Before travelling, you should sign in to your UKVI account, check that your eVisa is visible, confirm that your personal details and immigration status are correct, and make sure your current passport or travel document is linked. It is also sensible to generate a travel share code before departure, especially if your airline, ferry operator or other carrier needs extra evidence of your UK immigration status.
This matters because the UK now relies heavily on digital immigration status. Having permission to be in the UK is one thing; being able to show that status smoothly when you travel is another. A small mismatch, such as an old passport number or a name that does not match your booking, can cause delays at check-in.
The good news is that most checks are straightforward if you know where to look. If something does not look right, it is far better to deal with it before you are standing at the airport with a queue behind you and a boarding deadline approaching.
If your eVisa is not showing, your passport has changed, or your UKVI account is difficult to access, Immigration UK can help you understand the issue and prepare the right next steps before you travel.
Quick UKVI Account Travel Checklist
Use this checklist a few days before you travel, or earlier if you can. GOV.UK does not set one single universal deadline for every traveller, but checking early gives you time to fix problems if your account needs updating or your eVisa details are wrong.
- Sign in to your UKVI account through the official View and Prove service.
- Check that your eVisa is visible and loads correctly.
- Confirm your name, date of birth, nationality and photograph, where shown.
- Check that your immigration status and conditions look correct.
- Make sure your current passport or travel document is linked.
- Check that the passport number and expiry date are accurate.
- Make sure your airline or carrier booking details match your passport and UKVI account.
- Generate a travel share code and note its expiry date.
- Carry the valid passport or travel document linked to your account.
- Check the entry and transit rules for the country you are visiting.
What Are a UKVI Account, an eVisa and a Travel Share Code?
A UKVI account is the online account you use to access digital immigration services. It is not the visa itself. Think of it as the doorway to your online immigration record.
Your eVisa is the digital record of your UK immigration status. It may show your identity details, the type of permission you hold, and the conditions attached to that permission. This is particularly relevant for people with status under routes such as the EU Settlement Scheme, Skilled Worker, Student, family routes and settlement.
A travel share code is a temporary code that allows a carrier or another permitted organisation to check relevant parts of your immigration status. Official guidance says a travel share code is valid for 90 days and can be used more than once before it expires. The code does not replace your passport. You still need to travel with the valid passport or travel document linked to your UKVI account.
If you are still setting up your account or linking your digital status, this related guide on linking a UK eVisa to a UKVI account may help you understand the process before you complete your travel checks.
How To Check a UKVI Account Before Travelling
The basic process is simple: sign in, view your eVisa, check your identity and status details, confirm your passport is linked, then generate a travel share code. Each step matters because carriers may rely on matching details when checking whether you can travel to the UK.
1. Sign In To View Your eVisa
Use the official GOV.UK service to access your online immigration status. You will usually need sign-in details such as the identity document connected to your account, your date of birth, and access to the registered email address or mobile number. Depending on how your account was created, your sign-in document could be a passport, national identity card, biometric residence card, expired biometric residence permit or UKVI customer number.
Always use the official GOV.UK service rather than links in old emails or unofficial pages. The official guidance on travelling with an eVisa explains the current government position on checking your account before travel.
2. Confirm That Your eVisa Is Visible
Once you are signed in, check that your eVisa opens properly. Do not assume that reaching the account dashboard means everything is correct. You need to see the actual immigration status record and check the details shown.
If your eVisa does not appear, consider whether your UKVI account has been fully set up and linked to your status. If it still does not show, you may need to use the official error reporting or support process. Avoid leaving this until the day of travel, as technical or identity issues may take time to resolve.
3. Check Your Personal Details
Your personal details should match the passport or travel document you will use for the journey. Check your full name, date of birth, nationality and photograph where displayed. Even a minor difference can create confusion, especially if your carrier is trying to verify your status electronically.
Name changes are a common cause of mismatch. If you have married, divorced, changed your name by deed poll, or changed the order or spelling of your names, check whether the UKVI account needs updating. If the account details are correct but the eVisa itself appears to record the wrong information, that may need to be reported as an eVisa error rather than treated as an ordinary account update.
4. Check Your Immigration Status and Conditions
Your eVisa should show the immigration status you expect. For example, it may relate to limited leave, settled status, pre-settled status, permission as a worker, student or family member, or indefinite leave to remain. Check any visible validity dates and conditions carefully.
If the eVisa shows the wrong immigration category or an unexpected expiry date, do not ignore it. A wrong status record can affect travel, employment checks, study, renting and other practical matters. Keep your Home Office decision notice and any other immigration correspondence safely, as these may help when raising the issue with UKVI.
5. Check the Linked Passport or Travel Document
This is one of the most important travel checks. Your current passport or travel document should be linked to your UKVI account. The passport number and expiry date should be correct, and the document should be the same one you give to your airline, ferry operator or other carrier.
