The transition from physical visa documents to eVisas is fully underway. However, the Home Office announced last week that they will be further extending the ‘grace period’, to allow individuals to continue using expired BRPs or BRCs to travel to the UK until 1 June 2025 (provided that they still have valid permission).
With Biometric Residence Permits expiring on 31 December 2024, it was expected that from 1 January 2025, individuals would only be permitted to enter the UK using their eVisa, an online immigration status.
However, in December 2024, the Home Office announced that there would be a ‘grace period’ to allow individuals who held a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) or EUSS Biometric Residence Card (BRC) that expired on 31 December 2024, and who still hold valid permission, to continue to use their BRP or BRC to travel to the UK until 31 March 2025.
Last week, the Home Office announced that:
“In line with our ongoing commitment to ensure a smooth roll out, we are announcing today that this measure will be extended for a further two months, up to and including 1 June 2025.”
Unless the Home Office further extends this deadline, this means that from 2 June 2025, individuals will no longer be able to use expired BRPs and BRCs to travel to the UK, and must instead ensure that they have their eVisa set up in order to prove their immigration status.
Our page here contains full details on the transition to eVisas, including which documents people should carry when travelling and further helpful information, whilst airlines and other providers transition to the new system. We also have a guide on how to create and access your eVisa, which individuals should ensure that they do as soon as possible, if they have not done so already.
Additionally, anyone with an eVisa/visa nationals should also obtain a travel share code prior to travelling. This is valid for a 90-day period and can be obtained before travel, in order to avoid any potential delays at the border.
No Time Limit applications
People with Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), also known as settlement, who hold a legacy document (such as a wet ink stamp in a previous passport) can continue to use their documents as they do today, but are encouraged to make the switch to an eVisa to take advantage of the benefits that it brings, ideally by the end of 2025.
We strongly recommend that those who hold legacy documents should make a No Time Limit (NTL) application as soon as possible, as it is currently unclear for how long such documents will remain valid.
A successful NTL application provides confirmation of an individual’s ILR status in order to create a UKVI account and access their eVisa. As NTL applications can take up to six months to be processed by the Home Office, these individuals should take action sooner rather than later to protect their position in the UK.
Please note that the above information only relates to individuals who hold permission to stay in the UK or ILR. Non-visa nationals should apply for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) prior to travelling to the UK.
How our Immigration Solicitors can help
We have assisted many individuals and organisations with the transition to eVisas and with making No Time Limit applications.
If you require legal advice regarding making a No Time Limit application or any other aspect of immigration law, our immigration specialists are on hand to assist. Please contact us or complete our enquiry form below.
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