All persons with BRPs/BRCs will need to apply for a UKVI account in 2024. The Home Office is anticipating that existing leave holders with a BRP and new applicants for leave will be able to create a UKVI account from April 2024. The Home Office further plans to replace BRP cards in full by early 2025.
You may be aware that UK Visas and Immigration (‘UKVI’) are developing a digital immigration system. This means that they plan to replace physical documents with an online record of an individual’s immigration status, known as an eVisa.
eVisas are currently available to a number of migrants, such as those on the EU Settlement Scheme. However, by early 2025 all those with limited leave or indefinite leave to remain in the UK, who hold physical documents in the form of BRP/BRC cards or visa vignettes will be switched to eVisas. Existing BRP holders will have to create an account in order to obtain digital status, this will not happen automatically. It is understood that the Home Office ‘will begin contacting customers directly via email where possible, and will utilise a range of additional communication channels to inform customers of the need to take action to create an account before their BRP cards expire at the end of 2024’.
The Home Office recently announced that all those with BRP and BRC cards will need to apply for a UKVI account in 2024. A specific deadline is yet to be confirmed.
BRP and BRC holders and others with current physical status do not need to do anything now, but the Home Office will provide further updates in 2024 as to when exactly in April 2024 they will need to register for the account (which will be free of charge).
We will provide further updates as soon as the Home Office publish further details.
For further information please contact our UK Immigration team, or your usual Withers contact, call +44 20 7597 6364 or email enquiries.uk@withersworldwide.com.
For further information, please contact:
Tracy Evlogidis, Partner, Withersworldwide
tracy.evlogidis@withersworldwide.com
