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evisa

Digital immigration status: eVisa

  1. Queen Mary University of London
  2. evisa

An eVisa is an online record of your immigration status and the conditions of your permission to enter or stay in the UK. eVisas have replaced physical immigration documents. Your eVisa status is stored digitally meaning that all your visa information is accessible online. 

You can demonstrate your eVisa status by generating a share code. 

What do I need to create my UKVI account?

You need a UKVI account in order to access your eVisa. See the UK government guidance about how to set up your UKVI account and access your eVisa. You will need the following:

  • Compatible smartphone
  • Email address and phone number
  • Valid passport
  • Application reference: GWF for applications submitted overseas or UAN for in-country applications
  • BRP (if you have one, even after it’s expiry date)

If you have indefinite leave to remain or enter as a vignette, wet-ink stamp on your passport, or were never issued an immigration permission in the UK, you will need to apply for a “No time limit (NTL)” application free of charge. Once the NTL application is decided, you will receive an eVisa.

** There is no cost associated to the creation of your UKVI account**

How do I access my eVisa, after creating my UKVI account?

Check out the video guidance from UKVI: How to create a UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account and get access to your eVisa

  1. Create your UKVI online account
  2. Verify your identity using the UK Immigration ID check app, don’t forget to give the app access to your camera
  3. Link to eVisa
  4. Wait for confirmation that your UKVI account has been linked to your eVisa and check if all details are correct

How can I prove my rights in the UK?

To prove your right to rent, work or study you need to generate a share code which is valid for 90 days. Check out UKVI video guidance: How to prove your immigration status with an eVisa.

If you are a British or Irish citizen and a national from another country or a Commonwealth citizen with the right of abode in the UK, you do not need an eVisa. You can prove your right to live and work in the UK using a British citizen passport, or a certificate of entitlement to the right of abode in your foreign passport.

How can I update my UKVI account details?

Your details need to be up to date to prove your rights in the UK, international travel and for the Home Office to contact you about a decision on your application.

If you change your contact information such as phone number, email address, postal address, passport, etc, you need to log into your UKVI account to update this information.

Your eVisa is associated to the passport used at the point of application, if you change passport, you must update the passport details on your UKVI account. Keeping your travel document details up to date will ensure straight forward international travel. If you have dual nationality, you can include the details of both passports if your name is the same in both documents. 

How can I report an error on my eVisa?

If you notice an error on your eVisa, you need to Report an error with your eVisa online, we recommend you report the error as soon as you notice it to avoid potential issues later.

How do I know if I have an eVisa?

You will need to create a UKVI account to access your eVisa. 

If unsure whether you already have a UKVI account, you can attempt to sign in at Get access to your online immigration status (eVisa) - GOV.UK. If a UKVI account exists, entering their details during the sign in process will take them to their existing UKVI account.

eVisa troubleshooting and reporting technical issues

The Resolution Centre can assist users who are experiencing technical issues, and where necessary, enable a user’s status to be verified through alternative means. You can contact the Resolution Centre on 0300 790 6268, selecting option 3, or through the webchat tool which seems to be the most helpful option.

I can’t access my UKVI account

You should login using the document used to when you registered the account even if it has expired. We recommend updating your login documents with current and valid documents in case you lose the expired one.

If you cannot access your account and think you have used the correct log in details, you should use the “Recover your UKVI account tool”

I can’t see my eVisa

If you received confirmation that your eVisa has been linked to your UKVI account and you can’t see it after login into your account, the best way to resolve this is by contacting the Resolution Centre, see details above.

The app is not reading my document to verify my identity

If you are unable to scan your document at the verification stage, after three failed attempts you will be given the option to skip this step and enter the details manually to complete the registration.

Travelling with an eVisa

You will need an eVisa to demonstrate your permission to travel to the UK. Check out UKVI video How to Travel With Your eVisa.

If you are travelling to the UK

Check the information in your UKVI account is correct before you travel. 

You can do this by:

You should make sure the passenger information you provide to the carrier matches the details in your UKVI account, including the travel document you will use for travel.

** Keeping your travel document details up to date will ensure straightforward international travel**

If you have dual nationality

If you have dual nationality and neither of those nationalities is British or Irish, you’ll need to add the passport you’ll use to travel to your account. If you have a passport for both nationalities, you can add both to your account.  

For British or Irish citizens who hold dual nationality, or those with the right of abode, you’ll need to show your carrier (for example airline, rail company, or other transport provider) either: 

  • your British or Irish passport 
  • another passport containing a certificate of entitlement to the right of abode

 

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