Using your UK Visas and Immigration account
Information on using your UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account to prove your rights in the UK and keep your details up to date.
You can use your UKVI account to sign in to services which allow you to:
- view and prove your online immigration status (also known as an eVisa)
- keep your details up to date
Your UKVI account
You have a UKVI account if you:
- applied to the EU Settlement Scheme
- applied for a visa and used the UK Immigration: ID Check app
- created one when applying for a visa (you’ll have received a UKVI account confirmation email)
- created one to get access to an eVisa (an online record of your immigration status)
You do not have a UKVI account if you went to a Visa Application Centre (VAC) or Service Support Centre (SSC) to prove your identity when applying for a visa.
Children
A parent or guardian can create a UKVI account for a child. To create a UKVI account for a child, the parent or guardian will need the child’s identity document and date of birth. The adult can use their own contact details, such as their phone number and email address.
When the child is able to manage their UKVI account themselves, or where they reach 18 years of age, the child’s account can be transferred to them. The adult or child can do this by updating the phone number and email address using the update your UK Visa and Immigration account details service.
View and prove your immigration status
You can sign in to the online View and Prove service using your UKVI account details.
Use this service to view your eVisa and check what rights you have in the UK, for example your right to work or claim benefits.
You can also use this service to prove your status to others, such as employers, landlords or education providers, by generating a ‘share code’ which gives them time-limited access to relevant data.
You’ll need to provide this share code, along with your date of birth, to the person who needs to check your information.
Where we provide automatic access to your immigration status
Some government departments and public authorities can automatically access your immigration status information. Currently, this includes the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), Student Loans Company, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), Social Security Scotland, NHS England, NHS Wales and councils using NRPF Connect, a secure web-based database that local authorities can subscribe to use.
You do not need to share your status to be able to access these services. Departments will confirm your identity and then access the information directly.
If the organisation does need to see your status, they’ll inform you and you’ll be able to use the View and Prove service to share your immigration status information with them.
Updating your details
Tell us if your travel document or personal details change.
It’s important that you keep your personal details on your UKVI account up to date so you can continue to access your account, and to avoid any unnecessary delays at the UK border.
You can update your details through the ‘update your UK Visas and Immigration account details’ service or by using the ‘update details’ function in the View and Prove service.
You’ll need to update your details if there are changes to:
- your ID document, passport or travel document
- your account sign in details (email address and phone number)
- your name or nationality
- your home or postal address
Once you’ve updated your details, you’ll need to use your new details to access your account.
You can also use the ‘update details’ service to tell us about a change to your address or contact details (if these are different to your sign in details).
Crossing the UK border
If you have a UKVI account, we’ll digitally check your information on arrival. You will not usually need to prove your status when crossing the border.
If you have an eVisa
Sign in to your UKVI account to check that your eVisa is linked to your current passport or travel document. You’ll still need to carry your current passport or travel document with you.
You should also get a share code to prove your immigration status before you travel. Your carrier may ask for it. A share code is valid for 90 days.
If your BRC issued through the EU Settlement Scheme or BRP expires on or after 31 December 2024
You may be able to use your expired document to travel to the UK until 31 March 2025, where you continue to have permission to stay in the UK. You should carry it with you - your carrier may ask to see it.
You should also:
- set up access to your online immigration status (eVisa) (online proof of your immigration status)
- get a share code to prove your immigration status - a share code is valid for 90 days
Make sure the document you travel on is registered to your UKVI account. Update your details if you plan to travel on a different document (for example a new passport).
When you tell us of a new document your old document will remain linked to your account, and if it’s still valid you can use either document to travel.
If you have told us of a new document but are still awaiting confirmation that your account has been updated, you should carry your old document as well if possible.
If you hold multiple travel documents, for example a passport and an identity card, or two passports, you should ensure that you register all the documents that you intend to use for travel purposes.
Using an identity card to enter the UK
EU, EEA and Swiss citizens need a passport to enter the UK.
You can also use your national identity card to enter the UK until at least 31 December 2025 if you:
- have pre settled or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme
- applied to the EU Settlement Scheme (other than as a joining family member) but have not received a decision yet
- hold an EUSS family permit
- hold a Frontier Worker permit
- are an S2 healthcare visitor
- are a Swiss national who holds a Service Provider from Switzerland visa
If you have status under the EUSS or a frontier worker permit and you hold a national identity card that you intend to use for travel, you should ensure that the identity card is registered to your UKVI account.
Read further guidance on what documents you’ll need to enter the UK.
Help accessing your UKVI account
Get help if you’re having problems signing in to your UK Visas and Immigration account.
The Resolution Centre provides telephone and email support to all account holders. Support includes:
- helping you access your account
- helping you update your personal details
- sharing your status on your behalf, if you are unable to do so yourself
How we protect your data
You can find information on how the Home Office uses and protects your personal data by reading the following privacy notices:
Updates to this page
Published 1 July 2021Last updated 4 December 2024 + show all updates
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Updated the section 'Crossing the UK border' with information using an expired biometric residence permit (BRP) or biometric residence card (BRC) to travel and generating a share code before travelling, as carriers may ask for it.
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Added a section on how to manage an account on behalf of a child.
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We have added the Student Loans Company to the list of government departments that can automatically access your immigration status.
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Removed reference to receiving an email due to out of country rollout.
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Added bullet to say you'll have a UKVI account if you created one to get access to an eVisa (an online record of your immigration status).
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List of organisations which can access immigration status information updated.
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Added information on who has a UKVI account.
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Added Islington Council to list of government departments and public authorities that can provide automatic access to immigration status.
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Added DVLA to the list of departments with automatic access to immigration status.
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Updated to inform customers that Social Security Scotland have automatic access to a customer's immigration status.
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Updated details on using an identity card to enter the UK.
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First published.