eVisas, what you need to do
UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) is moving to a digital visa system from 1 January 2025.
This means the UKVI is replacing your student visas (in physical documents like BRP) with an online record of your immigration status (also known as an eVisa).
Who will be affected by the UKVI transition to eVisa?
Students who already have an eVisa will not be affected by this transition. Most EU, EEA and Swiss nationals, and some students who applied for their current immigration permission inside the UK, will have been able to apply using the UK Immigration: ID Check App and will already have an eVisa and a UKVI account. It gives the access to your student visa information online (including providing a relevant share code to prove your immigration status for studying, working and renting).
If you have been issued with a BRP, please read the following information:
- Students whose current BRPs expire before 31 December 2024 will not be affected by this transition.
- Students whose current BRPs expire on 31 December 2024 with longer visa permission granted by the UKVI to stay in the UK beyond the end of 2024, will be affected by this transition. If you are not sure whether your current student visa length is beyond 31 December 2024, or not, it is important that you check your UKVI decision email or letter for the actual length of your student visa. If you have dependants here with you in the UK, they will be affected also if they have been issued with BRPs.
If your BRP expires on 31 December 2024
You do not need to tell UKVI if your BRP expires on 31 December 2024 but your immigration status (for example, your visa) allows you to stay longer.
You will not need a BRP from 1 January 2025 as these will be electronic. These will be called eVisas. You’ll be able to prove your immigration status online, without a BRP. To do that you first need to create a UKVI account.
See the videos below:
If you have not been contacted by the UKVI via email yet, you should be able to create your UKVI account and access your eVisa from summer 2024 as announced by the UKVI.
How do I know if I have a UKVI account or not?
You should have a UKVI account if you used the 'UK Immigration: ID Check app' to verify your identity as part of your immigration application process.
If you applied for your visa by submitting your biometric details in person at a Visa Application Centre, then it is likely that you do not have a UKVI account yet.
An important note about your UKVI account - you must not share your UKVI account with anyone else as this account should only be owned and accessed by yourself to provide your immigration status proof when required.
You can read about creating a UKVI account here.
I already have a UKVI account, do I need to do anything?
If you already have a UKVI account you should have access to an eVisa, you should be able to continue to use the same account to View and Prove your immigration status after 1 January 2025. You need to make sure that you keep your UKVI account up-to-date with any changes to your personal details (including your name, nationality and appearance), your contact details (address, email, and phone number) and your identity documents (your current BRP and/or passport). You must also ensure that you have a current identity document linked to your UKVI account at all times. You can find out how to update your UKVI account here.
I think there is an error with my BRP or eVisa, what should I do?
You can find information about what to do if you think there is an error with your BRP or visa here.
What shall I do after having access to my eVisa?
You will need to generate a share code using the UKVI View and Prove your immigration status service (the share code must begin with an S) so, you can send your share code to visas@rau.ac.uk to update your student eVisa record at the University.
In the Autumn 2024, the University Visa Compliance team will also contact the student visa holders whose BRPs expire on 31 December 2024 and have not provided a share code, as a reminder to update their study eVisa expiry dates that are beyond 2024.
What should I do when travelling overseas?
During 2024, for those who have BRPs, you must continue to carry your in-date BRP when travelling internationally until it expires.
From next year, airlines and other carriers will be able to digitally check your eVisa to confirm your immigration status if your passport is linked to your UKVI account.
When you create your UKVI account, you must add the details of any passport you wish to use for travel. You can find out how to update your UKVI account here.
What should I do with my BRP after having access to my eVisa valid beyond 31 December 2024?
The UKVI has advised those BRP holders to continue carrying their BRP with them for international travel until it expires.
At present, there is no UKVI information available on what to do with the BRPs expiring on 31 December 2024. When such information becomes available, it will be provided here so please check this section regularly for an update.
How to get further help?
In the unlikely event that you have not heard from the UKVI this summer, or have further issues with updating your UKVI account, you can get in touch with the University Student Visa Compliance team by email for help on visas@rau.ac.uk quoting your student ID number with the description of the issues encountered.