The UK has largely transitioned to a digital immigration status system, with most migrants now expected to access and prove their immigration status through an eVisa. The Home Office has phased out the routine use of Biometric Residence Permits (BRP) as evidence of immigration status and has transitioned most status holders to eVisas. Whilst the the BRP replacement has been a smooth transition for most people, for some it has produced some practical problems.
Immigration status is now held digitally as an eVisa, accessed through a UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account at gov.uk. Some have experienced problems with errors in the digital record, difficulties accessing a UKVI account, or a mismatch between what the Home Office has recorded and the status the person actually holds.
These problems are more than an inconvenience. If your eVisa records the wrong status, the wrong name, or the wrong conditions, you may not be able to prove your right to work, pass a right to rent check, or travel without difficulty. Getting the record corrected quickly matters, and knowing the right process to follow is the first step.
You can contact us through the Reeds Solicitors contact page on our website, by calling 0333 240 7373, or by emailing [email protected].
How Reeds Solicitors Can Help
eVisa problems can range from a minor data entry error to a situation where someone’s entire immigration history has been incorrectly recorded. The right approach depends on the nature of the error, and acting on the wrong route can add delay rather than resolve the problem.
At Reeds Solicitors, we advise on the correct process for your specific situation, prepare and review any representations to the Home Office, and follow the matter through until your status record accurately reflects your position.
Our clients can expect:
- eVisa error assessment and reporting
We review your eVisa against the underlying decision and immigration history to identify exactly what the error is and whether it is a technical mistake or a substantive issue. We prepare the error report or representations in the correct form and submit them to UKVI.
- UKVI account access problems
Where someone is unable to access their UKVI account or view their eVisa, we identify the reason and advise on the correct route to restore access. This may involve working with the UKVI Resolution Centre or, in more complex cases, pursuing a formal complaint.
- Advice for BRP holders transitioning to eVisas
We advise clients who have not yet set up a UKVI account on how to do so and what to do if they encounter difficulties during the process. We also advise on what documents are still usable during the transitional period and what steps to take if a BRP is lost or stolen.
- Administrative review and formal complaints
Where an eVisa error reflects a substantive incorrect decision by the Home Office rather than a technical mistake, or where standard error reporting has not produced a result, we advise on administrative review, formal complaint, or other formal routes. We prepare and submit the necessary representations.
- Broader immigration support
eVisa problems sometimes arise alongside other immigration matters, such as a visa extension or settlement application. We provide joined-up advice across all aspects of your immigration position so that documentation and status issues are resolved efficiently alongside any other needs.
Getting Legal Help
If you are having problems with your eVisa or UKVI account, or if you are not certain that your digital status record accurately reflects your immigration position, our immigration team at Reeds Solicitors can advise.
You can contact us through the Reeds Solicitors contact page on our website, by calling 0333 240 7373, or by emailing [email protected].
Contact:
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More Information
An eVisa is a digital record of your identity and immigration status. It is intended to replace most physcial evidence of immigration status , including BRPs and visa vignette stickers for most immigration categories. Note:
- From 15th July 2025, vignette stickers for main applicants on the student route were replaced by eVisas.
- From 2nd June 2025, expired BRPs can no longer be used to prove immigration status for travel purposes.
To access your eVisa, you need a UKVI account. You set this up online at gov.uk using your passport, expired BRP (if you have one), or a unique application number. Once your account is active, you can view your status and generate a share code to prove it to employers, landlords, or anyone else who needs to check it.
If you were granted permission to stay in the UK on or before 31st October 2024, you may have received a BRP. If you have not yet created a UKVI account to access your eVisa, you should do so as soon as possible. You may be able to use your expired BRP to create a UKVI account until 31st December 2026, or 24 months after the expiry date printed on the card, whichever comes first.
Common eVisa errors include the wrong name, date of birth, nationality, immigration status, or conditions being recorded. Problems also arise where someone can view their eVisa but cannot use it to generate a share code, where a technical error prevents access to the account entirely, or where the Home Office has set up an account but the person has never been able to sign in.
If your eVisa contains an error, you should report it using the form on gov.uk. You will need to provide your name, date of birth, nationality, and a reference number such as your passport number, GWF number, UAN, or UKVI customer number. UKVI aims to fix straightforward errors within five working days. Complex cases can take up to 15 working days. If the matter is likely to take longer, UKVI will contact you.
If your status has been fundamentally incorrectly recorded, for example, the wrong visa category or the wrong length of leave, an administrative review may be appropriate rather than an error report. The correct route depends on whether the error is a technical mistake or a substantive decision by the Home Office.
All BRPs have now expired. You should not be trying to use a BRP as proof of status at this stage. If you have an expired BRP, the correct approach is to access your eVisa through your UKVI account instead.
If you find that you have a lost or stolen BRP, you must still report it to the Home Office under current guidance, even though BRPs are now expired. Once reported, the BRP cannot be used even if it is subsequently found.
If you have an expired BRP and have not yet created a UKVI account, you may still be able to use the expired BRP to set up your account during the transitional period. If you are having difficulty doing so, we advise on the alternative routes to access your eVisa.
Some eVisa problems cannot be resolved through the standard error reporting form. Where someone’s status has not been correctly set up in the system, where there is a dispute about the conditions recorded, or where repeated attempts to fix an error have not produced a result, a more formal approach may be needed. This can include making representations to the UKVI Resolution Centre, submitting a formal complaint, or, in some cases, considering administrative review or judicial review if the Home Office has failed to act correctly.
Important: Home Office procedures, eVisa requirements, service standards and transitional arrangements continue to evolve. Information on this page reflects the position at the date of publication and applicants should check the latest GOV.UK guidance before taking action
Frequently Asked Questions
You should report the error using the form on gov.uk. You will need your name, date of birth, nationality, and a reference number such as your passport number, GWF number, UAN, or UKVI customer number. UKVI publishes target times for resolving eVisa errors, although actual timescales vary depending on the nature and complexity of the issue
All BRPs expired on 31st December 2024. You should no longer be relying on a BRP to prove your status. You need to access your eVisa through a UKVI account at gov.uk. If you have not yet set up a UKVI account, you should do so now. You may be able to use your expired BRP to create the account during the transitional period.
If you are having problems accessing your account, there are several options. You can use the account recovery process on gov.uk. If the standard recovery route does not work, you can contact the UKVI Support team by phone (the Home Office eVisa helpline is 0300 790 6268) or by chat. If the problem persists, a formal complaint to UKVI may be appropriate.
Employers can check your right to work using the Home Office online checking service by entering the share code you generate from your UKVI account. You generate a share code through your account at gov.uk. The share code is valid for 90 days. You can generate a new one whenever you need to.
Yes. You must report a lost or stolen BRP to the Home Office even though BRPs are now expired. . You can report it online through gov.uk. Once reported, the card cannot be used even if it turns up.
If your eVisa shows the wrong visa category, the wrong length of leave, or the wrong conditions, this may be a substantive error rather than a data entry mistake. In that case, the standard error reporting route may not be sufficient. You may need to request an administrative review of the decision, or in some cases, make representations through other formal channels. We advise on the correct approach.
This is a recognised issue that the Home Office has acknowledged during the eVisa rollout. You should contact the UKVI Resolution Centre using the online form or by telephone. If the issue is not resolved within a reasonable time, a formal complaint is the next step. We advise on how to manage this process.
There is no Home Office fee for reporting and correcting a technical error on an eVisa. If the correction requires a more formal process, such as an administrative review, a fee may apply depending on the type of application and the route taken.
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