A video explainer from GMIAU and Linklaters to guide you through the process of setting up an eVisa. The video provides helpful advice on the steps where people most commonly encounter issues. Links are provided for further help.
Auto-generated using YouTube's transcript and OpenAI (accuracy cannot be guaranteed)
Hello and welcome. We at Linklaters, along with the Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit, have prepared a short video to help you with your E-Visa application. The purpose of this video is to help you with certain steps in the application that you may struggle with.
The UK Border Agency is replacing physical proof of immigration status with a digital system. If you currently have a Biometric Residence Permit, also known as a BRP, a UK visa in your passport, or other physical proof of your immigration status, you need to register for an E-Visa as soon as possible. We will link the website here.
The Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit has produced an E-Visa guidance document, which explains the process in detail. You can also find the guidance, and we will provide a link here. This video is designed to be watched alongside the E-Visa guidance document to walk through the steps where people most commonly encounter issues.
These are:
- Scanning your ID document.
- Checking your document's information.
- Taking a photo of yourself.
The app will ask you to scan your ID document. In order to do this, you must remove any cases or covering on your passport or BRP.
- If you're using a passport, take a picture of the entire photo page of your passport, including the two lines of numbers and letters at the bottom of the page, using your phone's camera. A tip here is to make sure the full photo page is captured and that the camera is in focus on the photo page.
- If you're using a BRP, take a picture of the back of your BRP using your phone's camera. Once this picture has been taken, you will have to take a picture of the front cover of your BRP. A tip here again is to make sure that the full card is captured and that the camera is in focus on the card.
You will then need to check your document's information by finding the chip in your ID document. In order to do this, remove any cases or covering on your passport or BRP.
- If you're using a passport, place the top of your phone halfway down your passport and move it around until the phone recognizes the chip in your passport. The chip may be found in different places in your passport, so it is useful to move your phone around and to try the front cover, the back cover, and the main page of your passport. A tip here is to Google where the chip may be found in the passport for your nationality.
- If you're using a BRP, the chip can be found on the back of your BRP. A tip here is that the status on your phone will change once the chip has been found.
The app will also ask you to take a photo of yourself. To do this, hold the phone in front of your face in a well-lit room with a plain, light background. You must make sure that you keep your head straight and look directly at the camera.
You must keep a neutral expression—no smiling or frowning. Make sure your head is not covered, and make sure your hair is not covering your face. You also need to ensure that your eyes are fully visible and that there is no shadow on your face or behind you.
If you would like to get further help with your E-Visa application, there are organizations that can help you set up your E-Visa. A list of organizations in England is available and will be set out here. You can also contact UKVI by telephone on the number provided or by email.
The Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit is running legal support sessions from January 2025 to help people set up their E-Visa. The contacts for that will be provided here.