How to Create a UKVI Account and Link Your eVisa: A Simple 2026 Step-by-Step Guide

Burcu Köroğlu
Aug 13
5 min read

If your UK visa has just been granted - or you're getting ready - you'll need a UKVI account to see and prove your immigration status online. The old physical documents (like the biometric residence permit, or BRP) have been replaced by an eVisa: a secure digital record of your status that lives inside your UKVI account.

This guide walks you through the whole thing in plain English. It's free, it's done online, and most people finish in about 20 minutes.

What is an eVisa (and why you need a UKVI account)

An eVisa is your immigration status stored digitally by the Home Office. There's no card and no sticker in your passport - instead, your status is linked to your identity and viewed through your online UKVI account.

Your UKVI account is the login that lets you:

view your eVisa and immigration status,
keep your passport and contact details up to date, and
generate a share code to prove your status to employers, landlords, banks, or when you travel.

You only create the account once. After that, you just sign in whenever you need it.

Before you start: what you'll need

Have these ready and the process goes smoothly:

A smartphone (yours or one you can borrow) to verify your identity with an app.
A personal email address you'll keep for years - not a work or university email you might lose access to.
A mobile phone number.
One identity document, one of the following:
- a valid passport, plus your visa application number (your GWF or UAN reference), or
- a valid passport plus your BRP number, or
- your BRP card, even if expired (expired BRPs can still be used to set up your account until 31 December 2026).

Tip: If you have the choice, use your passport to create the account. It makes future travel and updates easier because your status is linked to a document you'll keep using.

Step 1 - Go to the official GOV.UK page

Open https://www.gov.uk/get-access-evisa and select the option to create a UKVI account.

Always start from GOV.UK. It's completely free - you never need to pay anyone to create a UKVI account or access your eVisa. Ignore any third-party site that asks for a fee.

Step 2 - Enter your email and phone number

You'll be asked for an email address and a mobile number. These become your sign-in details, so choose carefully:

Use a personal email you'll still have in several years.
The Home Office will send a security code to confirm each one - enter the code to verify.

Save your sign-in email and phone number somewhere safe. You'll need both every single time you log in.

Step 3 - Enter your identity document details

Tell the system which document you're using and type in the details:

Passport → enter your passport number and your visa reference (GWF/UAN) or BRP number, or
BRP card → enter the BRP number.

This is how the system finds your record and connects it to you.

Step 4 - Verify your identity with the ID Check app

Download the free "UK Immigration: ID Check" app from the App Store (iPhone) or Google Play (Android). In the app you'll:

Scan your document (passport or BRP) - hold it flat and let the phone read the chip.
Take a photo of your face when prompted.

The app matches your face to your document to confirm it's really you.

No smartphone or trouble scanning? You can enter your document details manually, or use someone else's phone for just the scanning step. There's also a webchat and help videos on GOV.UK if you get stuck.

Step 5 - Finish creating the account and link your eVisa

Once your identity is confirmed, complete the sign-up. Your account is then linked to your eVisa - meaning your digital status is tied to the document and identity you just verified.

Important: You can't view your eVisa until it's linked to your UKVI account. In most cases linking happens automatically as you finish Step 5. If it doesn't, sign in and follow the prompt on your account dashboard to complete the link.

Step 6 - Sign in and check your eVisa

Go back to https://www.gov.uk/get-access-evisa (choose sign in) and log in with your email and phone number. You'll receive a security code each time to keep the account safe.

Check that your eVisa shows:

the correct type of permission (for example, your visa route),
the right conditions (such as the right to work or study), and
your personal details spelled correctly.

If your visa was only just granted, your eVisa usually appears within a few days of the decision email. Occasionally it can take longer, so don't worry if it's not instant - check back after a couple of days before contacting the Home Office.

After your visa is granted: keep your account current

Your eVisa is linked to your identity, but you should always keep your details fresh:

Add a new passport the day you renew it. When you get a new passport, log in and update it straight away so travel and status checks stay smooth.
Update your email or phone if they change, so you never lose access.

How to prove your status: share codes

When an employer, landlord, or bank needs to check your status, you don't hand over a card - you give them a share code:

Sign in to your UKVI account.
Choose the option to prove your status (right to work, right to rent, or "something else").
Generate a share code and share it, along with your date of birth.

A share code is valid for 90 days, and you can create as many as you need. When you travel, airlines and carriers can also see your status through your linked passport, so keep that passport up to date.

Quick checklist

Personal email + mobile number ready
Passport and/or BRP to hand, with your GWF/UAN or BRP number
"UK Immigration: ID Check" app installed
Account created at gov.uk/get-access-evisa
Identity verified (document scanned + face photo)
eVisa linked and visible when you sign in
Sign-in email and phone saved somewhere safe

Frequently asked questions

Is creating a UKVI account free? Yes. It's completely free through GOV.UK.

Do I still need my BRP card? Your BRP is being replaced by the eVisa. You can still use an expired BRP to set up your account until 31 December 2026, but your status now lives online.

What if the app won't scan my document? You can enter details manually or borrow a smartphone for the scan step. GOV.UK also has a webchat and step-by-step videos.

How long after my visa is granted will the eVisa appear? Usually within a few days of your decision email. Give it a couple of days before raising a query.

I have an old email on file that I can't access anymore - what do I do? Use the "recover account" or update-your-details options on GOV.UK, or contact UKVI support to regain access before you're locked out.

This guide reflects the UK eVisa process as of 2026. Immigration rules can change, so for anything specific to your case, always check the latest official guidance at gov.uk/get-access-evisa or book this meeting with us.