UK eVisa Goes Fully Digital in 2026

The UK's Full Transition to eVisas

The UK has fully transitioned to a digital border system, replacing physical biometric immigration documents—including Biometric Residence Permits (BRPs) and Biometric Residence Cards (BRCs) with eVisas. This shift to a paperless, digital immigration status is now complete for existing holders, with BRPs having expired on 31 December 2024 and physical visa vignettes (stickers) phased out for new grants, particularly from February 2026 onward.

What Were Biometric Residence Permits (BRPs)?

Non-EU nationals residing in the UK, such as students, workers, and their dependents previously held Biometric Residence Permits (BRPs) as proof of immigration status. These cards contained a chip for verification and stored biometric data like fingerprints and photos.

The New Digital eVisa System

The new system eliminates physical cards entirely, relying on digital records linked to collected biometrics. All BRPs have now expired and been replaced by eVisas, which serve as the digital proof of identity and immigration status.

Since August 2024, BRP holders no longer needed to wait for a Home Office invitation to create a UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account. As of 2026, anyone with prior permission (even if their BRP expired on 31 December 2024) should have created a UKVI account to access their eVisa at www.gov.uk/evisa. Expired BRPs could be used to set up the account for up to 18 months post-expiry (until around June/July 2026 in transitional cases), but the focus is now fully on digital access.

According to the UK government, eVisas provide key advantages, including enhanced security (no physical document to lose or tamper with), real-time accessibility from anywhere, easier updates to personal data, and secure linkage to unique biometrics for fraud prevention similar to the old BRP system but without the physical element.

Creating a UKVI account to access an eVisa remains free and does not change, impact, or remove one’s current immigration status or rights in the UK.

Hire Global Talent in the UK with Confidence

As a result of the eVisa rollout, physical BRPs and BRCs have been fully phased out. Most new visa grants (including many work, study, family, visit, and settlement routes) now issue only an eVisa, with physical visa stickers discontinued for categories like visitor visas from late February 2026 onward. Later in 2026, the UKVI aims to stop issuing stickers entirely for all successful applicants.

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