TL;DR: The UK Home Office has replaced the physical Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) with a fully digital UK eVisa for Skilled Worker and other visa holders. Affected individuals must create a UKVI account to access their immigration status, generate right-to-work share codes, and manage travel — all via a smartphone or computer.
The UK eVisa: A Fundamental Shift in How Immigration Status Is Proved
The UK Home Office has completed one of the most significant operational changes in modern immigration history: the abolition of the physical Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) card and its replacement with the UK eVisa — a fully digital record of a person’s immigration permission. For Skilled Worker visa holders, this transition fundamentally changes how immigration status is stored, accessed, and shared with third parties such as employers, landlords, and border officials.
The UK eVisa BRP replacement means that, from 1 January 2025, BRP cards are no longer issued as evidence of immigration status. Individuals who previously held a BRP — including those on Skilled Worker, Health and Care Worker, and a broad range of other sponsored routes — now hold their immigration permission digitally, accessible exclusively through a UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) online account.
This article provides a comprehensive technical reference for Skilled Worker visa holders, their sponsors, and employers navigating the new digital immigration landscape. It covers UKVI account creation, identity verification, right-to-work share codes, travel implications, and how to access eVisa status on a mobile device.
What Is the UK eVisa BRP Replacement?
The UK eVisa is a digital record issued by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) that confirms a person’s immigration status and the conditions attached to their leave to remain in the United Kingdom. It replaces the physical Biometric Residence Permit card that was previously issued to most non-EEA nationals granted permission to work, study, or reside in the UK. Rather than carrying a physical card, visa holders access their status online through a UKVI account, and share it electronically with employers, landlords, and border agencies using a unique share code.
How Does the UKVI Account Setup Work?
Creating a UKVI Online Account
To access the UK eVisa, Skilled Worker visa holders must first create or link a UKVI online account at the official UK Visas and Immigration portal. According to the Home Office guidance at gov.uk/evisa, individuals who applied for a visa or leave to remain on or after 1 January 2021 may already have a UKVI account created as part of their application process. Those who applied earlier, particularly those who received a BRP card, are required to create or link an account separately.
The account creation process requires:
- A valid email address and a chosen password
- Personal details matching the visa application record (full name, date of birth, nationality)
- The BRP card number or Application Reference Number (if applicable) to link existing immigration status to the new account
Identity Verification During Account Setup
A critical component of the UKVI account setup is identity verification. The Home Office requires individuals to verify their identity using one of the following methods:
- The UK Visas and Immigration: ID Check app — available on iOS and Android, this app allows individuals to scan the chip of a biometric travel document (such as a passport) using their smartphone’s NFC function and take a facial photograph for matching.
- Online identity verification — for those without an NFC-enabled device, an alternative online route using document images and selfie verification may be available depending on nationality and document type.
Key point: Identity verification must be completed before the UKVI account is fully active and the eVisa status can be viewed or shared. Individuals who encounter difficulties with the ID Check app should contact the UKVI resolution centre.
Once verified, the account holder can view their immigration status, the conditions of their leave (including permitted work activities), and the expiry date of their permission — information previously printed on the physical BRP card.
Right-to-Work Share Codes: How Employers Verify eVisa Status
What Is a Right-to-Work Share Code?
Under the digital eVisa system, Skilled Worker visa holders no longer present a physical BRP card to prove their right to work. Instead, a right-to-work share code is generated through the UKVI online account. This six-character alphanumeric code, combined with the individual’s date of birth, allows an employer to conduct an online right-to-work check via the Home Office Employer Checking Service.
Generating a Share Code
To generate a right-to-work share code, the account holder logs into their UKVI online account and selects the option to ‘share the applicant’s status.’ The system then produces a unique share code that:
- Is valid for 30 days from the date of generation
- Can be used only once by a single organisation (a new code must be generated for each employer check)
- Displays the holder’s current immigration status, visa expiry date, and conditions of leave — including confirmation of the right to work and any restrictions on working hours or occupation type
Employer obligation: According to Home Office guidance, employers conducting online right-to-work checks using a valid share code obtain a statutory excuse against a civil penalty if the individual is later found to be working illegally, provided the check was conducted correctly and records were retained.
Share Codes for Landlords and Other Purposes
The share code mechanism extends beyond employment checks. UKVI accounts allow individuals to generate separate share codes for right-to-rent verification (for landlords) and other status-sharing scenarios. Each purpose generates a distinct code, keeping employment and tenancy verification separate.
Travel Implications: Using an eVisa at the UK Border
How Does the eVisa Work at Border Control?
One of the most practically significant aspects of the UK eVisa BRP replacement concerns international travel. The eVisa is linked to the individual’s biometric passport (or other travel document). When a Skilled Worker visa holder travels to the UK, border systems operated by Border Force and partner airlines automatically check the eVisa linked to the passport being used at the point of entry.
