eVisa

What is an eVisa, How to create a UKVI account, link your eVisa and create a share code.

Up to the 31^st December 2024, proof of immigration status was a physical document called a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP). From the 1^st January 2025 BRPs were replaced with an electronic visa (eVisa).

An eVisa is an online record of your immigration status and the conditions of your permission to enter or stay in the UK.

You have to create a UK Visas and Immigration Service (UKVI) account to be able to access your eVisa and create share codes to prove your right to study, work and rent in the UK.

I Still Have A BRP Card

If you have a BRP card this can no longer be used to prove your right to study, work or rent in the UK.

You will need to create a UKVI account and link your visa to the account so that you can continue to access proof of your immigration status.

What Information Do I Need to Have Before Creating A UKVI Account

To be able to access (view) your eVisa, you will first need to create a UKVI account. This is free to create and can be done easily online.

Before you start you will need to make sure that you have:

Access to a Smartphone which is an Iphone 7 or later model or an Android phone running version 8.0 or higher
A mobile phone number. This can be an international number. You must be able to receive messages from UKVI using your number as you will be sent authentication codes during the application process
An email address that you will use each time you wish to prove your immigration status
A valid passport
Your eVisa/visa application number (This will start with GWF or UAN). This will have been set up when you made your visa application. A copy will have been sent to you online and by letter with your visa decision.
Downloaded the ‘UK Immigration ID Check app’. This can be found in the ‘google play’ store if you have an android phone or the ‘App’ store if you have an Iphone. The app has to be downloaded onto the smartphone you will be using. Further assistance is provided in the following link: Using the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app – GOV.UK

Creating A UKVI Account

Make sure that you have downloaded the ‘UK Immigration ID Check’ app which you will find in the ‘google play’ store if you have an android phone, or the ‘App’ store if you have an Iphone. The app has to be downloaded onto your smartphone!

If you are unsure how to download the app please use the information in the following link:

Using the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app – GOV.UK

Once you have downloaded the app you can start to create your UKVI account.

Use the following link to create your UKVI account:

Get access to your online immigration status (eVisa) – GOV.UK

You can also watch the following video to help you create your UKVI account:

How to create a UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account and get access to your eVisa

1. Click on ‘Set up a UKVI account to access your eVisa’

2. Click on ‘Access your eVisa’

3. You will be asked when you were granted permission come to or stay in the UK and whether it was before or after 1^st November 2024. Tick the answer that applies to you and click ‘continue’

4. Confirm if you have a visa application number and click ‘continue’

5. You will be taken to the ‘Create a UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account’ page. You will need to read the page carefully and make sure that you have all of the details required to create your account

6. Click ‘Create an account’

7. Confirm who you are creating the account for and click ‘continue’

8. Provide your first and middle names and then your surname as it appears on your passport and click ‘continue’

9. Provide your nationality as it appears on your passport and click ‘continue’

10. You will be asked to confirm the document you are using to prove your identity. Tick ‘Passport’ and then click ‘continue’

11. Complete your passport details and click ‘continue’

12. Provide your date of birth and click ‘continue’

13. Provide the email address that you want to use whenever you sign into your UKVI account and click ‘continue’

14. The next page will inform you that you will be send a 6-digit security code to the email address you have provided. Complete the ‘Security Code’ section once you have received the 6-digit security code and then click ‘continue’

15. Provide the mobile number that you want to use whenever you sign into your UKVI account. If the number is international you will need to include the country code. Click ‘continue’

16. The next page will inform you that you will be sent a 6-digit security code to the phone number you have provided, this may take a few minutes to arrive. Complete the ‘Security code’ section once you receive the 6-digit security code. Click ‘continue’

17. You will be asked whether you want someone else to have access to your UKVI account. Tick ‘yes’ or ‘no’ and then click ‘continue’

18. You will be asked to check your answers before creating your UKVI account. If any are incorrect, click on the ‘change’ link and go back to correct them. When everything is correct click on ‘Create account’.

Linking the Immigration: ID Check App To Your UKVI Account

If you are not already signed into your UKVI account, you will need to sign in using the identity document and contact details you used to set up your account. You will also need access to your phone or email address as you will be sent a security code to sign in.

If you have not created a UKVI account you will need to go back to the previous section ‘Creating a UKVI account’.

You can use the following link to sign into your UKVI account: Get access to your online immigration status (eVisa) – GOV.UK

1. Confirm what identity document you used to create your account (this should have been your passport). Click ‘continue’

2. Confirm your passport number and click ‘continue’

3. Enter your date of birth and click ‘continue’

4. You will be asked to confirm how you want to receive security codes. Once you have selected either by text message or by email, click ‘continue’

5. You will be sent a 6-digit security code to your chosen option. Once you have received the 6-digit code, you will need to complete the ‘Security code’ section on the page and then click ‘continue’

6. You will now be logged into your UKVI account will be asked to click onto ‘confirm your identity’.

7. You will be sent to another page that you need to read before clicking ‘continue’

8. You will be asked to confirm if your passport has a biometric chip. Once you have answered this question click ‘continue’

9. You will be asked to confirm that you have a smartphone that is:

Iphone 7 or newer module
Android phone that runs version 8.0 or higher

If you answer ‘yes’ you click ‘continue’

If you answer ‘no’ you will need to borrow a friend or family member’s smartphone that is compatible and then click ‘continue’. You can use someone else’s phone as the app can be deleted once your identity has been confirmed.

