eVisas and help
From January 2025, the British Government is switching to a fully digital immigration system. This means that most migrants in the UK, including people with status under the Ukraine schemes, will need an online record of their immigration status called an eVisa.
The eVisa will replace your physical immigration document, such as your biometric residence permit (BRP) or biometric residence card (BRC). Once you have access to your eVisa online, you can use this to view and prove your immigration status.
How do I apply for an eVisa?
You will need to create a UKVI account on the government website to apply for, and access your eVisa. The process is free. You can get your eVisa through the government website now, if you have a biometrics residence permit (BRP) or a Frontier Worker permit.
For more detailed information on the eVisas application process and getting help with making an application, see our eVisas guide.
What will happen to my BRP in 2025?
Your BRP is only valid until 31 December 2024. After this date, you will no longer be able to use it to prove your immigration status in the UK or travel internationally.
Your BRP is not your permission to stay in the UK. It is only physical evidence of your immigration status. You should check when your permission to stay expires by reading your decision letter. Once you have been granted an eVisa, you can also check the expiry date online.
My immigration status is showing incorrectly on my eVisa, what should I do?
We have seen multiple cases where the immigration status someone has is shown incorrectly on their eVisa. In particular, many people with Ukraine Scheme status are seeing “Humanitarian Protection” instead.
At the moment, we are unaware of a way to resolve this issue. We recommend that you continue to monitor the status shown on your eVisa and report the error to the Home Office. We will provide an update once we become aware of a way of resolving the issue.
Where can I find free immigration advice?
We may be able to provide you with free immigration advice at the Work Rights Centre. You can request our help here.
You can also find an immigration adviser on the OISC adviser finder tool. Select the level of advice required (we recommend OISC Level 2 or above) and the location. You can filter the search to view Not Fee Charging (free) advisers only.
You can find out private and legal aid solicitors specialising in immigration and asylum law in your area on the Law Society's search engine.
You should apply for an eVisa no later than 31 December 2024. Otherwise, you may struggle to prove that you are legally entitled to work and rent, or prove your right to be in the UK.