This means:
- The physical BRP card is no longer required — or valid — as a travel document
- The travel document (passport) presented at the border must be the same document linked to the UKVI account and eVisa
- If a new passport is issued after the eVisa is created, the UKVI account must be updated to link the new travel document before travel
Critical travel rule: Travelling on a passport not linked to the UKVI account may result in difficulties at the border. The Home Office advises that travellers update their UKVI account whenever a new passport is issued.
Viewing eVisa Status on a Smartphone
For convenience at borders or when asked to demonstrate status, Skilled Worker visa holders can access their eVisa status directly from a smartphone via the UKVI account web portal or the UKVI app. The status page displays the visa type, expiry date, and conditions of leave in a clear, readable format that can be shown to airlines during pre-departure checks and to border officials if required.
Some airlines conduct advance passenger checks and may request confirmation of valid UK leave before boarding. Carriers can verify eVisa status through carrier liaison systems linked to the Home Office database, reducing reliance on the individual presenting documentation manually.
Implications for Sponsors and Employers
UK employers holding a Sponsor Licence for Skilled Workers face direct compliance implications from the eVisa transition. The Home Office’s shift to digital status means that retaining a photocopy of a BRP card is no longer a valid right-to-work check for new employees. Employers must conduct online checks using the share code system for all individuals whose right to work is evidenced by an eVisa.
Sponsors should ensure their HR teams and compliance leads are trained on:
- How to conduct an online right-to-work check using a share code and date of birth
- Record-keeping obligations — a screenshot or printout of the online check result must be retained
- How to handle expiring leave-to-remain and trigger follow-up checks in line with their sponsor duties
Sponsors who fail to conduct compliant right-to-work checks risk civil penalties of up to £60,000 per illegal worker and potential suspension or revocation of their Sponsor Licence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What happens to an existing BRP card after the eVisa transition? A: BRP cards with an expiry date of 31 December 2024 were issued as a transitional measure even where the holder’s leave extended beyond that date. From 1 January 2025, BRP cards are no longer valid as evidence of immigration status. The eVisa, accessed through a UKVI account, is the sole evidence of permission to live and work in the UK.
Q: How does a Skilled Worker visa holder generate a right-to-work share code? A: The share code is generated by logging into the UKVI online account at gov.uk/view-prove-immigration-status and selecting ‘share the applicant’s status.’ The resulting six-character code, shared alongside the individual’s date of birth, allows an employer to verify the right to work via the Home Office online checking service.
Q: What should a Skilled Worker visa holder do if they get a new passport? A: The new passport must be linked to the existing UKVI account before international travel. This is done through the UKVI account settings. Failure to link the new travel document may cause complications at border control, as the eVisa is tied to the biometric data of the travel document on file.
Q: Can eVisa status be accessed without an internet connection at the border? A: The eVisa is a digital-only record requiring internet access to display via the UKVI account. However, Border Force and airline systems check eVisa status automatically against the passport presented, meaning the individual does not typically need to display their phone at a UK e-gate. Individuals may wish to take screenshots of their status page as a precaution when travelling to areas with limited connectivity.
Q: Is a UK eVisa valid for re-entry to the UK without a vignette sticker? A: Yes. For most Skilled Worker visa holders already in the UK whose eVisa is linked to their passport, re-entry is facilitated digitally. However, individuals travelling from certain countries or returning from extended absences should verify entry clearance requirements with the Home Office or the relevant British mission abroad prior to travel.
Key Takeaways
- The UK eVisa has replaced the physical BRP card as the sole evidence of immigration status for Skilled Worker and other visa holders from 1 January 2025.
- Affected individuals must create or link a UKVI online account and complete identity verification using the UKVI ID Check app or an alternative online method.
- Right-to-work verification is now conducted digitally: the visa holder generates a share code through their UKVI account, and the employer verifies it via the Home Office online checking service.
- The eVisa is linked to the individual’s travel document; a new passport must be linked to the UKVI account before international travel to avoid border complications.
- Employers and sponsors must update right-to-work checking procedures to use the online share code system — retaining BRP card photocopies is no longer a compliant practice.
Conclusion
The UK eVisa BRP replacement marks a permanent structural change to how immigration status is held, proved, and shared in the United Kingdom. For Skilled Worker visa holders, the transition requires proactive action: creating a UKVI account, completing identity verification, and understanding how to generate share codes for employers and manage travel documentation. Sponsors and employers face parallel compliance obligations, replacing physical document checks with a robust online verification process. As the Home Office continues to develop and refine the eVisa infrastructure, staying informed through official guidance at gov.uk/evisa remains essential for all those affected by this landmark digital transition.