If you were ever issued a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP), it has already expired — every BRP carried a printed expiry date of 31 December 2024, regardless of how long the immigration permission behind it actually lasted. Your underlying status didn’t change on that date. What changed is how you prove it. This page explains what an eVisa is, what you need to do if you haven’t already, and how the shift affects travel, work and renting.
What is an eVisa?
An eVisa is simply the online record of your UK immigration status — not a new type of permission, but a digital replacement for the physical card or passport sticker that used to prove it. Since 25 February 2026, the Home Office has stopped issuing new BRPs or visa vignette stickers altogether; every new grant of permission now exists only as a digital record, linked to your passport, inside a free UKVI account.
What you need to do
- Create a free UKVI account at GOV.UK if you haven’t already — you’ll need your BRP number, or your visa application reference (UAN/GWF number), your date of birth and an email address.
- Link your current passport to the account. If your passport has changed since your visa or BRP was issued, this step matters — your eVisa is checked against the passport recorded on the account, and a mismatch can cause problems at the border.
- Generate share codes when you need to prove your status — to an employer, a landlord, or when booking travel. A share code is a 9-character code (starting with W, R or S) valid for a limited time, generated through the “View and prove your immigration status” service.
If you still hold your old BRP, don’t throw it away — it can be useful evidence of your residence history for a future application, even though it no longer proves your current status.
What if I’ve lost access to my UKVI account, or never set one up?
You can generally still use an expired BRP’s details to set up an account for up to 24 months after the card’s expiry date, or until 31 December 2026, whichever comes first. After that point, recovering account access becomes more difficult and may need additional evidence. If you’re struggling to access your account or link a new passport, it’s worth getting this sorted well before you need to travel, start a new job, or move house.
How this affects employers and landlords
If you employ people, or let property, this transition changed how you carry out your legal checks. A screenshot of someone’s own eVisa, shown on their phone, is not an accepted way of checking someone’s status — you need to run the official online check yourself using their share code. Getting this wrong can mean losing your legal defence against a civil penalty. We cover this in detail on our Right to Work & Right to Rent Checks page.
How JPS can help
If you’re not sure whether your UKVI account is set up correctly, whether your passport is properly linked, or you’ve hit a problem generating a share code before a flight or a new job, we can help you resolve it quickly.
JPS Immigration is authorised and regulated by the Immigration Advice Authority (IAA). Under UK law, only IAA-regulated advisers and registered solicitors may legally provide paid immigration advice. Unregulated providers offering immigration services are committing a criminal offence.
Our team is led by advisers who previously worked as UK visa officers and British Diplomatic Service entry clearance officers. That experience gives us a direct understanding of how the Home Office assesses these applications — what the evidence must show, where gaps create doubt, and what a refusal-resistant application looks like. We advise on fiancé visa applications from clients across the UK and internationally, through secure online consultations and remote case management.
We offer a free initial assessment, and a case management approach that ensures nothing is missed before submission. Start your free assessment here or call us on +44 (0) 333 577 0034.
Jay Sudra | IAA-Regulated Immigration Adviser & Founder, JPS Immigration
Former UK Home Office Immigration Officer & British Diplomatic Service Entry Clearance Officer
22+ years’ experience | BBC News contributor | LinkedIn profile
Immigration rules change frequently — always verify current fees and thresholds on GOV.UK before applying. The information on this page is for general guidance only and does not constitute legal advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to do anything if my BRP has already expired?
If you haven’t already created a UKVI account and confirmed your eVisa is showing correctly, yes — do this now rather than waiting until you need to prove your status urgently.
Is an eVisa a new visa, or new permission?
No. It’s a digital record of the permission you already hold. Nothing about your underlying status changes because of the switch to eVisas.
What happens if my passport expires or I get a new one?
You need to update your UKVI account with your new passport details so your eVisa stays correctly linked. An unlinked passport can cause problems boarding flights or at the UK border.
Can I still use a physical document to prove my status?
For most people, no — the online check via share code is now the standard method employers, landlords and carriers rely on.
