BRP holders with continuing UK immigration permission now need to access their status through a UKVI account and eVisa, rather than relying on a physical biometric residence permit. A BRP may still be useful for limited account access purposes, but it is no longer the normal way to prove your immigration status for work, renting or travel.
Last checked: 11 November 2026. UK eVisa guidance can change, so it is sensible to confirm the latest steps on GOV.UK before taking action, especially if you are about to travel, start a new job or sign a tenancy agreement.
The good news is that the process is usually straightforward once you know what each stage does. The slightly less good news is that the words “create”, “link”, “view” and “share code” all sound similar when you are already trying to remember where you put your old BRP. This article breaks the process down in plain English.
If your circumstances are not routine, for example, your eVisa shows the wrong status, you cannot access an old UKVI account, or you are also preparing a visa extension or settlement application, Immigration UK can help you understand the issue and prepare the right next step.
Quick Answer: How BRP Holders Access an eVisa
To access a UK eVisa as a BRP holder, you should first check whether you already have a UKVI account. If you do not, you can create one using your available identity and immigration details, complete identity verification, link the account to your eVisa, then view your digital status and generate the correct share code when needed.
The usual sequence is:
- Check whether a UKVI account already exists.
- Create or recover the account using your email address, phone number and identity details.
- Confirm your identity, often through the UK Immigration: ID Check app or another route offered by UKVI.
- Link your UKVI account to your eVisa.
- Check that your eVisa details are correct.
- Generate a share code for the correct purpose, such as work or rent, when you need to prove status to an authorised checker.
Creating an account is not always the same as accessing the eVisa. You may still need to complete identity confirmation and the linking step before your digital immigration status appears. GOV.UK guidance says access is usually immediate after successful linking, but it may take up to 24 hours.
What Is an eVisa and How Is It Different from a BRP?
An eVisa is an online record of your UK immigration status. It shows your identity, the type of permission you hold, any conditions attached to that permission, and whether your stay is time limited or indefinite. It replaces physical documents such as BRPs for most status proving purposes.
A BRP was a physical card. An eVisa is not a card, sticker or stamp, and it is not the same as an Electronic Travel Authorisation. The eVisa records immigration permission you already hold. If your BRP has expired, that does not automatically mean your underlying visa or indefinite leave has ended. The key question is whether your immigration permission itself is still valid.
People who may need to access an eVisa include Skilled Worker visa holders, Student visa holders, family visa holders, dependants and people with indefinite leave to remain. If you are also reviewing your future route to permanent residence, Immigration UK provides information on settlement applications in the UK, which may be useful alongside checking your online status.
Check Whether You Already Have a UKVI Account
Before creating anything new, try to establish whether UKVI has already created an account for you. Many people already have one without realising it, particularly if they used the UK Immigration: ID Check app, applied under the EU Settlement Scheme, made a recent online visa application, or previously replaced a physical immigration document.
This matters because duplicate accounts can make life more confusing. You may create a new account and still not see your eVisa because the status is linked to an older account. It is a little like having two front doors and trying to unlock the wrong one.
Check old UKVI emails, your visa application confirmation, and the identity document you used in your last application. Try signing in with the passport, BRP, BRC or UKVI customer details you previously used. If you no longer have access to the email address or phone number connected to the account, you may need to use UKVI account recovery or update routes.
What You Need Before You Start
The exact information requested depends on your circumstances and what UKVI can match to your existing records. It helps to gather everything before beginning, so you are not hunting through drawers halfway through an online form.
- A usable email address that you can access reliably.
- A mobile telephone number for sign in and security checks.
- Your current passport, if you have one.
- Your BRP number or expired BRP, if available.
- Your visa application reference, such as a GWF number or UAN, where relevant.
- Your UKVI customer number, if you have been given one.
- A smartphone for identity checks, if the app route is used.
- Access to any old UKVI correspondence connected to your last application.
Official guidance confirms that an expired BRP may still be used for limited purposes, including creating or signing in to a UKVI account, for 24 months after the printed expiry date or until 31 December 2026, whichever comes first. It should not be treated as general proof of immigration status for every situation.
Step-By-Step: Creating and Linking Your UKVI Account
Start with the official GOV.UK eVisa service, not an unofficial website. The government page on how to set up a UKVI account to access your eVisa explains the current process and should be your reference point before entering personal details online.
First, check for an existing account. If the system recognises you, follow the sign in or recovery steps rather than opening a second account. If you do need to create a new account, enter an email address and telephone number you expect to keep using. These details are important because UKVI will use them to help confirm your identity when you sign in later.
Next, enter the identity or immigration information requested. This may include details from your passport, BRP, expired BRP or visa application reference. Enter names, dates and document numbers carefully. Small differences, such as a missing middle name or an old passport number, can lead to delays or failed matching.
You will then be asked to confirm your identity. Many people do this using the UK Immigration: ID Check app, which scans an identity document and helps UKVI match you to your immigration record. If you cannot use the app, do not have a suitable phone, or do not have the requested document, GOV.UK provides alternative identity verification routes in certain circumstances.
