Starting December 31, 2024, Nigerians living in the UK will no longer receive biometric residence cards (BRCs) or biometric residence permits (BRPs), as the Home Office is replacing them with a new online eVisa system.
According to the Central Association of Nigerians in the United Kingdom (CANUK), this change is part of a broader effort by the UK government to transition all physical migration documents to digital formats.
The eVisa, which has been heavily promoted throughout 2024, will completely replace physical visa documents by the end of the year.
CANUK highlighted that Nigerians who currently have BRCs or BRPs will no longer need to carry these physical documents, as they will receive a digital version, eliminating the need for physical paperwork.
An eVisa serves as an online record of one’s immigration status and the conditions for entering or staying in the UK.
In a statement, CANUK’s Publicity Secretary, Rose Graham, and Assistant Publicity Secretary, Mohammed Yiosese, explained that Nigerians affected by this change must create a UKVI account to access their eVisa.
During a meeting with Nigerian community leaders, Home Office officials assured that updating to an eVisa will not impact anyone’s immigration status or the conditions of their permission to stay in the UK.
The Home Office also clarified that while an eVisa will eventually be sufficient for travel to the UK, individuals will still need to carry their current passports, which must be registered with their UKVI account. Until the end of 2024, travelers will need to continue carrying their physical immigration documents if they have them.
CANUK urged BRP holders to visit www.gov.uk/evisa to create their UKVI accounts and access their eVisas.
The Home Office confirmed that eVisas will remain valid even if passports expire and are replaced with new ones.
CANUK, established in 2005 by the Nigerian High Commission in the UK, aims to unite Nigerian groups under one umbrella organization to represent the interests and welfare of the Nigerian community in the UK.