10. You can now continue to download the ‘UKVI immigration ID check’ app

11. Once you have downloaded the app, you will need to open it and click on ‘continue’.

12. You will be asked whether you wish to connect to the app with a QR code from the website or a connection code. Click into the one that you wish to use.

You will now be connected to the app.

13. You will be asked to confirm whether you would like to receive a 6-digit code by text or email. You will be sent the 6-digit code to your chosen option. This can take a few minutes to arrive.

14. Once you have received the code, you will need to enter it on the page and click ‘continue’

15. You will be asked to take a picture of the personal details page on your identity document (passport) using your smartphone’s camera. You need to click on the arrow on the bottom right of the page to start.

When you are ready to take the picture click on ‘continue’ and take an image of the personal details page of your passport. The personal details page has to be within the grey border and once it is in the right place the border will turn green. A picture will be taken, and you then need to click on ‘ok’

16. You will be asked to scan the biometric chip on your passport. Make sure that the NFC option on your phone is turned on if you have one.

Place your phone on top of your passport. You may need to move your phone or passport around for the biometric chip to be detected. You should remove any covers you have over your phone or passport to make it easier for the chip to be detected. Once detected the scan will begin.

17. Once the scan is complete you will be asked to scan your face. When you are ready for your face to be scanned click ‘continue’

Follow any instructions that appear on the screen. The app will confirm whether your face has been scanned successfully. When ready click ‘ok’

18. You will be asked to take a photo of your face and given further guidance. Click ‘continue’ when you are ready. Take your photo.

You will be asked to check your photo and decide if this is the photo you wish to use. Either click ‘retake photo’ or ‘use this photo’

19. You will be asked to confirm that the information scanned from your passport is correct. Click ‘submit information’ if it is correct.

Link your eVisa to your UKVI account

You cannot access your eVisa or provide share codes to prove your right to work, rent or study until you have linked it to your UKVI account.

If you wish to link your eVisa to your UKVI account you can stay on the page you were sent to at the end of ‘Linking your immigration ID Check app to your UKVI account’ and click ‘continue’

If you have returned to your account at a later date you will need to sign into your UKVI account to link your eVisa. You can sign into your account using the following link: Get access to your UKVI account

Sign into your UKVI account using the identity document and contact details you used to set up the account.

You will then see that the ‘confirm your identity’ section has been completed.

You will be asked to click through and complete the next sections to link your eVisa to your account.

1. Confirm if you know your visa application number. Click ‘continue’

2. Provide your current visa application number. Click ‘continue’

3. Check your answer and click ‘continue’

4. Confirm if you are in the UK

5. Check your answer and click ‘continue’

6. Confirm the email address that you can be contacted on and click ‘continue’. This can be different to the email address used to sign into your UKVI account.

7. Confirm the phone number that you can be contacted on and click ‘continue’. This can be a different number to the one used to sign into your UKVI account.

8. Check your answers and click ‘continue’

9. Provide answers for three account security questions. Click ‘continue’

10. Check your answers and click ‘continue’

11. Read the declaration and select the option that applies to you. Click ‘continue’

12. Click ‘submit’ and read the information on the submit page before clicking ‘confirm and submit’

You will be sent to a page confirming your information has been submitted and providing you with a reference number.

Once your eVisa is ready to view, you will receive an email to confirm. This can take a few days.

Once you have received the email confirming your eVisa is ready to view, you can sign into your UKVI account and view your eVisa.

Creating A Share Code for Study/Work/Rent

Once your eVisa is ready to view, you will receive an email to confirm. This can take a few days after linking it to your UKVI account.

Once you have received the email confirming your eVisa is ready to view, you can sign into your UKVI account and view your eVisa.

Use the following link to sign into your UKVI account and create an eVisa share code: View and prove your immigration status: get a share code – GOV.UK

Before you start, you will need the following information:

The details of the Identity document you used to create and sign into your UKVI account.
Your Date of Birth
Access to the mobile number or email address used to sign into your UKVI account (you will be sent a code for signing into your account)

1. Go to the link above and click ‘View your eVisa and get a share code’

2. Complete the different sections in the application:

What identity document did you use when you created your account
What is your date of birth
How do you want to receive a security code (This is the code to allow you to continue the application)

3. Check your phone for the 6-digit security code and put this into the next page of the application.

4. The next screen will show your immigration status (eVisa) information including your photo. If the information is correct, scroll down to the bottom and click on ‘Get a Share code’

5. You will be asked why you need a share code. Click on the reason – Right to Work, Right to Rent or Right to Study.

6. The next page will then show your eVisa information again ‘What the checker will see’. You need to make sure that all of the details on the page are correct.

7. You can then ‘Create a share code’

The next screen will give you your share code and what you need to do next to show an employer, landlord, university etc.

How Long Is A Share Code Valid For

All Share codes are valid for 90 days.

I Cannot Link My eVisa To My UKVI Account Or Create A Share Code

If you are having difficulty linking your eVisa to your UKVI account, or you are getting error messages when you attempt to create a link you will need to contact UKVI.

You can use the following link to set up a Webchat with UKVI: eVisa Webchat

You can also recover your account if you have lost access to the phone and email you use to receive security codes: Recover your UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account – Recover account – GOV.UK

The UK Government has a variety of support videos to assist you further and these can be accessed using the following link: eVisa support videos – GOV.UK

There Is An Error On My eVisa

If there is an error on your eVisa such as course dates, expiration date or misspelling of a name, you will need to report this as soon as possible.

You will need to use the following link to report any error on your eVisa: Report an error with your eVisa – GOV.UK