The UK’s move to a digital immigration system has changed how many people prove their status. Physical documents such as BRPs are no longer the centre of the system. Instead, UK Visas and Immigration is replacing many physical documents with a digital record called an eVisa. In March 2026, GOV.UK again confirmed that the UK is moving to a digital immigration system in phases, and that an eVisa is a digital record of a person’s identity and immigration status.
For many migrants, this is not just a technical update. It affects travel, right-to-work checks, right-to-rent checks, and day-to-day confidence in proving lawful status. If a person has not yet set up access to their eVisa or linked the correct travel document to their UKVI account, they may face avoidable problems with employers, landlords, carriers, or re-entry to the UK.
What is an eVisa?
An eVisa is an online record of immigration status. Instead of relying only on a physical permit, the person signs into their UKVI account and can use the relevant online service to view and prove status. GOV.UK is clear that getting an eVisa does not change the person’s immigration status; it changes how that status is evidenced.
That distinction is reassuring for many clients. People sometimes panic when they hear that BRPs are being replaced, as though their underlying leave has disappeared. It has not. The legal permission stays the same. What changes is the proof mechanism, and that proof is increasingly digital.
Why this matters in 2026
This is still very live. UKVI’s February 2026 methodology note estimated that, at the end of January 2026, about 200,000 people who had an immigration status at the end of 2024 still needed to create a UKVI account. The note says most of these people were individuals whose BRP expired at the end of 2024.
That figure shows two things. First, the system transition is well underway. Second, a significant number of people may still be at risk of practical disruption if they delay. Even where someone remains lawfully in the UK, not being able to access or prove that status easily can create major stress. Employers and landlords do not just need reassurance — they need the correct digital proof.
What if you still have an old document?
Some people still hold older forms of proof, especially those with settlement evidenced by wet-ink stamps or old vignettes. GOV.UK says that a person with physical proof of settlement can choose to obtain an eVisa through a free No Time Limit application. It also says that getting an eVisa will not change the person’s status, and that they may still be able to use the physical document.
For others, especially former BRP holders, the practical message is different: if you still have outstanding immigration permission, you generally need to register for a UKVI account and access your eVisa. Guidance published in March 2026 states that the replacement BRP and BRC service has closed, and people with extant immigration permission must register for a UKVI account to obtain an eVisa as evidence of their status.
Lost, stolen, or damaged BRP cards
This is one area where many people are still working from old assumptions. In the past, the obvious step after losing a BRP was to apply for a replacement BRP. The current guidance now says the replacement BRP and BRC service has closed, and those who still have immigration permission must register for a UKVI account to obtain an eVisa instead.
That is a major practical shift. People should still report a lost or stolen card where required, but the long-term solution is no longer a fresh physical card in the old sense. The focus is now on digital access, account recovery, and making sure the correct identity document is linked to the person’s UKVI account.
Travel and account details matter
GOV.UK advises people to link the travel document they will use to come to the UK to their UKVI account. This is crucial. A person may have valid immigration status, but if the account is linked to an old passport and they travel on a new one without updating details, problems can arise during boarding or entry checks.
This is one of the most common areas where legal advice is useful. The issue is not always the legal entitlement itself. Often it is the mismatch between the immigration record and the practical identity evidence being used in real life. Digital status works well when records are accurate. It becomes stressful when passport numbers, names, or sign-in details are outdated.
What should migrants do now?
The first step is to confirm whether you already have a UKVI account and can sign in. The second is to check that your current passport or travel document is properly linked. The third is to test the system before you urgently need it — for example before travel, a job start date, a tenancy application, or a citizenship-related process where you may need a share code. GOV.UK’s Life in the UK guidance even notes that eVisa holders should use a share code when booking the test.
The digital immigration system is now a central part of UK immigration compliance. People who act early usually find the transition manageable. People who wait until a flight, job offer, or landlord check often discover the problem at the worst possible moment.