Starting December 31, 2024, Nigerians living in the UK will no longer receive biometric residence cards (BRC) or biometric residence permits (BRP).
The Home Office said they would be replacing the card with a new online eVisa system.
The Central Association of Nigerians in the United Kingdom (CANUK) announced that this change is part of the UK government’s initiative to transition from physical migration documents to digital versions.
The eVisa, which the Home Office has been actively promoting throughout 2024, will replace the current hard-copy visa system by the end of the year.
Why Nigerians Won’t Hold UK BRP Card
CANUK explained that Nigerians holding BRCs and BRPs will no longer need these physical documents.
Instead, they will receive a digital version, which eliminates the need to carry physical documentation.
The eVisa will serve as an online record of immigration status and the conditions of permission to enter or stay in the UK.
The CANUK Publicity Secretary, Rose Graham, and Assistant Publicity Secretary, Mohammed Yiosese, said in a statement that “Nigerians affected by this change will need to create a UKVI account to access their eVisa”.
They added that Home Office officials emphasised during a recent meeting with Nigerian community leaders that updating from a physical document to an eVisa would not impact immigration status or the conditions of permission to stay in the UK.
People Also Read: UK Visa Application Drops To 35% After This Immigration Policy
During a four-hour meeting with representatives from CANUK, the Nigeria in Diaspora Organisation (NIDO), and high commission officials at the Home Office, officials presented details about the new eVisa system.
According to CANUK, the Home Office stated that “in the future, you’ll be able to use an eVisa to travel to the UK.
“You will not need to carry a physical document, except for your current passport, which must be registered to your UKVI account.
“Until the end of 2024, continue carrying your physical document when you travel, if you have one”.
How To Register For eVisa
The Home Office advised all BRP holders to visit www.gov.uk/evisa to create a UKVI account and access their eVisa.
Holders of other physical immigration documents, including passports with vignette stickers or ink stamps and BRCs, can also find information there on how to create a UKVI account.
Once a UKVI account is created, users can view their eVisa details online, such as the type of permission, expiry date, and conditions of stay. The eVisa will be linked to the passport in the UKVI account.
The Home Office also noted that eVisas would remain valid even if passports expire and new ones are issued.
However, individuals must keep their passport or ID card details updated in their UKVI account to ensure their immigration status can be identified at the UK border.
CANUK, established by the Nigerian High Commission in the UK in 2005, aims to unite Nigerian groups under one organisation to represent the welfare, views, and interests of Nigerians living abroad.
