How Pakistanis in the UK Get an eVisa and Share Code Before the 31 December 2026 BRP Cut-Off
Pakistanis in the UK: create a UKVI account, link your eVisa and get a 90 day share code. An expired BRP works only until 31 December 2026. See the steps.
Short answer: To prove your UK immigration status online, create a UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account on the government website, confirm your identity with the "UK Immigration: ID Check" app, and link it to your eVisa. Then view your eVisa and get a share code that lasts 90 days. If you only have an expired BRP card, use it before 31 December 2026.
The UK has replaced the plastic biometric residence permit (BRP) with an online record called an eVisa. Many Pakistanis in the UK, on student, work, family or settlement visas, now need the eVisa to show an employer, a landlord or an airline that they can work, rent or travel.
We read the UK government's eVisa pages on 13 October 2026. We did not create an account ourselves, so the steps below follow the official instructions.
An eVisa is your immigration status held online
Your eVisa shows your identity and your rights in the UK, such as the right to work, rent or claim benefits. You can use it with any UK visa and with settlement, also called indefinite leave to remain. Your partner and children need their own accounts.
You do not need an eVisa if you are visiting the UK with an electronic travel authorisation, and not if you have permission to stay in the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man or Gibraltar. If you hold a valid visa sticker in your passport, you can choose whether to get an eVisa.
Create your UKVI account with your passport and visa number
You need a phone number and an email address that you can use every time you sign in. You also need one of these: a valid passport plus your visa application number (the GWF or UAN number), a valid passport plus your BRP number, or your expired BRP.
If you have already used the ID Check app, applied to the EU Settlement Scheme, or replaced a physical document with an eVisa before, you already have an account. Do not create a second one. Try to sign in to view your eVisa first.
| You have | What to use to create the account |
|---|---|
| Valid passport and visa application number | Passport plus GWF or UAN number |
| Valid passport and BRP | Passport plus BRP number |
| Expired BRP | The card, within the time limit below |
| No valid passport or no smartphone | The government says you can confirm identity another way |
An expired BRP works for 24 months or until 31 December 2026
The government says you can use an expired BRP to create your account for 24 months after the expiry date printed on the card, or until 31 December 2026, whichever comes first. After that, use another document such as your passport and visa number.
This matters for Pakistanis whose BRP ran out a while ago and who kept it in a drawer. Do not wait until December. Create the account now and link it to your eVisa while the card still works.
Link your account to your eVisa in five steps
After you create the account, you confirm your identity and link the account to your eVisa. You cannot see your eVisa until you finish these steps. It is usually available at once, but it can take up to 24 hours.
- Check whether you already have a UKVI account by trying to sign in.
- If not, create the account with your email and phone number.
- Install the ID Check app on a smartphone and scan your document.
- Link the account to your eVisa from your dashboard.
- Sign in again after up to 24 hours if the eVisa does not show.
If you cannot use a smartphone or have no valid passport or expired BRP, the government says you can confirm your identity another way. The UKVI webchat can help with account problems. Someone can also manage an account for a child or for a person with power of attorney, using their own phone and email.
A share code proves your status for 90 days
Once you can view your eVisa, you can get a share code. Give the code and your date of birth to the person who needs to check, such as an employer or a landlord. They do not need to see your eVisa. They see some personal details, and the page tells you which ones before you share.
| Share code fact | What the UK says |
|---|---|
| How long it lasts | 90 days |
| How many times it can be used | As many times as you need until it expires |
| New code | Get one whenever you need |
| What the other person also needs | Your date of birth |
To sign in you can use your passport, national identity card, biometric residence card, an expired BRP or your UKVI customer number, plus access to the phone or email on the account.
If you came to the UK to study or work and need to show your right to work, see the rules in UK student visa from Pakistan and UK skilled worker visa from Pakistan.
Fix a wrong eVisa before you share it
Report an error if the eVisa shows the wrong date of birth or status, or if you can view it but cannot get a share code. Update your UKVI account before you get a code if you changed your name or nationality, or if the photo no longer looks like you.
If you cannot view your eVisa, check that you finished the account set-up. The government says there are other ways to prove your right to work or right to rent if you cannot access an eVisa. A person with a physical document that has no expiry date can choose to make a "no time limit" application.
If your visa was refused or your status is in doubt, read about options in what to do after a UK visa refusal. For a visit, see the cost and papers in the UK visit visa from Pakistan.
Common questions
Do I still need my BRP card?
The UK is moving to eVisas. You can use an expired BRP to create your account before the deadline, then rely on the eVisa.
What is the 31 December 2026 date?
It is the last date you can use an expired BRP to create the account, if it has not already passed 24 months since expiry.
How long does a share code last?
Ninety days. You can use it many times and get a new one at any time.
Does my family need their own account?
Yes. Your partner and children each need their own UKVI account to access their eVisas.
What if I have no smartphone?
The government says you may be able to confirm your identity another way. Use the webchat for help.
Is the service free?
The pages we read give no fee for creating an account or getting a share code. Be careful of any site that asks for payment.
How we verified this
What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.
Last checked on 13 October 2026, Pakistan time. We read the UK government pages on how to access your eVisa and on how to view your eVisa and get a share code. We did not create an account or run the ID Check app. Always use the official gov.uk links, because copy sites exist.
About the author
Global Affairs & Political Economy Writer
Muhammad Hatim is a book lover who started writing because he enjoys it. At Pakistan Era he writes about international relations, geopolitics and the global economy, with a particular interest in South Asia and the forces behind current events.
