With the end of 2024 approaching many people travelling out of the UK are nervous whether they'll be allowed back into the country come January. The Home Office has made some concessions for the first quarter of 2025 for those with expiring BRPs.

From 1 January 2025, the Home Office will fully transition to a digital immigration system. To ensure you’re prepared, it’s essential to have your eVisa ready and accessible. While generating a share code isn’t mandatory, we strongly recommend doing so as evidence of your immigration status. However, it’s important to note that generating a share code does not mean your eVisa is linked to your passport or that the eVisa process has been completed – this is a separate process. Once you’ve created a share code, verify it on the UKVI website to print a concise one-page document summarising your immigration status, which can be particularly useful for travel back to the UK in January.

However, due to flaws in the eVisa system, passengers will temporarily be allowed to use expired identity documents, such as biometric residence permits (BRPs) or EUSS biometric residence cards (BRCs), with an expiry date on or after 31 December 2024, to travel to the UK. The government has postponed a full shift to the digital system following complaints from applicants unable to access it. Many have struggled to demonstrate their right to return to the UK or access employment and housing without their eVisa.

Even though BRPs will no longer be valid for most purposes, they can still be used to enter the UK until 31 March 2025. For added security, we recommend keeping your expired BRP until you’re back in the UK.

In response to these challenges, the Home Office is establishing a 24-hour helpline for airlines to assist in verifying travel documents over the new year.

Andreea Dumitrache, chief executive of the3million, a leading group representing EU citizens in the UK, emphasised the importance of clear communication:

“The Home Office has a mammoth task ahead,” she said. “To avoid travel chaos, they need to deliver an exceptionally well-organised and resourced communication campaign to get airlines to accept expired documents, worldwide. It cannot be left to people to convince carriers to let them travel. It’s clear the current system is not fit for purpose.”

By taking these steps and staying informed, you can navigate this transition and minimise disruption to your travel plans.

Essential BRP information and latest UK immigration changes

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Our expert UK business immigration consultants will be happy to give you further information on the transition to eVisas if you have any queries. You can contact them on +44 (0) 20 7759 5420 or send an email to workpermits@sableinternational.com.

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