TL;DR: Non-British and non-Irish nationals must establish what applicants need to do to confirm their UK immigration status, whether that means applying for a visa, obtaining an electronic travel authorisation (ETA), or accessing an eVisa. The correct route depends on nationality, purpose of travel, and current immigration status.
Introduction
Understanding what applicants need to do to prove lawful immigration status in the United Kingdom has become an increasingly important starting point for millions of non-British and non-Irish nationals. As the Home Office continues its transition away from physical immigration documents towards digital records, the guidance published on gov.uk sets out three distinct pathways: applying for a UK visa, obtaining an electronic travel authorisation, or accessing an eVisa. This consolidated guidance, updated as of 18 September 2026, is designed to help applicants, travellers and existing visa holders identify precisely which requirement applies to their situation before they travel or before their current documentation expires.
The guidance is not a single new rule but a signpost covering multiple, interconnected immigration processes that now sit alongside one another. For anyone uncertain about their status, working through what applicants need to do at the outset avoids the risk of travel disruption, refused entry, or difficulties evidencing the right to work, rent or access services in the UK.
What Is ‘What applicants need to Do’ for UK Immigration Status?
‘What applicants need to do’ refers to Home Office guidance directing non-British and non-Irish nationals to determine which immigration product applies to them: a UK visa, an electronic travel authorisation (ETA), or an eVisa. It functions as a triage tool, helping individuals establish whether they require pre-travel permission, digital proof of existing status, or a new application altogether, based on their nationality and circumstances.## The Three Pathways Explained### UK VisasA UK visa remains the primary route for individuals from visa-national countries, or those seeking to enter for purposes requiring prior permission, such as work, study, family reunion or long-term residence. Applicants falling outside the ETA scheme, or seeking to stay longer than a standard visit, are generally required to apply for the relevant visa category before travel. According to the updated guidance, the type of visa required depends on the purpose and length of the intended stay, with separate routes for Skilled Worker sponsorship, family visas, student visas and visit visas.### Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA)The ETA scheme applies to non-visa nationals who do not otherwise need a visa for short visits to the UK. Introduced in phases, the ETA is a digital permission granted in advance of travel and is now a mandatory requirement for a growing list of nationalities.> According to the Home Office, travellers requiring an ETA must obtain it before boarding transport to the UK, even for short visits or transit.Failure to secure an ETA where required can result in denied boarding or refused entry at the UK border.### eVisasFor individuals who already hold immigration status in the UK, such as those with a biometric residence permit (BRP), biometric residence card (BRC), or vignette sticker, the eVisa represents the shift towards fully digital proof of status. The Home Office has been phasing out physical documents, meaning affected individuals must access their eVisa through a UKVI account to demonstrate their right to work, rent, or receive services.## Why Does This Change Matter?The move to categorise immigration status checks into these three distinct products reflects the Home Office’s broader digitisation strategy. Historically, individuals relied on physical documents such as visa vignettes or biometric cards as proof of status. These are being phased out in favour of online records accessible via a UKVI account.This matters because individuals who fail to establish what applicants need to do in their specific case risk being unable to prove their right to work, rent property, or access NHS services. Employers and landlords conducting right-to-work or right-to-rent checks increasingly rely on the online checking service rather than physical documents, making it essential for affected individuals to hold up-to-date, accessible digital records.> The guidance states that individuals without a physical document, such as those who arrived after 2000, may need to prove their immigration status using an eVisa rather than any paper-based alternative.## Implications for Sponsors and EmployersEmployers holding a sponsor licence, along with landlords and other checking bodies, face growing reliance on digital verification tools as physical documents are withdrawn. Sponsors conducting right-to-work checks are expected to use the Home Office’s online checking service to confirm a prospective or existing employee’s immigration status, rather than accepting expired physical documents at face value.Sponsors should be aware that sponsored workers transitioning from a BRP to an eVisa must maintain access to their UKVI account, as delays or errors in this process could affect compliance checks during a Home Office audit. Employers are also expected to remain alert to ETA requirements affecting short-term business visitors from non-visa national countries, since incorrect assumptions about travel permissions could disrupt business travel arrangements or sponsored worker family visits.## Implications for Affected IndividualsFor individuals navigating what applicants need to do, the practical consequence is a requirement to actively check status well ahead of travel or renewal deadlines. Those transitioning from physical documents to eVisas are expected to create a UKVI account and verify that their digital record accurately reflects their immigration permission. Non-visa nationals travelling to the UK are required to check whether an ETA applies to their nationality before booking travel, as carriers may deny boarding without one.## Frequently Asked Questions**Q: How can someone check what type of UK immigration document they need?**A: Individuals are advised to use the official gov.uk tool, which asks about nationality and purpose of travel to determine whether a visa, ETA, or eVisa applies.**Q: Is an ETA the same as a visa?**A: No. An ETA is a lighter-touch digital travel authorisation for non-visa nationals making short visits, whereas a visa involves a more detailed application process typically required for longer stays or specific purposes such as work or study.**Q: What happens to biometric residence permits under the eVisa system?**A: Biometric residence permits are being phased out as proof of status. Holders are expected to access an eVisa through a UKVI account, which then serves as the primary evidence of their immigration status.**Q: Do British and Irish citizens need to take any action under this guidance?**A: No. The guidance applies specifically to non-British and non-Irish nationals; British and Irish citizens are not required to hold a visa, ETA or eVisa to enter or remain in the UK.**Q: What happens if a traveller arrives without the correct ETA or visa?**A: Travellers without the required ETA or visa may be denied boarding by carriers or refused entry at the UK border, in line with Home Office enforcement of these requirements.## Key Takeaways- Non-British and non-Irish nationals must determine whether a UK visa, ETA, or eVisa applies to their circumstances before travelling.- UK visas remain necessary for longer stays or specific purposes such as work, study or family reunion.- ETAs are mandatory for a growing number of non-visa nationals making short visits to the UK.- eVisas are replacing physical documents such as biometric residence permits as the standard method of proving immigration status.- Sponsors and employers are expected to rely on the Home Office’s online checking service rather than physical documents for right-to-work verification.## ConclusionThe guidance on what applicants need to do reflects the ongoing shift in UK immigration administration towards digital verification and pre-travel authorisation. Non-British and non-Irish nationals are required to establish which of the three pathways, visa, ETA or eVisa, applies to their situation, while sponsors and employers must adapt compliance practices to rely on digital checking tools. As physical documents continue to be phased out, accurate and timely action on immigration status checks remains central to lawful travel, work and residence in the UK.