eVisas

Who will have an eVisa?

Students who have applied for a visa from outside the UK

You will receive an eVisa.

If you did not use the 'UK Immigration: ID Check' app as part of your visa application, you may also receive a 90-day entry vignette (visa) in your passport. You will need to create an online account in order to access your eVisa.

If your course is less than 6 months, visa nationals will only receive a vignette (sticker in passport).

Students who have applied for a visa from inside the UK

You will receive an eVisa.

EU Settlement Scheme

If you are an EU/EEA or Swiss national and have been granted pre-settled or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you will receive an eVisa.

How to create a UKVI account

If you did not use the 'UK Immigration: ID Check' app as part of your visa application, you will need to create an online account in order to access your eVisa. You will need:

• a phone number and email address that you can use again, as you will need them each time you prove your immigration status online
• your visa application number – this is a Global Web Form (GWF) number or Unique Application Number (UAN)
• a valid passport

1. Watch the instructions in this video.
2. Download the UK Immigration ID Check app.
3. Go to this GOV.UK page and scroll down to “Start now”.
4. Answer the questions as they appear.
5. You will be instructed to scan your passport via the app. If you cannot use the app for any reason, watch this video and follow the instructions. You will be able to complete all tasks on your laptop or phone by uploading a copy of your passport, taking a selfie-style photo, and scanning your face.
6. You must complete all sections after the app in order to finish creating your account.
   • Wait for an email to confirm that your eVisa is ready to view.

Contact International Student Advice if you need help at any stage.

View & Prove your immigration status

You will receive a letter or email from UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) confirming the grant of your immigration permission. This will explain if your immigration status can be accessed online. If this is the case, you will need to log into your account on this page: View and Prove your immigration status and generate a share code.

The type of share code you generate will depend on who you need to prove your status to. To evidence your Right to Study, you should select the 'anything else' option when prompted to ensure the correct type of share code is generated for the University to view.

Travel with an eVisa

Before travelling: If you have received a new passport since applying for your visa, you must update your UK Visas & Immigration account with the new passport number before travelling.

Travel date: When travelling to the UK for the first time using your eVisa, you must enter the UK after the visa start date listed on your status. If you enter before this date, you will likely need to leave the UK and re-enter.

Going through Immigration Control: When you pass through UK immigration control, you will need to present your passport (and your BRP card if you have one) to the Border Force officer.

Depending on your nationality (see here), some students may have the option of using the eGates instead of speaking to an Immigration Officer. In this situation, it is vital that your passport details are up to date.

Update your UKVI account

If there are any changes to your personal details during your studies, you must ensure you keep both the University and UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) informed.

Update UKVI by signing into your UKVI account and making the changes there.

Update the University. For details of how to do this, see the  Updating your personal details page.

Report an error

When you receive your email from UK Visas & Immigration confirming the grant of your immigration permission, you should check that the details are correct.

If there are errors, you should report it to UK Visas & Immigration as soon as possible. UKVI will contact you within 10 working days to either confirm the correction or ask for more detail. If you need help making this report, please contact the Immigration Compliance team for advice. For further details see our Visa errors page.

Technical issues

Trouble generating a share code? Check you are using the correct passport or BRP card – you must use the document you used for your most recent visa application. If you have checked this and there is still a problem, call UKVI on +44 (0)300 790 6268, select option 3, then option 2.

Been waiting a long time for your eVisa to be ready (the ‘second’ email)? If it has been over 1 week since you submitted the application to create an online account, call UKVI on +44 (0)300 790 6268, select option 3, then option 2.

If you would like help to make this call, come to our drop-in (Mondays & Fridays, 2pm–4pm, check in at the SID desk in The Forum).