If you recently renewed your passport, do not assume the new document has been added automatically. UKVI may not know about the new passport unless you update your account. If you travel on an unlinked passport, the carrier may not be able to verify your status automatically, which can cause delay or difficulty boarding.
What Should Match Between Your UKVI Account and Booking?
The details in your UKVI account, your passport and your carrier booking should be consistent. This includes your name, date of birth, nationality, passport number and passport expiry date. If your booking uses a shortened name or a different spelling from your passport, speak to the carrier before travel.
Airlines and other carriers may check immigration status electronically before allowing boarding to the UK. Where the information does not match, the system may not confirm your status, even if you do hold valid permission. A travel share code can help, but it is not a magic wand if the underlying passport details are wrong.
If you hold more than one passport, make sure the passport you intend to use for the journey is added to your UKVI account. Dual nationals should take particular care, as different rules may apply depending on whether one nationality is British or Irish and which passport is used for travel.
How To Update a UKVI Account Before Travel
You should update your UKVI account if your passport or travel document changes, or if your name, nationality, email address, mobile number, home address or postal address changes. The available process may depend on the type of change, the document you hold and whether you are inside or outside the UK.
For a new passport, sign in and follow the account update process. In some cases, UKVI may need to carry out additional checks before the update is confirmed. If you are overseas, the options may differ, particularly where biometric information or a non-biometric document is involved.
People with indefinite leave to remain should be especially careful if their status is still evidenced by an old passport stamp, vignette or letter rather than a digital record. If you are unsure how your settlement is evidenced, Immigration UK has a useful explanation of what indefinite leave to remain means in the UK and why proof of status matters in practice.
What To Do If Your eVisa Is Wrong or Missing
If your eVisa is missing, first check that you are using the correct account and sign-in document. Some people have created more than one account or used an old document to sign in, which can make the correct status harder to find.
If your eVisa shows incorrect identity details or the wrong immigration status, use the official reporting route rather than trying to work around the mistake. There is an important difference between updating contact or passport details and correcting an error in the eVisa record itself.
If you cannot sign in, check whether you still have access to the registered email address or mobile number. If not, you may need to recover the account or contact UKVI. Where travel is close, keep evidence of your attempts to resolve the problem and contact your carrier if you think check-in may be affected.
For people planning longer-term immigration steps, such as moving from limited leave to settlement, it is also important to keep immigration records organised. You can read more about settlement support on the UK settlement application page.
Can You Travel With an Expired BRP?
Biometric residence permits have been replaced by eVisas as the main way many people prove their UK immigration status. An expired BRP should not be treated as the normal evidence for travel in place of a valid linked passport and eVisa.
In some circumstances, old physical documents may still be useful as additional supporting evidence, but they should not be relied on as a substitute for checking your UKVI account. You may also be able to use some old document details to access or set up your account, but that is different from using the document as travel evidence.
If you have indefinite leave to remain evidenced only by an older physical document, official guidance encourages obtaining digital evidence of status through the appropriate process. This can make future travel and status checks easier.
What Happens at Check-In and at the UK Border?
At check-in, the carrier may check your passport and immigration status electronically. If the passport details match your UKVI account, the process should usually be smoother. If the carrier cannot verify your status, it may ask for a travel share code or other evidence. The carrier is responsible for its own boarding decision, so it is worth being prepared.
At the UK border, Border Force may check your immigration status digitally. Some travellers may use eGates if eligible, while others may speak to an officer. Either way, you must still carry the valid passport or travel document linked to your account.
Your UKVI account proves UK immigration status only. It does not confirm that another country will let you enter or transit. Always check the visa, passport validity and transit requirements for your destination separately. That is the less glamorous part of travel planning, but it is usually cheaper than a missed flight.
When To Get Help Before Travelling
Professional advice can be useful if your eVisa shows the wrong status, your account cannot be accessed, your new passport will not update, or you have old evidence of indefinite leave to remain and are unsure how to travel. It can also help where a child, dependant, dual national or family member has a more complicated situation.
No adviser can guarantee that a carrier will allow boarding or that UKVI will resolve an issue by a particular date. What good advice can do is help identify the problem, organise evidence, use the correct process and reduce the risk of avoidable mistakes before you travel.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to check my UKVI account every time I travel?
It is sensible to check before every international journey, especially if you have renewed your passport, changed your name, updated your visa status or recently created your UKVI account.
How do I know whether my passport is linked to my UKVI account?
Sign in to your UKVI account and check the travel document details shown. The passport number and expiry date should match the passport you will use for the journey.
Do I need a travel share code to travel?
A travel share code is useful additional evidence and may help if a carrier cannot verify your status automatically. It does not replace your valid linked passport or travel document.
How long does a UKVI travel share code last?
Official guidance says a travel share code is valid for 90 days and can be used more than once before it expires. Make sure you generate the correct code for travel rather than a code for another purpose.
What if my eVisa shows the wrong immigration status?
You should report the issue through the official eVisa error process and avoid travelling until you understand the risk. Keep your decision notice and any supporting Home Office correspondence available.
