Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of progress of the transition to eVisas.

Millions of people have been successfully using eVisas for several years. They are a key part of our digital immigration system and will enhance people’s experience and increase the immigration system’s security and efficiency. eVisas are secure and cannot be lost, stolen or tampered with, unlike a physical document. They can be accessed anywhere and in real time. As of 30 November 2024, over 3 million people had created UKVI accounts, with many more creating accounts every day.

We have considered every part of the transition to eVisas and how people experience the system, listening to feedback from visa holders, stakeholders and MPs, and monitoring to identify where people are experiencing issues so that these can be addressed. We are continually streamlining and adapting our processes to ensure a smooth transition to eVisas.

There is no deadline for registering for a UKVI account to access an eVisa, although we have been encouraging people to do so before their BRP expires so that they can continue to prove their immigration status easily. If a person has not yet created an account, they can still do so now, quickly and easily, using their expired BRP if needed.

We recognise that some people are vulnerable and require additional support in switching to and navigating a digital system. That is why we have a range of support measures in place, including:

• The Assisted Digital service for people with low or no digital skills or access, or who need help with IT related aspects of creating a UKVI account.
• Up to £4 million funding to community organisations to deliver valuable support to vulnerable people so they have a smooth transition to eVisas.
• A dedicated UKVI resolution centre, where anyone can get help by email, webchat, and telephone support.

We are confident that our systems and processes will ensure no one is disadvantaged by the move to digital, but we are conscious that some people remain concerned about the transition, particularly in the context of travel. We have therefore brought in changes to reflect those concerns, including, as a temporary measure to reassure people that they will be able to travel without any issue during the transition period, allowing carriers such as airlines to accept a BRP or EUSS BRC which expired on or after 31 December 2024 as valid evidence of permission to travel, provisionally until 31 March 2025. This will be kept under review. We have also introduced a new 24/7 passenger helpline for passengers who are at port and travelling imminently.

We continue to monitor the rollout of eVisas and will ensure that any issues are resolved for those people affected.