The UK announced on Wednesday a grace period that will last until March 2025. During this time, physical documentation no longer valid for international travel will be accepted as visa holders transition to a fully online eVisa.
As part a Home Office campaign, all visa-holders, including many Indians who have a physical biometric visa residence permit (BRP), or a passport with a visa-vignette sticker, or an ink stamp, confirming their “indefinite entry/remain” rights in the country or a biometric residence card, had until the end December to switch to eVisa.
Home Office claims that over 3.1 millions people have already switched to an eVisa. However, it is believed that several others have not been able to meet the deadline for the year’s end due to technical issues.
Seema Malhotra is the UK Minister of Migration and Citizenship. She said:
“For those still unsure about switching to an eVisa there are many resources and guidance available.”
“I have listened to feedback from stakeholders, MPs and visa holders and we are constantly streamlining and adapting in order to ensure that this is a seamless transition.” As part of this, I’m pleased to confirm greater flexibilty on carriers accepting expired documentation to smooth the transition for travellers who travel internationally without compromising security at borders,” she said.
The majority of BRPs will expire by the end of the year. They are being automatically converted to online in phases. To access them, you must create and log into an online account with UK Visas and Immigration.
As a “fallback”, airlines and other carriers can accept BRPs or BRCs that expire on December 31, 2024 or later, as proof of permission to travel into the UK. This will be valid until March 31, next year. The Home Office stated that this date would be kept “under consideration” and passengers would still be subject to the usual immigration requirements and checks.
The Home Office announced that “anyone who attempts to enter the UK and whose immigration status is expired will be refused entry.”
This week, it issued another appeal for paper visa holders who wish to access the eVisa Network through the GOV.UK system online and make the switch.
Anyone with indefinite stay who uses an ink-stamped or vignette on a passport to prove rights can continue using their documents for an additional three months. They are encouraged to submit a “No Time Limit Application” to access an eVisa.
“It is easy and convenient to switch to an electronic visa. An eVisa can’t be lost, stolen, or tampered, and visa holders can instantly and securely prove immigration rights.
The Home Office stated:
“Switching won’t impact, change or remove someone’s current immigration status or rights.”
It flagged up a series support measures for anyone experiencing any issues during this transition period, such as a 24/7 chatbot or helplines.
The Home Office plans to implement digital services in phases so that, by 2025, most people will be able to have a “secure digital journey” with the UK immigration system.
It is hoped that with an eVisa fewer people will have to leave their passports at the Home Office in order to await a decision regarding their immigration status. eVisas mean that migrants don’t need to travel to collect documents such as BRPs, or wait to receive these documents. This saves them money on renewal fees.
The Home Office started the process with an email sent to holders of physical immigration documentation, known as biometric residency permits (BRPs), in which they invited them to open a UK Visas and Immigration Account (UKVI) to access their eVisa. This phased approach is gradually being extended to all BRP holders until summer 2024.
The process was launched in April of this year by the previous Conservative government. BRP holders were emailed with instructions on creating a UKVI Account to access their eVisa.
The Labour government has implemented it after being warned by digital rights experts about potential discrimination towards those who are unable to prove British residency rights due to glitches with the roll-out of the eVisa.
The government has dismissed these concerns and stressed that a three-month transition period until March 2025 will help to address any small number visa holders who may be affected.
British passport holders, Irish citizens and those who held an immigration status previously but have since acquired British nationality are not affected.
