Guide
UK eVisa & UKVI Account: How to Prove Your Immigration Status
Last updated: September 2026
The UK has moved from a physical card (the BRP) to a digital eVisa system. Your status now lives online in a UKVI account, and instead of showing a card to a landlord or employer, you generate a temporary "share code" that lets them check your status directly with the Home Office.
From BRP card to eVisa
Previously, international students were issued a physical Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) card as proof of their Student Route visa. The UK has been moving away from this toward a fully digital eVisa — your immigration permission is recorded online rather than on a physical card. Because this transition has changed more than once, confirm the current process for your specific visa type on the official gov.uk Student visa page rather than assuming an older process still applies.
Your UKVI account
A UKVI account is where you view your eVisa and generate proof of your status. Most students set this up as part of the visa application process or shortly after arriving — via the official gov.uk "view and prove your immigration status" service. Keep your login details somewhere safe; you'll come back to this account any time you need to prove your status to someone else.
Share codes: proving your status without handing over documents
A share code is a short, temporary code generated from your UKVI account. Instead of showing a physical card, you give the code to whoever needs to verify your status — they enter it on the official gov.uk checking service, along with your date of birth, to see your current immigration status directly from the Home Office. You generate a fresh code for each specific check, and each one is time-limited rather than permanent.
The most common reason international students need one is a Right to Rent check when signing a tenancy agreement — see that guide for exactly how landlords use it.
Frequently asked questions
What is an eVisa?
An eVisa is a digital record of your UK immigration permission, replacing the physical Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) card that used to be issued. Instead of carrying a card, your status is stored online and accessed through your UKVI account.
What happened to the physical BRP card?
The UK has been phasing out physical BRP cards in favour of eVisas. If you were issued a BRP previously, it may no longer be valid proof of your current status on its own — check the current gov.uk guidance for your specific situation, since the transition and its exact rules have been updated more than once.
What is a UKVI account?
A UKVI account is the online account where you view your immigration status and generate proof of it. You'll typically set this up as part of your visa application or shortly after arriving in the UK — create yours at the official gov.uk view and prove your immigration status service.
What is a share code, and who asks for one?
A share code is a temporary code you generate from your UKVI account that lets someone else — a landlord doing a Right to Rent check, an employer, or a bank — verify your immigration status online without you handing over physical documents. Each code is typically valid for a limited time and generated fresh for each specific check.
What if I can't access my UKVI account or eVisa?
Contact UK Visas and Immigration directly through the official gov.uk contact channels rather than a third-party guide — account access issues are specific to your case and need an authoritative source to resolve, not general advice.
Get the rest of your Student Route paperwork straight
See the full requirements checklist and practice the questions officers ask.
Student Route requirements guide →