If you hold a UK visa or other immigration permission, you may be wondering how to check immigration status UK now that physical documents like biometric residence permits (BRPs) and other permits are gradually being phased out. Biometric Residence Permits and Cards, and Passport Vignettes will expire and be replaced with eVisas by 31 December 2024, meaning all permit holders will need to use the new digital system to prove their immigration status.
The UK is moving to a fully digital system where your immigration record, also known as an eVisa, can be accessed online. This change makes it easier to view and prove your status securely, whether for work, study, renting property, or accessing public services.
In this blog, we’ll guide you through the entire process to check immigration status UK with an eVisa. You will learn how to set up and access your UKVI account, navigate your digital record, generate share codes to prove your status to employers or landlords, and understand the rights and conditions attached to your visa.
We will also cover how to handle common access issues, recover your account if needed, and what steps to take if there are errors in your recorded status, along with guidance on when legal advice may be necessary.
Process to Check Immigration Status UK with Your eVisa
Many people feel uncertain about how to check immigration status UK since physical immigration documents like BRPs and vignettes are being replaced by digital records. The updated process in 2026 is simpler than you might expect.
To check immigration status UK, you should use the online “View and Prove” service at GOV.UK using your UKVI account details.
Here is how to view your status online:
- Visit the specific GOV.UK page for the “View and Prove your immigration status” service
- Sign in to your UKVI account using your registered email or phone number
You will need your passport, your BRP number (if applicable), or your application number to access your online UK immigration status (eVisa).
- Enter your identity document details (passport or biometric residence card)
- Receive a security code via email or SMS and enter it to confirm your identity
- View your digital immigration status on screen
Once logged in, you can see your permission to remain, your right to work, rent, study, and access other services. All of this is stored digitally as an eVisa.
If you cannot access your online record, facing difficulties to check immigration status UK, or you are unsure what your eVisa means, Axis Solicitors can help clarify your situation.
What Is an eVisa and How It Replaces Physical Documents
The Home Office has been working to make the UK immigration system fully digital by 25 February 2026. This means the way you prove your immigration permission is changing.
An eVisa is an electronic record of your status held in the UK Visas and Immigration system. You access it online rather than carrying a card or showing a vignette sticker in your passport. The process of managing and updating your immigration and visa status is now handled through the UK government’s online portal for online uk visas.
eVisas are gradually replacing:
- Biometric residence permits (BRPs)
- Biometric residence card documents
- Visa vignette stickers
- Wet ink stamps in passports
If you currently hold physical documents, you can still use them for now. However, you should create a UKVI account to access your eVisa and prepare for the digital-only system. If you need to update or change your identity documents, such as your passport or national ID card, you must replace them and update your details in your UKVI account to ensure continued access to your eVisa.
Using an eVisa helps you check immigration status UK securely from anywhere, as long as you can log into your account.
Setting Up and Accessing Your UKVI Account
To access and check immigration status UK, you must create a UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account if you have a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP), passport with a vignette, or EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) status.
A UKVI account is essential if you want to check immigration status UK and view your eVisa online. Setting one up takes just a few minutes. Your rights or access to your digital status are not granted automatically; you must take proactive steps to create your account and verify your identity.
To create your account on GOV.UK:
- Enter your passport or BRP details
- Download the UK Immigration: ID Check app if required
- Scan the biometric chip in your document
- Complete a facial recognition check to confirm your identity
- Provide a current email address and mobile number
Security codes will be sent to your contact details whenever you sign in. Once your account is set up, you can log in at any time to view your visa type, permission dates, and any conditions attached.
Save your login details carefully and keep your contact details up to date. Losing access to your registered email or phone can make it difficult to sign in later.
How to View Your eVisa After Signing In
You can check immigration status UK online on GOV.UK after receiving your decision letter.
Once you log in to your UKVI account, your eVisa screen displays the key information about your status. Most people with permission to stay in the UK use the View and Prove Your Immigration Status service on GOV.UK to access this information. You will see:
| Information | What It Shows |
| Visa type | The category of permission you hold |
| Start date | When your permission began |
| End date | When your permission expires |
| Conditions | Any restrictions on work, study or benefits |
You can confirm your right to work, rent property, study, claim benefits, and access NHS care. EU Settlement Scheme holders will see whether they have pre-settled status or settled status recorded. For example, you might use your eVisa screen to prove your immigration status to an employer or landlord by providing them with a share code. This screen is your personal view. Employers and landlords see a separate, limited version when you give them a share code.
Using a Share Code to Prove and Check Immigration Status UK
A share code lets you prove your UK immigration status to third parties such as employers or landlords. You generate it yourself through the online evidence service.
To get a share code:
- Log in to the “View and prove your immigration status” service
- Select the purpose for the code (right to work, right to rent, or other services)
- The system generates a unique code for you to share
- Give the code and your date of birth to the person who needs to check your status
The code is usually valid for up to 90 days. You can create a new one whenever needed.
The person using your code will see your name, immigration status, and any relevant conditions. They will not see your full personal details or sensitive account information.
Proving Your Right to Work and Rent with Your eVisa
Employers and landlords in England must carry out legal checks using your digital status to check immigration status UK. Decision letters and emails from the Home Office are not normally enough on their own.
For employers:
- Give your share code and date of birth to your employer
- They enter these on the online Right to Work checking service
- The system confirms whether you are eligible to work and any restrictions
For landlords:
- Provide your share code to your landlord or letting agent
- They complete a Right to Rent check using the online service
- This confirms whether you can rent property in England
If an employer or landlord misunderstands your digital status or wrongly refuses you, Axis Solicitors’ expert team can assist with resolving the situation.
