UK eVisa Guide: Link Indian Passport & Replace BRP (2026)

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The landscape of UK immigration has undergone its most significant transformation in decades. As of early 2026, the era of the physical Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) and Biometric Residence Card (BRC) has officially ended. For the thousands of Indian nationals living, working, and studying in the UK, this shift to a digital-only “eVisa” system is not just a technical update—it is a mandatory requirement for international travel and proving your right to stay.

A professional 3D graphic showing an Indian passport and a UK Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) flanking a glowing digital shield, representing the UKVI eVisa transition for 2026.

If you are an Indian passport holder and haven’t yet linked your document to a UKVI account, you risk significant delays at Heathrow, Birmingham, or Delhi airports. This guide provides the definitive, expert-backed roadmap to ensuring your digital status is flawless.

Key Takeaway: Physical BRP cards are no longer valid proof of status. You must create a UKVI account and link it to your current Indian passport to generate “Share Codes” for employers and landlords, and to pass through border control seamlessly.

1. What is the UK eVisa and Why is the BRP Expiring?

The UK Home Office has moved to a “digital-by-default” border. The goal is to replace physical documents—which can be lost, stolen, or tampered with—with a secure, online record of your immigration status.

The 2024–2026 Transition Timeline

While the phase-out began in late 2024, 2026 marks the year of total implementation:

Late 2024: Home Office began emailing BRP holders to create UKVI accounts.
2025: Most BRPs expired on December 31, 2024. A transitional period allowed travel with expired cards until June 2025.
2026: The digital transition is complete. All carriers (airlines) now check digital status via the UKVI system before boarding. As of February 25, 2026, the UK has fully enforced the “No permission, no travel” rule through the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) and eVisa frameworks.

Why Indian Passport Holders Need a UKVI Account

For NRIs (Non-Resident Indians), the connection between your Indian passport and your UK visa is vital. When you fly from Delhi or Mumbai back to the UK, the airline will no longer ask to see a plastic BRP. Instead, they will scan your passport, which must be “linked” to your eVisa in the UKVI database. If this link is broken or outdated, you may be denied boarding.

2. Comparing the Old vs. New: BRP vs. eVisa

Feature	Physical BRP (Old System)	Digital eVisa (Current System)
Format	Plastic credit-style card	Secure digital record in UKVI Cloud
Risk	Can be lost or stolen (£200+ to replace)	Cannot be lost; accessible anywhere
Travel	Must carry physical card at all times	Linked to passport; no card needed
Updates	Requires a new card if details change	Update details instantly online
Verification	Physical inspection	Secure “Share Code” system

3. Step-by-Step: How to Link Your Indian Passport to Your UKVI Account

Follow these steps carefully. At DiuMitra, we recommend doing this on a laptop while having your smartphone ready for the identity verification stage.

Step 1: Create Your UKVI Account

Navigate to the official GOV.UK “Create a UKVI account” page. You will need:

Your BRP number (even if expired).
A valid email address and UK mobile number.
Access to a smartphone.

Step 2: Use the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ App

This is where many Indian nationals face technical hurdles.

Download the app: Search for “UK Immigration: ID Check” on the Apple App Store or Google Play.
Scan your BRP: The app will guide you to take a photo of the card.
Scan the Indian Passport Chip: This is the most critical technical step.

Expert Tip for Indian Passports: The chip in most modern Indian passports is located inside the back cover or the photo page. When the app asks to “scan the chip,” place your phone flat against the back cover and move it slowly until it vibrates and begins “Reading.” Do not move the phone until the progress bar hits 100%.

Step 3: Link Your Current Indian Passport

If you have renewed your Indian passport since you first arrived in the UK, you must ensure the UKVI account is linked to the new passport.

The system may initially pull data from your BRP.
Once the account is created, go to the “Update your details” section.
Add your new passport number as your primary travel document.

Step 4: Confirming Your Digital Status

Once you finish the app process, you must return to the GOV.UK website to complete the application. You will receive an email (usually within 24–72 hours) confirming that your “UKVI account is ready.” Log in to the “View and Prove” service to see your photo and visa details digitally.

