UK Government announces e-Visa transition provisionally extended to 31 March 2025
The UK government has announced that airlines and other carriers will be able to accept biometric residence permits (BRPs) and EU Settlement Scheme biometric residence cards (BRCs) that expire on December 31, 2024, or later, as proof of permission to travel to the UK, provisionally until March 31, 2025, in order to facilitate a seamless transition to eVisas.
“eVisas are a key element of the government’s move to a digital, streamlined border and immigration system, replacing physical immigration documents with digital proof of immigration status,” the UK government said in a statement. In addition to improving people’s experiences, this change will make the immigration system more secure and effective.
With less than a month before the majority of biometric residence permits (BRPs) and biometric residence cards (BRCs) expire on December 31, 2024, the UK government pointed out that these numbers demonstrate an increase in the number of people using paper immigration papers to demonstrate their immigration rights in the country.
According to a statement from the UK government, “To help ensure a smooth transition to eVisas, airlines and other carriers will be able to accept BRPs and EU Settlement Scheme BRCs expiring on 31 December 2024 or later as evidence of permission to travel to the UK, provisionally until 31 March 2025.”
“This will continue to be reviewed. Anyone attempting to enter the UK whose underlying immigration status has expired will be subject to denial of entry, and passengers will still be subject to the standard immigration inspections and regulations,” the statement said.
“It is encouraging to see that over 3.1 million people have taken action to access their eVisa and are using the convenience and security that this brings,” said Seema Malhotra MP, Minister for Migration and Citizenship. There is a wealth of information and assistance available for those who have not yet converted to an eVisa.
“I have been listening to feedback from visa holders, stakeholders and MPs, and we are continually streamlining and adapting to ensure this is a smooth transition,” she said.
In order to facilitate international travel without sacrificing border security, Seema Malhotra MP pointed out that airlines are now more flexible in accepting outdated papers.
The UK government is dedicated to making the switch to eVisas as simple as possible for all status holders, the statement said.
In light of the concerns expressed, the Home Office has already implemented changes to expedite the process for customers and address problems as they emerge. These changes include increasing the number of support services available to vulnerable individuals, simplifying the process for holders of legacy paper documents, and enabling carriers, like airlines, to automatically verify travel permissions.
To maximize the advantages of utilizing an eVisa, the UK government encouraged individuals who have not yet done so to do so by the end of the year. This will allow them to join the millions of people who already have an eVisa, including all holders of EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) status.
“Parents or guardians of children who use a BRP should take action on their child’s behalf,” the UK government said in a statement. If someone with indefinite permission to stay puts a vignette or ink stamp in their passport to demonstrate their rights, they may still use their papers for travel and other purposes just as they do now.”
“These individuals are urged to apply for an eVisa without a time limit in order to profit from it.Making the move to an eVisa, which provides more convenience, is simple and free,” it said.
The UK government pointed out that an eVisa enables visa holders to quickly and safely demonstrate their immigration status and cannot be misplaced, stolen, or altered. A person’s existing rights won’t be altered, affected, or taken away by switching.