Checking Pre-Settled or Settled Status Under the EU Settlement Scheme
If you applied to the EU Settlement Scheme, you already have an eVisa and should use the View and Prove service to check your immigration status UK.
EU, EEA and Swiss citizens, along with their family members, should check immigration status UK regularly under the EU Settlement Scheme. Applicants may experience a period of waiting for a decision or confirmation of their status, especially during busy times or if additional documents are required.
Your decision email or letter confirms whether you hold pre-settled or settled status. However, the official proof is your online record.
To check immigration status UK:
- Log in to your UKVI account
- Use your passport or national identity card details
- Enter the security code sent to your registered contact details
If you have a biometric residence permit, you should create a UKVI account to access your eVisa and view your status online. You will not receive a physical residence card unless you separately qualify for one. Your proof of status is entirely digital.
Check your online status before travel, work checks, rent checks, or benefit applications to avoid problems at the border or with immigration control, especially if you also need to meet UK ETA visa requirements for short trips.
Viewing Your Child’s Digital Immigration Status
Each child has their own separate online status record. This applies whether they hold indefinite leave, pre-settled status, or another form of permission.
To access a child’s record and check immigration status UK:
- Log in using the email address or phone number provided in the child’s original application
- This may be different from the parent’s contact details
- Keep these details safe and ensure you can always receive security codes
Parents should check immigration status UK for each child separately before school admissions, travel, or benefit applications. If there is confusion about a child’s recorded status or a missing certificate of application, Axis Solicitors can advise on next steps.
Benefits and Services You Can Access with Your eVisa
Switching to an eVisa brings a host of practical benefits, making it easier than ever to check immigration status UK and access essential services. Your eVisa acts as a secure, digital replacement for physical immigration documents such as biometric residence permits (BRPs), visa vignette stickers, and wet ink stamps in your passport. With your status held online, you no longer need to worry about carrying or losing important papers, everything you need is available at your fingertips.
With your eVisa and UKVI account, you can quickly and confidently prove your right to work, rent property, or claim benefits. Employers, landlords, and government agencies can verify your status using a share code you generate online, ensuring your immigration permission is recognised without delay.
This digital system also makes it easier to access healthcare, enrol in education, and travel in and out of the UK, as your status can be confirmed instantly by border officials and service providers.
Your UKVI account is the key to managing your immigration status. Through your account, you can view your current visa details, check your settled or pre-settled status, and update your personal details, such as your passport, national identity card, or contact information. If you need to prove your status, you can get a share code, valid for 90 days, to share with employers, landlords, or other authorities. This process is free, secure, and can be done from anywhere with internet access.
Having an eVisa also gives you greater control over your immigration journey. You can update your travel document details, report any errors, and access other services online, such as applying for a new passport or national identity card. If your circumstances change, you can update your account to ensure your status remains accurate and up to date.
Overall, your eVisa streamlines the process of living, working, and travelling in the UK. By creating and using your UKVI account, you can access a wide range of benefits and services, check immigration status UK, and enjoy peace of mind knowing your digital record is always available when you need it.
What to Do If You Cannot View or Access Your eVisa
Access problems are common and can usually be resolved. Do not panic if you cannot log in immediately.
Common issues include:
- Lost access to your registered email
- Changed mobile number
- Expired passport details linked to your account
- Incomplete UKVI account setup
You may still be able to prove your right to work or rent temporarily using alternative Home Office services while your access is restored. The Employer Checking Service allows employers to obtain confirmation directly from the Home Office in urgent cases.
For EU Settlement Scheme users, the Resolution Centre can help recover accounts and link new travel document details. Axis Solicitors can help if you struggle to recover access, cannot check immigration status UK or face urgent problems with work, rent, or travel.
Recovering Your UKVI Account
If you are locked out to check immigration status UK, start with the online recovery tools on GOV.UK. Steps to recover your account:
- Use the password reset function
- Update your contact details if you have access to your old email
- Answer identity questions to verify who you are
- Contact the relevant Home Office helpline if online recovery does not work
Keep copies of your passport, BRP, Home Office reference numbers, and decision letters. These help verify your identity during recovery.
If delays threaten your employment, tenancy, or immigration deadlines, legal assistance from Axis Solicitors may be necessary to speed up the process.
Correcting Errors or Challenging Problems with Your Recorded Immigration Status
Sometimes the information shown when you check immigration status UK online may be wrong or incomplete. Typical errors include:
- Incorrect name or date of birth
- Wrong visa expiry date
- Missing work permission
- Pre-settled status recorded instead of settled status
- Photo or document details that do not match
Report any error to the Home Office as soon as possible using the official GOV.UK form. While corrections are pending, keep your decision emails, application references, and any supporting evidence ready to show employers or landlords.
When You May Need Legal Advice About Your eVisa
Practical status issues that arise when you check immigration status UK can quickly become serious legal problems. Examples include:
- Losing a job offer because an employer misread your digital record
- Being refused a tenancy despite holding valid permission
- Being told you have no right to benefits when you are eligible
- Being denied boarding for a flight to the UK
In these cases, carefully check immigration status UK and gather screenshots, emails, and decision letters as evidence.
Check Immigration Status UK with Expert Legal Guidance
If you need to check immigration status UK and want certainty about your rights to work, rent, study, or access services, Axis Solicitors Limited is here to help. As a trusted UK law firm, we provide specialist immigration advice and representation, guiding you through the digital eVisa system and helping resolve access issues, errors, or disputes.
Our experienced solicitors offer personalised support to ensure your UK immigration status is accurately reflected and recognised by employers, landlords, and government agencies. Whether you are navigating account setup, generating share codes, or dealing with complex immigration challenges, we can provide clear, practical solutions.
Contact Axis Solicitors today to get professional assistance and confidence when you check immigration status UK, protecting your rights every step of the way.