4. Technical Troubleshooting for Indian Nationals

I. The “No Chip Detected” Error

Indian passports issued between 2018 and 2024 have very sensitive RFID chips. If your phone isn’t reading it:

Remove your phone case: Even thin silicone cases can block the signal.
Check the positioning: On iPhones, the reader is near the top camera lens. On many Androids, it is in the center of the back.
Lighting: Ensure you aren’t under direct bright sunlight, which can create glare on the photo page and fail the facial recognition step.

II. Name Mismatch Issues

If your name on your Indian Passport includes a middle name but your BRP does not (or vice-versa), the automated system may flag a “Manual Review Required.”

Solution: Do not panic. Submit the details exactly as they appear on your passport. A UKVI caseworker will manually verify the link, though this can take up to 3 weeks.

5. Proving Your Status: Right to Work and Rent

In 2026, the physical card is no longer accepted by employers or landlords. You must use the Share Code system.

How to generate a “Share Code”:

Log in to the “View and Prove your immigration status“ page.
Select “Prove your status.”
Choose the reason (Work or Rent).
The system generates a 9-character code (e.g., W12-34X-56Y) valid for 90 days.
Provide this code and your Date of Birth to the requester.

6. Common Issues & NRIs (FAQs)

Create the account using your BRP details first. Once the account is established, use the “Update details” function to register your new passport. This ensures that when you scan your new passport at an eGate, it recognises your visa.

In 2026, you no longer need the physical BRP for UK border entry. However, we recommend keeping your expired BRP in a safe place at home as a record of your immigration history. For travel to India, your Indian passport is your primary document.

You must make a “No Time Limit” (NTL) application. This is free and will replace your ink stamp or vignette with a digital eVisa record.

It is risky. If your new passport is not yet linked, carriers may be unable to verify your status. If you must travel, carry your old passport (if it contains the link) alongside your new one.

You can—and should—link both to your UKVI account. However, you must ensure that the passport you intend to use for travel is the one currently “active” on your account. When you log in to “View and Prove,” the system will show your status linked to a specific document. If you switch passports for a specific trip, update the “Sign-in details” or “Identity document” section at least 72 hours before flying.

This is a common “Entity Mismatch” issue. If your eVisa displays a name that doesn’t exactly match your passport’s machine-readable zone (MRZ), airlines in Delhi or Mumbai might flag it.

The Fix: Use the “Report an error with your eVisa” service on GOV.UK immediately. In 2026, UKVI has a dedicated team for name-matching discrepancies to ensure your digital record and passport are identical.

No. An Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card is a travel document for entry into India; it has no standing in UK immigration law. You must use your Indian passport linked to your UKVI account. While the OCI card is vital for your entry into India, the UK border only recognizes the eVisa linked to your passport.

This is a major travel risk. Since 2026, UKVI accounts require Two-Factor Authentication (2FA). If you are in India and can’t receive the SMS code:

Try to log in using the email recovery option.
If that fails, use the “UKVI Account Recovery” service. You will need to verify your identity again using the “ID Check” app and your biometric passport.

Pro Tip: Always keep a “Recovery Code” or secondary email address updated in your account settings before traveling abroad.

Yes. If your child is not a British citizen and holds a visa (as a dependant), they must have their own UKVI account. Parents can manage a child’s account, but the child’s Indian passport must be scanned and linked individually to ensure they can pass through eGates with you.

In 2026, the Home Office requires a facial image update every 10 years (for those under 70). If your appearance has changed significantly (e.g., you now wear a turban or have had surgery) and the eGates consistently fail to recognize you, use the “Update your details” service to upload a new photo via your smartphone.

Don’t panic. In 2026, airlines have access to the “UK Border Force Carrier Support Hub.” 1. Ask the check-in agent to contact their supervisor or the Support Hub directly. 2. Show them your “Share Code” (generated for “Travel” purposes). This 9-character code allows carriers to manually verify your status if the automatic system fails.

7. Need Assistance? DiuMitra Advisory Services

Navigating UKVI systems can be daunting, especially when a mistake can impact your ability to travel home to India for family events or business.

How DiuMitra Helps:

Form-Filling Guidance: We walk you through the UKVI account setup via a shared screen session.
Passport Update Support: We assist in linking new Indian passports to existing digital statuses.
Travel Readiness Checks: A 15-minute consultation to ensure your “View and Prove” screen is correct before you fly.

Book a UK–India Support Session with a DiuMitra Expert

How to Link Indian Passport to UK eVisa: The Definitive 2026 Guide