Most BRPs will expire at the end of this year and will gradually convert to an online format, accessible through a UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) online account.
“All people who hold physical immigration documents are urged to take steps now to switch to an eVisa, and I want to reassure those who need it that free advice and support is available,” said Seema Malhotra, Minister for Immigration and Citizenship at the UK Home Office.
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To ease this transition, the Home Office is allocating around £4 million in grants this month to a network of voluntary and community organisations across the UK. These groups will provide independent support to “vulnerable clients” who may have concerns about how to access e-visas, the Indian-origin minister was quoted as saying by PTI.
A nationwide advertising campaign will be launched to raise awareness of the shift to e-visas, encouraging those affected to act before many immigration documents expire in December 2024.
“Switching to an e-Visa is free and easy, offering greater convenience for the customer, significant cost savings and increased security for the UK’s border and immigration system. An e-Visa cannot be lost, stolen or altered, and allows visa holders to instantly and securely demonstrate their immigration rights. The change will not change, affect or remove the customer’s current rights or immigration status,” the Home Office explained.
The transition to e-visas is a crucial part of the UK government’s effort to digitise its immigration system, moving from physical documents to digital verification for most new visa applicants in the coming weeks and for existing visa holders in 2025.
The grant will be distributed to organisations including Migrant Help, Citizens Advice Scotland, the Refugee Council of Wales and Advice NI, ensuring immediate support is available for vulnerable people across the UK. Further details can be found online at GOV.UK.
Through a phased approach, the Home Office aims to ensure that most people will enjoy a “safe and seamless digital journey” when interacting with the UK immigration system by 2025.
By introducing e-visas, the government hopes to reduce the number of people who have to leave their passports at the Home Office while awaiting immigration decisions. E-visas also eliminate the need for migrants to make trips to collect physical documents, thereby saving renewal fees.
The process began in April, when BRP visa holders received emails with instructions to create a UKVI account to access their e-Visa. These invitations were initially sent out in phases before being made available to all BRP visa holders last month.
British passport holders and Irish citizens, including those who previously held immigration status but have since acquired British citizenship, are not affected by this change.
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