Most people can now verify their UK immigration status online by signing in to a UKVI account, viewing their eVisa and, if needed, generating a share code. The service is free and provides a digital record of identity, immigration status and any conditions attached to the permission.
What is a UK immigration status?
A person’s immigration status is the legal position granted under UK immigration law (e.g., limited leave to enter, limited leave to remain, indefinite leave to remain, EU Settlement Scheme status, digital certificate of entitlement, or digital record of exemption). Having status does not automatically mean the holder can prove it; the digital record must be accurate and accessible.
What is an eVisa?
An eVisa is the Home Office’s digital record of a person’s immigration permission. It displays identity details, the type of permission, expiry date and any conditions (such as work restrictions). It is not an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) and it is not the legal grant itself; the grant letter, decision email, passport endorsements and previous BRPs may also be relevant if the eVisa is incorrect.
Who can check their status online?
Anyone with a UK immigration permission that is recorded digitally—limited or indefinite leave, EU Settlement Scheme status, a digital certificate of entitlement or exemption—can use the online service. A UKVI account is automatically created when:
- Using the UK Immigration: ID Check app
- Applying for a visa or replacing a physical document with an eVisa
- Registering for the EU Settlement Scheme
Dependants (partners or children) need separate UKVI accounts to access their own eVisas.
How to check your UK immigration status
The View and Prove service (gov.uk/evisa/view-evisa-get-share-code-prove-immigration-status) is the primary route.
- Go to the View and Prove service.
- Sign in with the credentials linked to your UKVI account (passport, national ID, biometric residence card, expired BRP, or UKVI customer number).
- Enter the security code sent to your registered email or mobile.
- Review the displayed personal details, immigration status, expiry date and conditions.
- Generate a share code if you need to prove the status to a third party.
When reviewing, compare the eVisa details with any decision letter or grant email to ensure consistency.
What the eVisa shows
- Identity details (name, DOB, nationality, photograph)
- Immigration category and permission type
- Expiry date of the permission
- Conditions (e.g., work restrictions, study limits, prohibition on public funds)
Any discrepancy—shorter permission period, wrong category, incorrect personal details—should be addressed promptly to avoid problems with employment, housing, travel or access to services.
Generating a share code
A share code allows a third party (employer, landlord, university, carrier, etc.) to verify the holder’s status via the Home Office online checker. Requirements:
- The holder’s date of birth
- A share code generated for the specific purpose (right‑to‑work, right‑to‑rent, general status, travel)
Share codes expire after 90 days and can be regenerated. Inability to generate a code may indicate a technical issue or an eVisa error.
Proving right to work or right to rent
- Right‑to‑work: Employers use a share code to see the types of employment allowed and the duration of permission.
- Right‑to‑rent: Landlords use a share code to confirm whether the person can rent and for how long.
Different share codes may display different information, so generate the correct one for the intended check.
Expired Biometric Residence Permit (BRP)
An expired BRP does not automatically mean the underlying permission has ended. The card may be used for up to 24 months after its printed expiry date (or until 31 December 2026, whichever is earlier) solely for:
- Signing in to view an eVisa
- Creating a UKVI account
- Applying to extend permission
The eVisa should now serve as the primary evidence of status.
Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) in an old passport
Physical evidence of ILR (wet‑ink stamp or vignette) can be retained, but obtaining a free No Time Limit (NTL) application to receive an eVisa is advisable when digital proof is required (e.g., for employers, landlords, banks). The NTL route does not alter the existing immigration status; it merely creates a digital record.
Recent visa applications
Checking a pending visa application is separate from checking current immigration status. While an application is being processed, no eVisa exists yet. Applicants should:
- Monitor the published processing times for their visa type.
- Not contact UKVI for status updates if the application is within normal processing times.
If a refusal occurs, the refusal letter will indicate whether an administrative review or appeal is possible. A refusal does not automatically extinguish any existing permission.
Section 3C leave
If an in‑time application to extend or vary leave is made before the existing permission expires, section 3C leave may automatically extend the current permission while the application (or any subsequent appeal/administrative review) is pending. Characteristics:
- It is not a new visa category; it preserves the conditions of the previous leave.
- It can be lost if the application is invalid, withdrawn, out of time, or if the applicant leaves the UK while the application is pending.
Legal advice is recommended when rights to work, rent, travel or residence depend on section 3C leave.
Checking status before travelling
Before travel, ensure:
- The passport or travel document used for the journey is added to the UKVI account.
- Personal details in the eVisa match the travel document (name, DOB, nationality).
- A share code (valid for 90 days) is available if a carrier or border official requests additional proof.
If a passport has been renewed, a name changed, or multiple passports are held, update the UKVI account accordingly.
Correcting an eVisa error
Errors can range from minor spelling mistakes to incorrect expiry dates or wrong immigration categories. To correct:
- Use the Report an error with your eVisa service (gov.uk/evisa/report-error-evisa).
- Provide copies of the original decision letter or grant email, screenshots of the incorrect eVisa, and any correspondence with employers or landlords.
- Keep Home Office reference numbers for follow‑up.
If the wrong status has been shared with a third party (bank, employer, etc.), a separate status‑check request may be needed to have the Home Office verify and correct the shared information.
Common mistakes when checking status
- Creating a second UKVI account when one already exists.
- Assuming an expired BRP means the permission has ended.
- Failing to update a new passport or changed personal details.
- Generating the wrong type of share code for the intended check.
- Treating a pending application as proof of current status.
- Confusing an eVisa with an Electronic Travel Authorisation.
- Travelling before confirming the eVisa is linked to the current passport.
- Not retaining decision letters and Home Office emails.
When to seek legal advice
Consider professional advice if you encounter any of the following:
- Incorrect status, expiry date or conditions on the eVisa.
- Inability to access the UKVI account or generate a share code.
- An employer, landlord, university, bank or public body refuses to accept your status.
- Reliance on section 3C leave, old ILR evidence, or a No Time Limit application.
- Urgent travel issues caused by eVisa errors.
- Receipt of a refusal letter that mentions administrative review, appeal or judicial review, where time limits and procedural options are critical.
Legal counsel can help reconcile digital records with the underlying legal grant and ensure compliance with UK immigration requirements.
Source article: immigrationbarrister.co.uk