After identity verification, you must link the account to your eVisa. This is the step people often miss. Once linked, you should be able to view your digital status. Check your name, date of birth, nationality, photograph, immigration route, work or study conditions and expiry date. If the eVisa relates to work permission, you may also find our guidance on UK work visa routes helpful when considering what your conditions mean.
How to Use Your eVisa Once You Can See It
Once your eVisa is visible, you can use it to prove your immigration status online. The most common method is through a share code. A share code allows an employer, landlord or other permitted organisation to check your status using the official online checking service, usually alongside your date of birth.
It is important to choose the right purpose when generating the code. A right to work share code is for an employer. A right to rent share code is for renting in England. For travel, make sure your passport or travel document is linked to your UKVI account and matches the document you will use. If GOV.UK offers a share code for a particular situation, choose the correct purpose shown in the service; one code is not automatically suitable for every situation, even if it all comes from the same account.
Share codes are time limited. Current GOV.UK guidance states that a share code lasts for 90 days and may be used more than once during that period. If it expires, you can usually generate a new one from your account.
If you would like a fuller explanation of the linking stage, the related article how to link a UK eVisa to your UKVI account online gives further practical detail.
Travelling with an eVisa
Before travelling, check that the passport or travel document you will use is added to your UKVI account. The details in your UKVI account, your eVisa and your carrier booking should match. If they do not, you may face delays with the airline, ferry operator, train operator or at the border.
If you have more than one nationality, you may be able to add more than one passport. If you receive a new passport, update your UKVI account before relying on it for travel. Do not assume the Home Office automatically knows about a replacement passport simply because it was issued by another authority.
An expired BRP is not a substitute for a properly linked eVisa when travelling. You may carry old documents if they help explain your history, but your current status should be accessible through the digital system and linked to the passport you present.
What If Something Goes Wrong?
If you have created the account but cannot see your eVisa, first check whether identity verification and the linking step are complete. If they are complete, allow up to 24 hours before assuming there is a serious problem. Online systems sometimes need a little breathing space.
If you cannot sign in, use the official recovery options and check whether the account is tied to an old email address, phone number or identity document. If your eVisa appears but shows incorrect details, treat that separately. An incorrect name, date of birth, nationality, status, condition or expiry date may need to be reported as an eVisa error rather than simply updated as an account detail.
By contrast, if your email address, phone number, postal address or passport details have changed, you may need to update your UKVI account. Keeping these details current is particularly important before starting employment, entering into a tenancy or travelling outside the UK.
Lost, Stolen or Damaged BRPs
If your BRP has been lost or stolen, you should still report it, even if it has already expired. Once reported lost or stolen, it should not be used again. This is a security issue as well as an immigration administration point.
If you no longer have the BRP, you may still be able to access your eVisa using a valid passport, application reference or another identity verification route. Do not panic if the card has disappeared. The more important question is whether UKVI can match you to your immigration record through another accepted method.
Can Someone Else Help?
Yes. Another person may help create or manage a UKVI account in appropriate circumstances, including for a child, someone who cannot use the internet, or someone for whom they hold power of attorney. The account should still reflect the status holder's identity and immigration permission accurately.
If a parent or helper uses their own email address or phone number at the start, it may be sensible to update the account later when the status holder can manage it independently. This is particularly relevant for children approaching adulthood or family members who initially needed digital support.
When Professional Help May Be Useful
Most BRP holders can create or access a UKVI account without professional assistance. However, advice can be useful where the problem is not just technical. Examples include an eVisa showing the wrong immigration status, uncertainty about whether permission is still valid, a pending extension, a refusal decision, or a planned settlement or citizenship application.
In those situations, the priority is to understand whether the issue lies with the online account, the eVisa record, or the underlying immigration permission. Taking the wrong step can waste time and create further confusion, particularly if an employer, landlord or carrier is waiting for evidence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do all BRP holders need a UKVI account?
If you have continuing UK immigration permission and need to access an eVisa, you need access to a UKVI account. Some people already have one, so check before creating a new account.
Can I use an expired BRP to create a UKVI account?
Current guidance allows an expired BRP to be used for limited account access purposes for 24 months after its printed expiry date or until 31 December 2026, whichever comes first. It should not be relied on as general proof of status.
How long does it take for an eVisa to appear?
After you have confirmed your identity and linked the account, access is usually immediate but may take up to 24 hours. If it still does not appear after that, check whether linking was completed and consider reporting the issue through GOV.UK.
Can I access my eVisa without a smartphone?
In some circumstances, UKVI offers another identity verification route for people who cannot use the app or do not have the required device or document. Follow the options shown in the official service rather than abandoning the process.
Can I travel with an expired BRP?
You should travel using a valid passport or travel document linked to your UKVI account and rely on your eVisa as your current status record. An expired BRP is not a replacement for having your digital status and travel document details correctly updated.
