Online Immigration Status (eVisa)

An eVisa is a digital record of your immigration status and the conditions of your permission to enter or remain in the UK. This online system has been introduced to improve the UK’s immigration processes by replacing traditional documents, such as Biometric Resident Permits (BRPs).

Your eVisa serves as proof of your visa, allowing institutions such as universities, employers, landlords, and airline carriers to verify your immigration status for specific purposes, including confirming your Right to Study and Right to Work.

This digital transition is mandatory. It does not affect your immigration permissions, and the setup is free of charge.

What is an eVisa?

Who can access an eVisa

To use this service, you must have permission to stay in the UK for longer than 6 months. You cannot access an eVisa if any of the following apply:

You hold a visa for less than 6 months (e.g., a Visit Visa)
You have valid EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) status

You have Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA)

You are exempt from immigration control (e.g., Diplomatic Visa or ‘Right to Adobe’ status)

Accessing your eVisa and setting up a UKVI account

To access your eVisa, you must create a UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account and complete the online form. Once your account is set up, you can log in to view and prove your immigration status.

To create your UKVI account, visit Get access to your online immigration status (eVisa) - GOV.UK on the Government website and click ‘Start Now’. You will need a phone number, email address and one of the following:

A valid passport, and your visa application number or unique application number

A valid passport and an expired biometric residence permit (BRP)

How to create a UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account and get access to your eVisa

For step-by-step guidance, see How to create a UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account and get access to your eVisa

Proving your online immigration status (eVisa)

You can log in to your UKVI account to generate a share code to verify your immigration status. To do so, visit View and prove your immigration status: get a share code - GOV.UK and click, ‘Start Now’.

When generating a share code, select the appropriate purpose (‘Work’, ‘Rent’, or ‘Other’). If you are providing a share code to the university for your right to study check, select option, ‘Other’. Your share code will start with an ‘S’.

The share code is valid for 90 days. After this period, you will need to generate a new share code.

How to prove your immigration status with an eVisa

For guidance on proving your immigration status with an eVisa, see How to prove your immigration status with an eVisa

Frequently Asked Questions

There is an error on my eVisa. What should I do?

You should report an error to UKVI if your details are wrong on your eVisa.

This will take you to an online form: https://www.gov.uk/report-error-evisa

Use this service to tell UKVI if any of the following details are wrong on your eVisa:

Name

Photograph

Visa restrictions - these say what you can and cannot do in the UK

Immigration status

Valid until date

I already have my eVisa, what do I do now?

Once you can view your eVisa, you can use the View and Prove service to get a ‘share code’ here View and prove your immigration status: get a share code - GOV.UK. This share code can be used to prove your Right to Work, Right to Rent and Right to Study.

You will need to provide a share code to the International Student Team for your Right to Study check. Once you have a share code, please upload it to MyRTS here: Online Visa

You will also need to make sure that you are keeping your UKVI account up to date. This means that you must make sure that the details of your current passport/travel document, as well as your contact details are up to date in your account.

My details have changed. What should I do?

You should update your UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account via the government web page (Update your UK Visas and Immigration account details: Overview - GOV.UK) and sign into your UKVI account. You will need to update your details if you have changed your:

mobile phone number

email address

name

identity document, such as your passport or national identity card

home address

postal address

You cannot change your identity document or name if you are waiting for a decision on a visa application.

Why do I need to keep my UKVI account updated?

It is very important that your details in your UKVI account are up to date.

To view and prove your rights to others, for example proving your Right to Study to the IST, your Right to Work to employers, or your Right to Rent to landlords.

To ensure UKVI can contact you, for example if you are waiting for a decision or to have documents returned.

To ensure you can travel with your current identity document.

If you do not have the correct identity document in your UKVI account, you may be delayed at the border when entering the UK.

What should I do with my BRP that expired on 31 December 2024?

The Home Office advises that you should still keep your BRP card after it has expired, because this may help you in the future if you need to make any further visa applications to remain in the UK. If you need to travel outside of the UK, you are still advised to keep your expired BRP with you.

I haven’t accessed my eVisa yet? Can I travel?

We encourage you to create a UKVI account and access your eVisa as soon as possible. Please see this video from UKVI for further information:

I need help because I still can’t access my eVisa. What should I do?

You will need to contact UKVI for help if you cannot view your eVisa because of a technical error when you’re signed into your UKVI account.

You can use this online form https://www.gov.uk/contact-ukvi-inside-outside-uk to find UKVI contact details.

What should I do if I am not on a Student Route visa?

You might already have a UKVI account if you have one of the following:

Pre-settled or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS)

British National Overseas (BNO) visa if you’re from Hong Kong

You can log in to your UKVI account to view and prove your immigration status. You will also be able to obtain a share code to prove your immigration status as required.

You will need to provide your share code to the International Student Team for your Right to Study check. Once you have a share code, please upload it to MyRTS here: Online Visa

I have accessed my eVisa. Does this mean I have extended my visa?

Accessing your eVisa does not mean that you have extended your visa. If you previously held a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) which expired on 31 December 2024 but your immigration permission ends after this date, your eVisa should be valid for the entirety of your course including any wrap-up period (time granted after your course has ended).

If your visa is expiring soon and you need to extend your visa, you will need to make a further application to remain in the UK. Please refer to our web page on Extending your visa for further information.