The United Kingdom has extended its grace period for accepting expired physical visas following delays experienced in the country’s transition to e-Visas.
UK e-Visa Overview
The UK e-Visa is a digital record of an individual’s immigration status and the conditions under which they are permitted to enter or stay in the UK.
This system replaces traditional physical visa documentation, offering a secure and tamper-proof alternative. To obtain an e-Visa, applicants must create a UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account; The e-Visa is linked to the individual’s current passport, which must also be associated with their UKVI account.
The transition to e-Visas does not alter a person’s immigration status or the terms of their permission to stay in the UK. However, biometric information may still be required in person during the application process. Once approved, there is no need to wait for or collect a physical document.
The e-visa simplifies proof of status for travel, employment, and other purposes, making it faster and easier to share immigration details with third parties, such as employers and landlords.
Grace Period for Physical Visa Documentation
In light of challenges faced during the transition to e-Visas, the UK government has extended the grace period for accepting expired physical visa documentation.
Originally set to end in December 2024, the grace period now runs until March 31, 2025. This extension is intended to accommodate individuals, particularly UK citizens residing abroad, who have experienced difficulties registering for the e-Visa on the UKVI platform.
The extension allows airlines and carriers to accept expired Biometric Residence Permits (BRPs), Biometric Residence Cards (BRCs), and visa vignette stickers on passports as valid proof of permission to travel to the UK until the new deadline.
However, these documents must have an expiration date on or after December 31, 2024. Despite this concession, standard immigration checks will still apply to all travelers.
As of now, over 3.1 million people have transitioned to the e-Visa system, but technical issues and other barriers have delayed progress for many others. The UK Home Office has committed to keeping this policy under review to ensure a smoother transition to the new digital system.
