UKVI Guidance for Holiday Travelers Related to the eVisa

The UKVI and UK Home Office have issued updated guidance for travelers, and that before they travel, they should check their eVisa has all the correct details.

Updated Guidance

If your biometric residence card (BRC) issued through the EU Settlement Scheme or biometric residence permit (BRP) expires on or after December 31, 2024, you you may be able to use your expired document to travel to the UK until March 31, 2025, where you continue to have permission to stay in the UK. You should carry it with you – your carrier may ask to see it.

You should also:

• set up access to your online immigration status (eVisa) (online proof of your immigration status) if you have not done it already
• get a share code to prove your immigration status – a share code is valid for 90 days

If you’re travelling to the UK on an electronic travel authorisation (ETA), see our ETA guidance.

• For Traveling Out of the UK
  • If you’re in the UK with permission and have a UKVI account, you’ll need to check the information in your account is correct before you travel.
  • You can do this by:
  • checking your immigration status is displaying correctly by using the view and prove your immigration status service – if your status is displaying incorrectly, report an error with your eVisa
  • using the update your UKVI account details service to check the passport you will use for travel is linked to your account and your personal details are correct
• 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 or another passport containing a certificate of entitlement to the right of abode.
• If you’re traveling to the UK and you have an eVisa
  • If you’re outside the UK and have permission to travel to the UK, you’ll need to check the information in your UKVI account is correct before you travel.
    • You can do this by using the view and prove your immigration status service to check your immigration status is displaying correctly and you have permission to travel to the UK – if your immigration status is displaying incorrectly, report an error with your eVisa
    • use the update your UKVI account details service to check the passport you’ll use for travel is linked to your account and your personal details are correct.
  • You should also check that the passenger information you’ve provided to the carrier matches the details on your passport or immigration permission.

• If you cannot access your eVisa 
  • If you’re outside the UK and cannot access your eVisa, you can get help to recover access to your UKVI account. If your immigration status is displaying incorrectly, you’ll need to report an error with your eVisa.
  • If you’re unable to recover your account but have a valid physical document that shows you have permission to travel, you can show that to the carrier.
  • If you’re unable to recover your account and have no other evidence of your permission to travel, you should consider applying for a temporary visa which lets you re-enter the UK once only.
• Adding a different passport to your UKVI account
  • If you’re outside the UK and need to add a different passport to your UKVI account, how you do this depends on whether your personal details have changed. Personal details include name, nationality, date of birth, and sex. If none of your personal details have changed, you can add a new or different passport to your UKVI account using the update your UKVI account details service.
  • If your personal details have changed, you won’t be able to use the update your UKVI account details service to add your new passport from outside the UK. You should consider applying for a temporary visa which lets you re-enter the UK once only. Once you’re inside the UK, you’ll be able to use the update your UKVI account details service to add your new passport to your UKVI account and update your personal details.
• If you’re travelling to the UK and you don’t have an eVisa
  • If you’re outside the UK, see if you can get access to your eVisa before you travel. You will need access to a smartphone,  a mobile phone number, an email address , your BRP card or a valid passport with your BRP number or visa application number.
• If you cannot access your eVisa
  • You’ll need to confirm you have permission to enter and stay in the UK by showing your carrier your valid passport. If you have one, you must also show your carrier your valid, physical proof of your permission to enter and stay in the UK. For example passport endorsements, such as indefinite leave to enter wet ink stamps, vignette stickers in passports, such as entry clearance or visa vignettes.
  • If you cannot access your eVisa and have no other evidence of your permission, you should consider applying for a temporary visa which lets you re-enter the UK once only. Once you’re inside the UK, you’ll be able to get access to your eVisa and view your immigration status.

Erickson Insights & Analysis

It’s your responsibility to check the entry, exit and transit requirements of other countries, and you may be asked to show evidence of your UK immigration status to authorities there.

Erickson Immigration Group will continue to monitor developments and share updates as more news is available. Please contact your employer or EIG attorney if you have questions about anything we’re reporting above or case-specific questions.