As the 1 June deadline approaches, up to 700,000 migrants living in the UK are at risk of losing their ability to prove their legal immigration status due to a failure to register for the government’s new eVisa system.
The Home Office is phasing out physical documents such as biometric residence cards and replacing them with digital eVisas. These online records are intended to be used for essential services including travel, employment, and renting property in the UK.
Despite repeated efforts to raise awareness, only 3.2 million of an estimated 4 million eligible individuals had successfully created eVisa accounts by the end of 2024. A further 100,000 accounts were opened in January, but that still leaves a significant shortfall.
With some student visas having expired earlier in the year, it remains unclear how many have left the country or applied for alternative status. It is estimated that up to 700,000 migrants may still be without valid eVisas as the deadline looms.
Technical issues have plagued the rollout of the eVisa system. Two major IT failures were confirmed by the Home Office—one in early March and another in early May—which disrupted user access and caused critical errors in account data. These included incorrect reference numbers and mismatched nationalities on identity documents linked to visa holders’ accounts. In some cases, users were unable to submit applications due to verification errors.
The digital-only approach has drawn growing criticism from legal experts, human rights organisations, and advocacy groups. Reports have surfaced of individuals with valid UK residency being detained at foreign airports, denied employment, or even left homeless after being unable to access or prove their immigration status online.
Campaigners argue that the lack of a physical backup document is placing vulnerable individuals at risk. They are calling on the government to introduce alternative proof of status options for those impacted by system failures or incorrect data.
The Home Office has already extended the deadline for eVisa registration twice, originally from 31 December 2024 to 31 March 2025, and then again to 1 June. However, growing concerns over technical reliability and administrative delays continue to fuel legal challenges and public scrutiny.
Solicitors involved in the ongoing legal action against the Home Office say that many clients have experienced serious consequences due to flawed data, slow system updates, and inadequate support channels. Advocacy groups stress that while eVisas may improve efficiency in the long term, the current implementation is placing lawful residents in highly precarious situations.
With just days remaining before the final deadline, pressure is mounting on the government to offer a more robust and inclusive solution that ensures no one loses access to essential services due to a digital oversight.
