UK eVisas replace BRPs; vignettes end in 2026

Paper cards are on their way out. The Home Office is moving to a digital immigration status called an eVisa. On 11 November 2025, UK Visas and Immigration updated its guidance to set out the next steps, so here’s a simple walkthrough you can use in class or share with family.

An eVisa is a secure online record of who you are, what permission you have in the UK, and any conditions such as the right to work or study. You view it in your UKVI account and share a time‑limited code when an employer, landlord or university asks for proof. Because there is no plastic card, you avoid loss, theft or damage.

Here are the headline dates. From 15 July 2025, some main applicants for work and study visas began receiving eVisas rather than vignette stickers. From 30 October 2025, certain work, study and family routes, and settlement (indefinite leave to enter), may not get a vignette at all. UKVI also began, on 11 November 2025, inviting people who only received a vignette to set up an account so they can access an eVisa. Early in 2026 many visit visas will come with both an eVisa and a vignette; later in 2026 the vignette is due to be phased out.

If you already live in the UK with a biometric residence permit (BRP) or a biometric residence card (BRC), you do not need a new card. BRPs and BRCs have now been replaced by eVisas, and the Home Office stopped producing BRPs on 31 October 2024. What you need is access to your online record when asked to prove your status.

If you apply from outside the UK for permission to stay longer than six months, plan to use a UKVI account to access your eVisa. For short stays under six months, such as a standard visit, you do not need to create an account. Always follow the instructions sent with your decision.

Setting up your UKVI account is free. If you cannot use the identity app or you do not have a valid passport or your BRP has expired, you can confirm your identity another way. There is assisted digital support in the UK, and a trusted adult can manage a child’s account until they turn 18.

Before you travel, add the passport you will use to your UKVI account so border systems can match you to your eVisa. If you still hold an in‑date physical document, the Home Office has previously advised carrying it when you travel until it expires, while the system beds in. Keeping your passport details up to date helps avoid delays.

For scale, UKVI’s transparency data shows more than 4.5 million people had created accounts to access an eVisa by July 2025. The dataset was last updated on 21 August 2025 and will be refreshed periodically. That’s a useful snapshot for discussing digital public services in lessons.

Extra help is being funded. From 1 September 2025, up to £400,000 is available to 25 national and community organisations to support people who might struggle with the switch, running until 31 March 2026. Check local advice centres to see if they are part of this scheme.

What this means for you is straightforward: check whether you can access an eVisa, create or sign in to your UKVI account, and keep your passport details updated before you travel. If you want to stay on top of changes, you can sign up for email alerts on the official page.