Linking a UK eVisa to your UKVI account means connecting your digital immigration status to the online account you use to view and prove it. If you already have a UKVI account, you should normally sign in and complete the linking or identity steps rather than creating a new account. If you do not have one, you can create an account online, confirm your identity and then access your eVisa.
Last checked: 7 November 2026. UKVI digital status guidance can change, particularly around expired BRPs and travel checks, so always confirm the latest position before travelling or relying on an expired physical document.
An eVisa is not a new visa application and it does not give you immigration permission by itself. It is the digital record of permission that has already been granted to you, such as permission to work, study, join family, remain under the EU Settlement Scheme or hold indefinite leave to remain. The UKVI account is simply the online doorway to that record.
If you are unsure whether your eVisa has been linked correctly, or if the online record does not match the immigration permission you were granted, Immigration UK can help you understand the issue, review the documents you hold and identify the right next step.
What Is a UK eVisa?
A UK eVisa is an online record of your immigration status. It can show your identity details, the type of permission you hold, the expiry date where your permission is time limited and any conditions attached to your stay, such as work or study rights.
The eVisa has replaced many physical immigration documents, including biometric residence permits in many situations. You do not need to pay simply to create a UKVI account or access your eVisa through the official service. GOV.UK explains the main process on its official eVisa access and online immigration status guidance.
It is useful to keep the terminology clear. Your eVisa is the immigration record. Your UKVI account is the account you use to see that record. Linking is the process of connecting the two after UKVI has checked who you are. A share code is different again: it is a temporary code you can give to an employer, landlord or other permitted organisation so they can check the relevant part of your status.
Before You Start: What You May Need
The exact information requested can vary depending on your immigration history and the documents you hold. It is worth gathering everything before you begin, rather than hunting for a reference number halfway through the process while the kettle boils in the background.
- An email address you can access.
- A mobile telephone number you can access.
- Your current passport or travel document.
- Your visa application reference, such as a GWF number or UAN, if available.
- Your BRP or BRC details, if relevant.
- Your UKVI customer number, if you have one.
- A suitable smartphone, if you are asked to use the UK Immigration: ID Check app.
Guidance on using an expired BRP for account access is date sensitive and may change. Check the current GOV.UK eVisa guidance before relying on an expired BRP or any other expired physical document.
Step 1: Check Whether You Already Have a UKVI Account
Many people already have a UKVI account without realising it. You may have created one when you applied online for a visa, used the UK Immigration: ID Check app, applied under the EU Settlement Scheme or replaced a BRP or BRC with an eVisa.
The important rule is simple: do not create a second UKVI account if you already have one. Duplicate accounts can cause confusion, especially where one account has your application history and another has newer contact details. Try signing in first using the details you previously used for your application or online status.
If you hold settled status or are comparing different forms of long term status, it may also help to understand the difference between settled status and ILR, as both can be relevant when checking what your digital record should show.
Step 2: Create a UKVI Account If You Do Not Have One
If you genuinely do not have a UKVI account, you can create one through the official GOV.UK eVisa service. You will be asked for contact details and identity information. Depending on your situation, the service may ask for a passport, travel document, BRP or BRC information, an application reference or another UKVI identifier.
Use the official service rather than unofficial registration websites. Creating the account is not the same as applying for a new visa, extending your stay or correcting an immigration decision. It is an access process for your online immigration record.
If your underlying immigration position is more complex, for example you have recently applied for settlement or are moving from time limited permission to indefinite leave to remain, you may want to review the wider UK settlement application process so you understand what status should appear once your application has been decided.
Step 3: Confirm Your Identity
UKVI needs to confirm that the person creating or accessing the account is the person connected to the immigration status. You may be asked to use the UK Immigration: ID Check app if your document and smartphone are suitable.
If you cannot use the app, do not panic. The official process may offer an alternative way to confirm your identity. Follow the route shown to you rather than guessing or submitting inconsistent details. Where someone is helping you, such as a parent, guardian or authorised representative, make sure the contact information is accurate and can be accessed when sign in codes are sent.
Step 4: Link Your UK eVisa To Your UKVI Account
Once your account and identity checks are complete, the account needs to be connected to your eVisa. For some people, this happens during account creation. For others, there may be a further linking step before the eVisa becomes visible.
After successful linking, access is usually immediate, although official guidance says it may take up to 24 hours. During that period, it is normally better to wait, check your messages and avoid setting up a new account. Repeating the process in different ways can make the problem harder to untangle.
