The UK government has announced plans to fully digitise its immigration system by 2025, urging immigrants to transition from physical documents to eVisas. This shift is part of the Home Office’s broader goal to modernize border and immigration processes. Currently, immigrants use physical biometric residence permits (BRP), visa vignette stickers, or biometric residence cards (BRC) to prove their immigration status, but by the end of 2024, these will be replaced with a fully digital system.

For Indian students arriving in the UK for the September 2024 or January 2025 intakes, this means they may initially receive a BRP but could later be contacted by authorities to transition to an eVisa. Those already studying in the UK will also be required to switch to the online system.

The Home Office has allocated £4 million in grant funding to organizations like Migrant Help and Citizens Advice Scotland to support vulnerable immigrants through this transition. This funding will ensure that those facing difficulties with the digital system receive free assistance.

Minister for Migration and Citizenship, Seema Malhotra, urged individuals to act quickly to switch to eVisas, assuring them that free support is available for those in need. The phased implementation aims to deliver a secure and seamless digital immigration journey by 2025.