The United Kingdom has outlined the steps Nigerians and other visa holders must follow to access their electronic immigration status, known as an eVisa, as the country moves from physical immigration documents to digital records.
UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) shared the guidelines in an information post on its official X account on Monday, explaining how successful visa applicants can create an account, verify their identities and link their immigration records.
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An eVisa is a digital record of an individual’s identity and immigration status in the UK.
It contains details of the type of permission granted, including visa conditions and whether the holder has indefinite leave to remain in the country.
According to the UK government, eVisas have replaced physical immigration documents, and people who successfully apply for a UK visa or another form of permission to stay will receive a digital record.
To access the document, applicants must first submit a visa application online through the official government website, GOV.UK.
Depending on the type of application, they may also be required to provide biometric information and verify their identities at a Visa Application Centre.
After submitting an application, applicants will receive an email notification once a decision has been made.
UKVI advises them to check their spam and junk folders to avoid missing important updates.
Applicants whose visa applications are successful must then create a UK Visas and Immigration account through the official eVisa portal at gov.uk/evisa.
They are required to follow the online instructions until the system confirms that their accounts have been successfully created.
The next step is to sign in to the UKVI account and verify their identity using the UK Immigration: ID Check app.
Applicants must also link their accounts to their eVisas to gain access to their digital immigration records.
Once the eVisa is ready, UKVI will send an email notification informing the holder that it can be viewed online.
The government advises users to check that all the information displayed on their eVisas is accurate before travelling.
The UK government says applicants do not need to pay to create a UKVI account or access their eVisas.
It explains that holders whose digital immigration records have been successfully linked to their accounts will usually be able to view them immediately, although the process may take up to 24 hours.
The digital immigration record allows holders to view their status and generate a share code when they need to prove their right to work or rent accommodation in the UK.
Travellers can also use their eVisas when travelling, provided they have added their passport or other travel document details to their UKVI accounts.
However, the government clarified that some holders of biometric residence cards may still be able to use them in certain circumstances.
It also stated that existing visa vignettes, which are visa stickers placed in passports, remain valid until their respective expiry dates.
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The transition to eVisas is part of the UK government’s move towards managing immigration status digitally rather than relying on physical documents.
Peculiar Adirika is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, business, and public affairs.
