With just five weeks left before physical Biometric Residence Permits (BRPs) cease to be valid on 31 December 2025, the Immigration Law Practitioners’ Association (ILPA) has issued an open letter to the Home Office describing the transition to digital eVisas as “rushed and poorly communicated.” The letter—co-signed by more than 230 solicitors, non-profits and HR specialists—was published on 26 November and highlights five key concerns: lack of an extended transition window, technical glitches in the UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) account system, insufficient support for vulnerable migrants, inconsistent messaging to employers, and inadequate public-awareness campaigns.
Under the Home Office plan, every non-EU migrant with leave to remain must create a UKVI online account and link it to their passport by year-end; their status will then be held only in digital form. From 1 January 2026, BRP cards will no longer prove the right to work, rent or access the NHS. Employers, landlords and public bodies will instead rely on share-codes generated by the eVisa platform.
![Immigration lawyers warn of ‘rushed’ eVisa rollout as BRP replacement deadline looms]()
ILPA argues that thousands risk falling out of status because emails are being sent to legal representatives rather than directly to migrants, while some account-creation links have failed. The association calls for a phased approach, 24/7 helplines and clearer guidance to HR teams using the Employer Checking Service.
For global-mobility and HR managers, the biggest operational risk is inadvertent illegal working if an employee’s BRP lapses before their eVisa account is activated. Companies should audit foreign-national workforces immediately, schedule eVisa registrations well ahead of Christmas shutdowns and brief line managers not to copy BRPs for post-January onboarding. IT systems that store right-to-work evidence must be re-tooled to capture digital share-codes and automate re-checks when passports are renewed.
The move to eVisas is central to the government’s wider goal of a paperless border—but today’s letter shows that the execution phase still has gaps. Employers who prepare early will avoid HR compliance breaches and protect affected staff from accidental loss of legal status.
Under the Home Office plan, every non-EU migrant with leave to remain must create a UKVI online account and link it to their passport by year-end; their status will then be held only in digital form. From 1 January 2026, BRP cards will no longer prove the right to work, rent or access the NHS. Employers, landlords and public bodies will instead rely on share-codes generated by the eVisa platform.
ILPA argues that thousands risk falling out of status because emails are being sent to legal representatives rather than directly to migrants, while some account-creation links have failed. The association calls for a phased approach, 24/7 helplines and clearer guidance to HR teams using the Employer Checking Service.
For global-mobility and HR managers, the biggest operational risk is inadvertent illegal working if an employee’s BRP lapses before their eVisa account is activated. Companies should audit foreign-national workforces immediately, schedule eVisa registrations well ahead of Christmas shutdowns and brief line managers not to copy BRPs for post-January onboarding. IT systems that store right-to-work evidence must be re-tooled to capture digital share-codes and automate re-checks when passports are renewed.
The move to eVisas is central to the government’s wider goal of a paperless border—but today’s letter shows that the execution phase still has gaps. Employers who prepare early will avoid HR compliance breaches and protect affected staff from accidental loss of legal status.
