ALL UK visa holders have been urged to ensure that they have an eVisa as part of plans to digitise the UK border and immigration system.
Those UK residents who hold a physical visa to prove their residency should visit gov.uk/eVisa to access their eVisa.
This impacts those who currently use a biometric residence permit (BRP), a passport containing a visa vignette sticker or ink stamp (for those with indefinite leave to enter/ remain), or biometric residence card (BRC) to evidence their immigration rights.
It will be free for people to switch to an eVisa.
Government official said they provide greater customer convenience, cost savings and enhanced security for the UK’s border and immigration system.
An eVisa cannot be lost, stolen or tampered with, and it allows visa holders to instantly and securely prove their immigration rights. Switching won’t change, impact or remove a customer’s current rights or existing immigration status.
The government has announced that £4 million of support will be provided from this month to a UK-wide network of voluntary and community sector organisations to provide independent support for vulnerable customers, as part of the transition from physical immigration documents to eVisas.
Minister for migration and citizenship, Seema Malhotra, said: “Everyone with physical immigration documents is urged to take action now to switch to an eVisa, and I want to reassure those who need it that free advice and support is available.”
