The UK is moving towards a fully digital immigration system. The Home Office is phasing out physical documents like biometric residence permits (BRPs), visa stickers, and vignettes, and replacing them with digital records known as eVisas. This change affects both those already in the UK and those applying to enter.

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What is an eVisa?

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An eVisa is a digital record of your immigration status and identity, held securely in your UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account. It is not a physical document and cannot be lost, stolen, or forged. For anyone who has been through the stress of waiting for documents in the post, replacing them, or dealing with lost BRPs, this change will be a welcome relief.

Importantly, switching to an eVisa does not change your immigration status, rights, or conditions. It simply means your status is held digitally, and accessible through your UKVI account. Since 2018, millions of people have already been issued eVisas, and this number is growing rapidly as the government continues its rollout.

As of 15th July 2025, the process became even more significant for new applicants. If you apply for a work or study visa on or after this date, you may no longer receive a vignette in your passport. Instead, you’ll be instructed to create a UKVI account and use that to access your eVisa before travelling to the UK. This is a key shift in procedure, and it’s important that applicants are aware of the need to follow these new steps carefully to avoid travel delays.

There are also expanded options for those already in the UK. If you were issued a ‘Form for affixing a visa’ (FAV), or if you’ve been granted a visa extension but don’t currently hold a valid ID document or BRP, you can now create a UKVI account and gain access to your eVisa. We’re advising many clients in these circumstances to make the switch early, so they’re ready for the digital future of UK immigration.

You’ll need to maintain access to your UKVI account and understand how to use it to prove your right to work, rent, or access services. On the positive side, it also means fewer delays and reduced reliance on physical paperwork. In time, it will also simplify how your immigration status is shared with government departments reducing the admin burden on you.

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Should you have any queries regarding the above information or if you require assistance with your corporate, employment or immigration matter, please get in touch with a legal professional at Hudson McKenzie via email at londoninfo@hudsonmckenzie.com or by telephone +44(0) 20 3318 5794.

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The information provided does not amount to legal advice.

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