When your eVisa appears, check it carefully. Look at your name, date of birth, nationality, photograph, immigration route, expiry date where relevant and conditions. If you hold permission that allows work, for example under a sponsored route, your eVisa should support your ability to prove the relevant status online. You can also read more about UK work permission through the UK work visa guidance.
Step 5: Update Your Passport Before Travelling
Linking your eVisa to your UKVI account is not the end of the story if you plan to travel. Your current passport or travel document should be added to your UKVI account, and the details should match the information used by your airline, ferry operator, train operator or other carrier.
If you have renewed your passport, changed nationality, changed your name or started using a different travel document, update the account before travel. Some people with more than one nationality may add more than one passport, but the passport used for travel should be correctly recorded.
Before travelling, check the following:
- Your current passport or travel document is added to your UKVI account.
- Your name and document details match your booking.
- Your eVisa is visible and shows the correct immigration status.
- The passport or travel document you will use for travel is correctly recorded in your UKVI account.
- You have checked the entry rules for the destination country, if travelling outside the UK.
An eVisa is not the same as an Electronic Travel Authorisation. An ETA is a separate travel permission for certain visitors who do not need a visa. Your eVisa records immigration status you already hold.
How To Get a Share Code From Your eVisa
After your eVisa is linked and visible, you can sign in to the relevant online service to generate a share code. A share code may be used to prove your right to work, right to rent in England or another permitted immigration status check.
The person or organisation checking your status will usually need the share code and your date of birth. The share code does not replace your eVisa, and it does not permanently transfer your status to someone else. It is a time limited checking method, currently valid for 90 days and generally usable more than once during that period.
Choose the correct type of share code for the reason you need it. For example, an employer needs the right to work service, while a landlord in England needs the right to rent service. If your eVisa is visible but you cannot generate a share code, that may need to be reported through the official eVisa error route.
What To Do If Your eVisa Is Not Showing
If your eVisa is not visible, work through the problem calmly. Not every issue means your status is wrong. Sometimes the account has not been fully linked, the identity stage is incomplete, the system needs time to update or the account is using old contact details.
- You are unsure whether you have an account: try signing in first and avoid creating a duplicate account.
- You completed linking very recently: allow up to 24 hours where the official guidance says this may be needed.
- You cannot access your email or phone: use the official account recovery process.
- The identity check fails: check the document requirements and follow the alternative process if offered.
- Your eVisa shows wrong details: report an eVisa error rather than trying to change the underlying immigration decision through an account update.
- Your carrier cannot verify your status: check that your passport is linked and that your booking details match your travel document.
An account update is not the same as changing your immigration permission. Updating your phone number, email address or passport details helps keep the account usable. It does not overturn a visa refusal, amend a pending application or change the conditions of your grant.
Dependants And Children
Each dependant needs their own UKVI account. This includes children. A parent, guardian or authorised person may help create or manage the account where appropriate, but the status belongs to the individual dependant.
For children, it is sensible to keep account contact details under review. When a young person becomes able to manage the account themselves, or reaches adulthood, the account details may need to be updated so they can access codes, travel checks and proof of status without relying on someone else.
When Professional Help May Be Useful
Many eVisa account issues are technical and can be resolved through the official UKVI routes. Professional immigration help may be useful where the online record appears inconsistent with the grant of permission, where the issue affects urgent travel, work or study, or where you are unsure whether the problem is technical or legal.
A careful review can help separate account access problems from immigration status problems. That distinction matters, because the solution for a forgotten phone number is very different from the solution for an incorrect grant of leave or a disputed Home Office decision.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it free to link an eVisa to a UKVI account?
Yes. GOV.UK states that creating or accessing a UKVI account and viewing an eVisa is free. Be cautious of unofficial websites charging for simple account access.
How long does it take for an eVisa to appear after linking?
Access is usually immediate once the account is linked successfully, but it may take up to 24 hours. If it is still unavailable after that, check whether identity verification and linking were fully completed.
Should I create another UKVI account if I cannot see my eVisa?
No, not unless the official service clearly tells you to do so. First check whether you already have an account, recover access if needed and complete the linking process.
Do I need a BRP to access my eVisa?
Not always. The documents you can use depend on your immigration history and what UKVI asks for, such as a passport, application reference, BRP, BRC or UKVI customer number.
Can I travel once my eVisa is linked?
You should also make sure your current passport or travel document is added to your UKVI account and that your booking details match. An eVisa helps carriers and border systems check your UK status, but it does not remove separate destination country entry requirements.
