the share code and your date of birth. Sending a screenshot of an eVisa is not always a substitute for the required statutory check.

For travel, GOV.UK states that a travel share code is valid for 90 days and can be used more than once during that period. It may be useful as additional evidence if a carrier or border official asks for further proof, although the primary requirement remains having the correct passport or travel document linked to the UKVI account.

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Travelling With a UK eVisa in 2026

Travel is the area where account errors can create the most immediate difficulty. Before every international journey, check the UKVI account rather than relying on a previous screenshot or an old physical document.

Before travelling to or from the UK, make sure that:

• Your UKVI account contains your current passport or travel document
• Your eVisa displays the correct immigration status
• Your name and passport details match the information given to the airline or other carrier
• You travel with the valid document that is linked to the account
• You carry any additional physical evidence that GOV.UK says remains relevant in your circumstances

Carriers receive digital information to check permission to travel, but a mismatch can prevent boarding or cause delay. A person with more than one nationality should add the passport they intend to use. More than one passport can be added to the account where appropriate.

An eVisa does not remove the need to check the entry rules of the country you are visiting. It proves UK immigration status, not permission to enter another country.

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What If You Get a New Passport?

A new passport should be added to the UKVI account as soon as the details can be updated. The account should show the document that will be used for travel. GOV.UK warns that outdated passport information can lead to travel delay.

You should also update the account when your mobile number, email address, home address, postal address, name or nationality changes. Some changes require additional identity checks. Certain passport or name changes may not be available while a visa application decision is pending, so check the official instructions for the stage your case has reached.

If your details change while you are outside the UK, the available process can depend on whether you have a biometric passport, what information changed, and the immigration status you hold. A person with EU Settlement Scheme status may need to use a travel permit process if they cannot update the account in time.

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What Happens to BRPs, BRCs and Old Immigration Documents?

Many BRPs expired on 31 December 2024 as part of the transition to digital status, even where the underlying immigration permission continued beyond that date. The expiry of the card did not necessarily mean that the person's permission ended. The eVisa should show the actual status and expiry date.

Some people still hold older evidence of settlement, such as a passport stamp or vignette showing indefinite leave to remain or indefinite leave to enter. GOV.UK provides a No Time Limit route through which eligible people can obtain a digital record. A person should not assume that every old document must be surrendered or that it has no evidential value. The correct approach depends on the type of document and the current official guidance.

Where a valid physical document remains relevant, GOV.UK may recommend carrying it as additional proof. Home Office travel documents remain physical documents even though their numbers may appear in the UKVI account.

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Common UK eVisa Problems

1. You Cannot Sign In

This may happen because the account was created using an old telephone number, email address or identity document. Use the official account recovery service rather than creating a duplicate account immediately. If you need assistance with recovering your status or resolving visa issues, you can always contact a professional immigration solicitor in Birmingham.

2. Your eVisa Does Not Appear

The account may not have been linked to the eVisa, or the status may be connected to another account. Review the decision communication and complete the official linking or error reporting process. If you face a complex situation, speak to an immigration solicitor.

3. The Status or Expiry Date Is Wrong

Report the error promptly and retain the grant decision and any supporting evidence. A digital display error should not be ignored simply because the correct result appears in an email or letter. If your status has been incorrect and you need to challenge a decision, see our guide on Challenging a Home Office Refusal by Judicial Review.

4. Your Passport Is Not Linked

Update the travel document before booking or undertaking travel where possible. A carrier may be unable to confirm permission if the passport presented does not match the UKVI record.

5. An Employer or Landlord Cannot Complete a Check

Generate the correct type of share code and make sure the third party is using the appropriate GOV.UK checking service. The right to work and right to rent processes have specific legal requirements.

6. You Are Outside the UK and Cannot Prove Your Status

Use the official UKVI support and account update routes immediately. The solution may differ according to your passport, immigration category and whether an urgent journey is planned. Where the issue cannot be resolved through the standard service, legal advice may be needed to identify the correct application or challenge.

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eVisas for Children and Dependants

Each dependant normally needs an individual UKVI account linked to their own eVisa. A parent or authorised representative can help a child or another person who cannot manage the process independently. The contact details used should allow the responsible adult to sign in securely.

When a child reaches adulthood or becomes able to manage the account, the contact details should be updated so that the account holder can access the record personally. Families should check every member's account before travel rather than assuming that the main applicant's account covers everyone.

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Can an eVisa Error Change Your Immigration Status?

A display or account access problem does not automatically cancel valid immigration permission. However, the practical consequences can still be serious. A person may struggle to board a flight, prove a right to work, complete a tenancy check or demonstrate status to a public body.

The underlying grant decision, application records and Home Office correspondence remain important evidence. Where the digital record conflicts with the decision, the error should be reported and documented. If the issue creates an urgent risk, such as loss of employment, inability to return to the UK or a disputed Home Office decision, specialist immigration advice may be appropriate. For those facing deportation issues, consulting a deportation solicitor in Birmingham is critical.

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When Should You Speak to an Immigration Solicitor?

Many eVisa issues can be resolved through the official online services. Legal advice becomes more important where the problem is connected to the underlying immigration decision or creates a serious consequence.

Consider obtaining advice where:

• The eVisa shows a different status or expiry date from the decision letter
• You cannot link a granted status to a UKVI account
• You have been refused boarding or delayed at the border
• Your employer or landlord disputes your immigration status
• A visa refusal, cancellation or curtailment appears to be involved
• You are outside the UK and the digital record prevents your return
• The issue is linked to an appeal, administrative review or judicial review deadline. If you are preparing for your first consultation, you can check our guide on what to bring to your first meeting with an immigration solicitor.

Mr Abdul Rehman advises on UK visa applications, Home Office decisions, business immigration (such as sponsor licence suspensions), asylum and appeals, deportation, detention and judicial review. You can read more about ARK Law's immigration practice areas and request a confidential consultation.

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Frequently Asked Questions About UK eVisas

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Final Checklist Before You Travel

• Sign in to your UKVI account and view the eVisa.
• Check that the immigration status, expiry date and conditions are correct.
• Confirm that the passport or travel document you will carry is linked.
• Make sure your airline booking details match the passport exactly.
• Generate a travel share code if you want additional proof.
• Carry any physical document that remains relevant under current guidance.
• Resolve errors before travel rather than at the airport.

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Speak to a UK Immigration Solicitor

Digital immigration status is intended to make proof of status simpler, but an account or data error can quickly become a practical immigration problem. The safest approach is to check the record early, keep account and passport information current, and obtain advice where the digital status does not match the Home Office decision.

Mr Abdul Rehman is a Solicitor of the Senior Courts of England & Wales and an Advocate (Pakistan). He assists clients across Birmingham, London, Manchester and throughout the UK. All client matters are handled through Rashid Law Limited in Birmingham. To discuss a UK visa, eVisa or Home Office matter, contact ARK Law or review the latest UK immigration articles.

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Related ARK Law Reading

• What to Bring to Your First Meeting With an Immigration Solicitor in Birmingham
• Challenging a Home Office Refusal by Judicial Review: A UK Immigration Solicitor's Guide (2026)
• What Happens If Your Sponsor Licence Is Suspended? A Guide for UK Employers
• What to Do If Your Asylum Claim Is Refused in the UK
• Best Immigration Solicitor in Birmingham

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Mr Abdul Rehman is an immigration solicitor at Rashid Law Limited, Birmingham. This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. For advice on your specific situation, please contact ARK Law.