The Home Office will be moving to a digital immigration system in the new year, replacing physical Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) cards and other status documents with electronic visas (eVisa).
The documents being replaced are:
- Biometric residence permits (BRP)
- Passport endorsements, such as indefinite leave to enter wet ink stamps
- Vignette stickers in passports, such as entry clearance or visa vignettes
All BRP cards currently have an expiration date of 31st December 2024, even if the individual has been granted permission to enter or stay in the UK for a longer period. The Home Office has issued a reminder that anyone who holds a valid BRP which expires on this date will be required to create a UKVI account, which includes family members, spouses and/or children.
This account will allow you to see your immigration status online and share it with third parties, such as employers or landlords.
If you already have a UKVI account, you don’t need to create another one. However, if you don’t have a UKVI account, you’ll need to apply for one as soon as possible.
Currently, only BRP card holders can apply for a UKVI account. If you have a physical document like a vignette or wet-ink stamp, the Home Office advises applying for a No Time Limit (NTL) application first to get a BRP card and then create a UKVI account once you have your card.
For more guidance, the Home Office has released this video which can be found here: How to create a UKVI account
You can also read more about the eVisa here: Information on eVisas and why you need one.
