Digital-only immigration status for everyone after 2024
There are many types of physical proof of UK immigration status still in circulation, including for example:
- EUSS Biometric residence cards (BRCs) for non-EU citizens who have (pre-)settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme
- Biometric residence permits (BRPs) for non-EU citizens with a different UK immigration status (i.e. something different to the EU Settlement Scheme). This covers many routes, for example those with leave to remain as skilled worker status, refugee status, and family member status, or those with indefinite leave to remain. It also covers the following which may apply to citizens who may otherwise have applied to the EU Settlement Scheme:
- Documents issued under the Windrush Scheme for long-resident EU citizens who did not want to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme
- No Time Limit (NTL) applications if you had indefinite leave to enter/remain but did not have a document to prove it.
- Stamps or vignettes (stickers) in passports
- EEA residence cards or permanent residence cards, in the form of blue booklets, or vignettes (stickers) in passports. These are no longer valid since the UK left the EU, and holders of such cards should get legal advice and make an application to the EU Settlement Scheme
All these forms of physical proof will cease to be valid after 31 December 2024
BRCs and BRPs will usually have an expiry date of 31 December 2024, even if the underlying permission to live in the UK extends beyond 2024.
The UK Government is moving to everyone having a digital-only status, in the form of an eVisa and a UKVI account. People with status under the EU Settlement Scheme already have a UKVI account, and EEA/Swiss citizens with status under the EU Settlement Scheme were already given a digital-only status.
This Gov.UK webpage has some more information about the transition to eVisas, and will be updated throughout 2024 with instructions on what people should do to register for a UKVI account and be able to see their eVisa.
Travel changes
From 2025, when people will no longer have physical proof of their UK immigration status, travel arrangements will change.
When people check in for a flight, train or boat journey back to the UK, automated systems will check their passport (or national identity card) and confirm that they have permission to travel to the UK. This is called “Permission to travel”:
- All British and Irish citizens will automatically have permission to travel to the UK
- People who already have permission to live in the UK will need to have a UKVI account, and make sure their eVisa is linked to their passport (or national identity card)
- Visitors who are visa nationals will still need a visa to enter the UK. This visa will also be digital and linked to their passport
- Visitors who are not visa nationals will need to have applied for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), which again will be digital and linked to their passport.
This is why it is crucial that people update their eVisas with any renewals of their passport (or national identity card).
At the3million, we have concerns about this system working at all times, for everyone. We submitted a report to the Independent Monitoring Authority in which we highlighted problems already faced by people with digital-only status. The report, in Chapter 5, warns of likely increased problems from 2024.
If you, or anyone you know, is affected by any of these changes, please report it to us via our Report-It! tool.
