From BRP to eVisa in the UK: New June–July 2025 Updates

News

11/06/2025

In this section:

What Is an eVisa UK?
Who Needs an eVisa in the UK?
From 2 June 2025: Expired BRPs and BRCs No Longer Accepted for Travel
From 15 July 2025: No More Vignettes for Certain Visa Applicants
What Employers Must Do About eVisas

As of June and July 2025, the UK government is enforcing key changes in its transition from BRC and BRP to eVisa. The move to digital immigration status affects all visa holders, employers, and new applicants. This guide covers what an eVisa UK is, who needs one, what’s changing, and what actions must be taken.

What Is an eVisa UK?

An eVisa UK is a secure, digital record of a person’s immigration status, stored in a UKVI eVisa account. It replaces physical documents like Biometric Residence Permits (BRPs), Biometric Residence Cards (BRCs) and passport stickers (vignettes).

Instead of carrying a card or sticker, employees must now access their eVisa and prove their status online through their UKVI account eVisa. This digital status is used for travel, employment, and rental checks.

Who Needs an eVisa in the UK?

All employees who have permission to stay in the UK for longer than six months, granted in England, Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland, need to transition to eVisas. However, they cannot access an eVisa if they:

Hold a visa valid for less than six months (e.g., visitor visa)
Have an EU Settlement Scheme family permit
Possess an electronic travel authorisation (ETA)
Are exempt from immigration control (e.g., diplomats or those with ‘right of abode’)

From 2 June 2025: Expired BRPs and BRCs No Longer Accepted for Travel

As of 2 June 2025, expired BRPs and BRCs can no longer be used for travel. UK carriers are now required to digitally check immigration status. Individuals without an active eVisa may be denied boarding. This marks the beginning of the full shift from physical BRPs to eVisas.

Action Steps for Employees:

1. Create or access a UKVI account + eVisa
All sponsored workers must have a UKVI account to access their eVisa. Click to access eVisa.

2. Link the current passport to the UKVI eVisa account

3. Check that eVisa details are correct
This step ensures that UK eVisa checks at the border won’t fail due to mismatched data. Click to check eVisa.

4. Generate an eVisa share code
A share code is used by employers, landlords, and airlines. It’s required to prove immigration status and right to work. Click to get a share code.

5. Retain expired BRPs
Expired cards should be kept for 18 months as backup for future eVisa application UK processes.

From 15 July 2025: No More Vignettes for Certain Visa Applicants

Main applicants for the following visa routes will no longer receive a vignette (sticker) in their passport — they’ll only receive an eVisa:

Skilled Worker (including Health and Care)
Global Business Mobility
International Sportsperson
Temporary Worker

This applies to applications made:

From inside the UK (switching or extending)
From outside the UK (initial applications)

Note: Dependants and non-study/work visa applicants will continue to receive a vignette.

The action steps are the same as mentioned above: get access to your eVisa, check the details, get a share code to prove your immigration status.

What Employers Must Do About eVisas

Breakdown of steps for employers to stay compliant with eVisa updates:

Ensure all employees have transitioned from UK BRP to eVisa
Support employees with UKVI eVisa login
Remind staff to link eVisa to UKVI account and keep details up to date
Request eVisa share codes to confirm right to work
Assist those facing difficulties with the eVisa application UK process