eVisa and the UKVI account: how to prove your immigration status online

An eVisa is an online record of your immigration status in the UK. It is replacing paper and plastic documents: your status is held online, in your UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account. Access to that account is the key to everything — it is how you view your status and show it to others.

Where to start

First create a UKVI account and finish setting it up — the eVisa will not open until you do. To sign in you need one of: a passport, a national identity card, a biometric residence card (valid or expired), an expired BRP, or your UKVI customer number. You also need access to the phone number or email linked to the account.

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How to view and prove your status

Signing in to the "View and prove your immigration status" service, you see your identity and status — including your rights to work, rent and claim benefits. To show your status to an employer, landlord or border official, you generate a share code and give it with your date of birth. No one needs to see the eVisa itself: the code shows the checker only what is appropriate.

How long does a code last?

A share code lasts 90 days and can be used as many times as you need within that period. When it expires, simply create a new one. Before you share your status, update your account if your name or nationality has changed, or if your photo no longer lets you be recognised.

What not to miss

Keep access to your UKVI account and the linked phone and email — without them you cannot show your status quickly when it is needed. If your eVisa shows wrong information or you cannot create a share code, report it through the official support channels. Do not pay a middleman to "set up access": creating an account and viewing your status are free. Always check the current process on GOV.UK.