What is a UKVI account?

What a UKVI account is

UKVI stands for UK Visas and Immigration, part of the Home Office. A UKVI account is a free online account that lets you get into your eVisa.

An eVisa is a digital record of who you are, your immigration status and the conditions of your stay, such as whether you can work. It replaces most physical documents. If you have a visa sticker (vignette) in your passport, it stays valid until it ends. A biometric residence card may still be usable in some situations.

Who needs one

Anyone given a UK visa or permission to live in the UK gets an eVisa and needs a UKVI account to use it. If your partner and children are coming as your dependants, they each need their own account.

What you can do with it

• view your eVisa and immigration status
• get a share code to prove your status to an employer or landlord
• add or update your passport so you can travel
• update your contact details, address and name

What you need to set one up

• a phone number and email address you can use each time you sign in
• one of: a valid passport and your visa application number, a valid passport and your BRP number, or your expired BRP (you can use it for up to 24 months after it expired)
• a smartphone to install the app that checks your identity

If you do not have a valid passport or expired BRP, or you cannot use a smartphone or the app, you can confirm your identity another way.

How to set it up

1. Go to the GOV.UK page "Set up a UKVI account".
2. Enter your identity document details.
3. Add the phone number and email you will use to sign in.
4. Confirm your identity using the app, or another way if you cannot.
5. Sign in to check your eVisa is correct.

It is free. You do not pay to set up the account or see your eVisa.

Helping someone else

You can set up an account for someone else, such as a child or an adult who needs help, using your own contact details. When they can manage it themselves, or when a child turns 18, change the account to their own phone number and email.

Keep it up to date

Update your account if you change your passport, name, phone number, email or address. Before you travel, make sure the account shows your current passport. Your details must match what you give your airline, or they may not let you board.

If you have problems

• Cannot sign in: use the UKVI account recovery service.
• Wrong details on your eVisa: report the error on GOV.UK.
• Other questions: chat to UKVI using webchat.

UKVI accounts work the same in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Related guides

• What is an eVisa and how do I get access to mine?
• How do I get a share code to prove my immigration status?
• What is a biometric residence permit (BRP) and can I still use it?
• How long does a UK visa take to process?

Where this comes from

• Online immigration status (eVisa) on GOV.UK
• Set up a UKVI account on GOV.UK
• Travel with an eVisa on GOV.UK
• Update your UKVI account details on GOV.UK
• View and prove your immigration status on GOV.UK