eVisa Frequently Asked Questions

The UK visa system will transfer to a digital-only service from 1 January 2025. This means that all physical visas (i.e. BRPs and vignettes) will expire by 31 December 2024 and be replaced by electronic visas.

This means that you still have a valid visa, but it now exists in a new electronic form known as an eVisa, which can only be accessed online.

If you have arrived in the UK but not received a BRP you may need to review your UKVI documents.

If your course is less than six months you will not receive a BRP. Instead, your visa will be represented by a vignette in your passport. The expiry date in the top right-hand corner will be the correct end date of the visa, if you think this is incorrect, please email batch@bcu.ac.uk and provide your student ID number and an image of the vignette.

You should also check if you have received an eVisa. Log into your gov.uk account and read through the information available further information can also be found on this webpage:

Access your eVisa - (www.gov.uk)

If you experience any difficulties obtaining your BRP please inform the University as soon as possible by emailing: evisaqueries@bcu.ac.uk

From summer 2024 the Home Office will email students information on how to create UKVI accounts to access their eVisas. They will email the address you provided when you first applied for your visa.

Alternatively, you may be able to create the UKVI account yourself through the following webpage: Access your eVisa - (www.gov.uk)

If you do not have access to the email address used when you first applied for a visa (i.e. if you applied via an agent) you will need to inform the Home Office. Details are provided on the following webpage:

Recover your UKVI Account - Update your details

• No - it is free to create your UKVI account.

• You will never be asked to pay directly to switch to the eVisa service.

You will first need either your BRP card number or visa application number. Your visa application number will have been sent to you via email or post.

If you do not have any of the above information, please visit: Online immigration status (eVisa) - (www.gov.uk)

In addition to your BRP or visa application number, you will also need to provide your:

• Passport/BRP for identity purposes

• Date of Birth

• Email address

• UK Mobile phone number

• Access to the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app (you can download this app from the Google Play Store and App Store for iOS)

Once you have the above information complete the following 3 steps to create the UKVI account:

1. Create a UKVI account full details 
   If UKVI have advised you to create an account, follow their instructions, otherwise visit: Online immigration status (eVisa) - (www.gov.uk)

2. Confirm your Identity
   This is done via an app:  UK Immigration: ID Check
   

3. Link your UKVI account to your eVisa
   UKVI will notify you when your eVisa is available to view - in some cases, this could take a few days.

Once you have linked your UKVI account with your eVisa you must provide evidence of your eVisa by email to BCU’s UKVI Compliance team.

Full details on linking your UKVI account with your eVisa can be found here: Access your eVisa - (www.gov.uk)

Information on creating a UKVI account is available in the Home Office video How to create a UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account and get access to your eVisa.

You must update your UKVI account with any changes to your home address, email or phone number.

You must also update your university student account when your contact details change.

You must link your new passport to your eVisa, otherwise your eVisa will be invalid and you won’t be able to cross the UK border. 

Register your new passport and link it to your eVisa via your UKVI account:

Update your UK Visas and Immigration account details

BCU’s International Student Visa Advice team can assist you – please email them via: batch@bcu.ac.uk

Please include your student ID number and a copy or image of your eVisa with the error.