Visas: Digital Technology
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to conduct an independent review of the eVisa system.
Answered by Mike Tapp
There are no plans to conduct an independent review of the eVisa system. The Home Office keeps the system under regular review, including through monitoring, stakeholder feedback and issue-resolution processes, so that any problems identified can be addressed.
Millions of people have successfully used eVisas for several years. eVisas are a secure, efficient and up-to-date way for people to evidence their immigration status. More than 10 million eVisas have been issued, including to approximately 5.8 million EUSS status holders, over 5 million UKVI online accounts were created between March 2024 and January 2026, and the online right to work service has been used more than 34 million times—showing that digital status checks are now routine and embedded.
The Home Office is moving to a digital immigration system and does not plan to introduce a physical document as an alternative means of proving EUSS status. Digital status provides important benefits over physical documents, including stronger safeguards against loss, theft or fraud, and the ability to reflect a person’s current status in real time.
We recognise that moving away from physical documents is a significant change for some people. Where someone is unable to access their eVisa, UKVI support is available to help resolve the issue and, where necessary, provide confirmation of their status while that issue is being addressed.
People may keep their grant notification email or letter, or print their eVisa profile page, for their own records. However, these documents cannot be used as evidence of status.
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