Digital evisas are now replacing physical visa documents. It's really important that you understand how to access your evisa so that you can travel and prove your rights in the UK.
Your Student Visa and Digital Immigration Status (eVisa)
UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) is getting rid of physical visa documents, such as passport vignette stickers and Biometric Residence Permits (BRP cards). This is all being replaced by a digital immigration status known as an eVisa, which is proof of your Student Visa.
For a detailed explanation of what an eVisa is and how it works, you can watch the official UKVI video "What is an eVisa?"
Setting up an eVisa is free.
The benefits of eVisas include:
- Security: eVisas are secure and cannot be lost, stolen, or tampered with, unlike physical documents.
- Easier Status Verification: It should be quicker and simpler to prove your immigration status at the UK border and to share this information with employers and landlords.
New Students
The UK Government issues student visas, and most other visa types as a digital evisa. You will be invited to create a UKVI account and access your digital evisa which will show the full duration of the student visa on it.. Make sure to follow the instructions carefully so that you can access your evisa.
Follow these instructions to create a UKVI account and link it to your eVisa.
For a step-by-step visual guide, you can watch the official UKVI video on "How to create a UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account and get access to your eVisa".
You can view and prove your immigration status.
After setting up your UKVI account, you can view your eVisa to check information, including the visa expiry date and your conditions of stay in the UK.
To log in to your UKVI account, you will need details of the identity document you used to sign in (such as your passport, national identity card, or biometric residence card or permit), your date of birth, and access to the mobile number or email linked to your account.
You’ll also have the option to share your immigration status through the “view and prove” service by creating a share code. This code grants temporary access to another person (for example a landlord, an employer, the university) to your information on the UKVI system.
Your passport must be linked to your eVisa for travelling purposes.
Your eVisa should be linked with your passport in your UKVI account.
If you get a new passport, you must add it to your UKVI account. If you don’t update your account with the new passport details you may find you cannot board your plane, so make sure to do this before you travel.
To help you understand the process better, you can watch the UKVI video on "How to Travel With Your eVisa”.
Keep your UKVI account up to date
You can update your details online through the government webpage Update your UK Visas and Immigration account details.
You should update your UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account if you’ve changed your:
- Passport (see above)
- Mobile phone number
- Email address
- Name
- Identity document, such as your passport or national identity card
- Home address
- Postal address
Please note that you cannot update your identity document or name while waiting for a visa decision.
By regularly checking and updating your account, you can make sure that your immigration status is correctly reflected and accessible when needed.
Mistakes on your eVisa
If you notice any mistakes on your eVisa regarding the following details, you can use this form to report them to UKVI:
- name
- sponsor reference
- photo
- National Insurance number
- visa restrictions - these say what you can and cannot do in the UK
- immigration status
- valid until date
If you need more information or advice, please contact International Student Advice Service.