What a UKVI account is — and what it does not do
A UK Visas and Immigration account is the secure online account used to access an eVisa, update personal details and create share codes. An eVisa is the digital record of your immigration status and its conditions.
Your account does not grant, extend or alter immigration permission. It displays the status held in Home Office records, so a wrong expiry date, name or condition must be reported rather than informally edited.
UKVI account, eVisa and application account compared
| Service or record | Main purpose | Typical action |
|---|---|---|
| UKVI account | Access and manage your digital immigration record | Sign in, update details or connect a travel document |
| eVisa | Shows immigration status and applicable conditions | View status and prove rights through an official check |
| Visa application account | Supports an application already started | Continue a form, upload information or follow application instructions |
| Share code | Allows a time-limited status check | Give the code and your date of birth to the intended checker |
These services may use similar sign-in details, but they are not interchangeable. Follow the specific GOV.UK link for viewing an eVisa, continuing an application or proving a particular right.
How to sign in and view your eVisa safely
Start from the GOV.UK page for viewing and proving immigration status. You will normally need details from the identity document connected to the account, your date of birth and access to the email address or mobile number used for security checks.
- Open the official GOV.UK UKVI account service rather than a link in an unsolicited message.
- Enter the passport, national identity card or other document details requested by the service.
- Complete the security verification sent to your registered email address or telephone.
- Check your name, photograph, immigration status, expiry information and conditions.
- Save the official help route in case any information is missing or incorrect.
Fraud warning: GOV.UK says you should not share your account password or one-time security code. A genuine employer or landlord should use the official checking service with a share code; they do not need control of your UKVI account.
If you cannot receive a security code, use the account recovery or UKVI webchat and contact routes shown on GOV.UK. Do not repeatedly create accounts, because duplicate details can make it harder to identify which record is linked to your eVisa.
Update your passport before travel
UKVI advises account holders to keep their passport and contact details current. Before booking or travelling, check that the passport you intend to use is connected to your account and that the biographical details match exactly.
Update a renewed passport, changed name, nationality, home address, email address or mobile number through the official account service where the relevant option is available. A legal name change may require supporting evidence and additional UKVI checks.
Travel check: Carry the valid passport linked to your UKVI account and confirm that your eVisa information is correct before departure. Airlines and border authorities may use passport details to confirm permission to travel, but an eVisa does not replace a passport.
Biometric residence permits generally carried an expiry date of 31 December 2024 as part of the Home Office transition to eVisas; this is a historic date, not the expiry date of everyone’s immigration permission. GOV.UK says holders must check the actual status and expiry information in their UKVI account.
Generate the correct share code
A share code allows an authorised organisation to view specified immigration information through a GOV.UK checking service. Generate it for the stated purpose because a code created for one type of check may not work for another.
| Reason for check | What to select | Who completes the check |
|---|---|---|
| Starting or continuing work | Prove your right to work | The employer uses the Home Office employer checking service |
| Renting in England | Prove your right to rent | The landlord or letting agent uses the official landlord service |
| Another immigration-status request | Prove status for another purpose | The requesting organisation follows the applicable GOV.UK process |
Give the checker the share code and the date of birth attached to your status record. GOV.UK displays the code’s validity information when it is generated, so rely on the date shown there rather than an old screenshot or saved message.
Immigration status can affect access to benefits and housing support, but eligibility depends on the conditions recorded on the individual’s status and the rules of each scheme. Check entitlement carefully with SupportFund’s benefits calculator and seek regulated immigration advice where status conditions are unclear.
Fix incorrect details or missing status
If the account opens but the eVisa is missing or incorrect, capture the exact wording of the problem and use the official GOV.UK route for reporting an eVisa error. Include the requested identity and application information, but never send passwords or one-time security codes.
- Wrong personal details: use the update-details service or the correction route specified by UKVI.
- Incorrect status or conditions: report the discrepancy to UKVI and retain the decision notice or other Home Office evidence.
- Employer cannot verify status: ask the employer to follow the Home Office checking guidance rather than relying only on a screenshot.
- Urgent travel problem: use the current GOV.UK eVisa and travel support guidance promptly.
An account-access problem does not, by itself, prove that immigration permission has ended. However, only UKVI or an appropriately regulated immigration adviser can resolve a substantive dispute about a person’s status.
If delayed status checks cause immediate pressure with rent, food or essential bills, SupportFund can help identify practical safety-net options through emergency household support and rent arrears guidance. Immigration conditions, including any restriction on public funds, must be checked before claiming assistance.
Rates and rules check: No benefit rates are quoted in this guide. Confirm current immigration requirements and any relevant financial-support rates on GOV.UK before acting.