Olusesan Oba
Starting December 31, 2024, Nigerians residing in the UK will no longer receive Biometric Residence Cards (BRCs) or Biometric Residence Permits (BRPs) as the UK government phases out all physical migration documents in favor of a new, mandatory digital eVisa system.
This aggressive overhaul is part of the Home Office’s sweeping transition to digital immigration status records, a move that has been heavily promoted throughout 2024. By the end of this year, physical visas will be rendered obsolete, forcing all Nigerian residents in the UK to adapt to the new eVisa regime.
According to the Central Association of Nigerians in the United Kingdom (CANUK), this digital shift means Nigerians with existing BRCs and BRPs will no longer need to carry these physical documents. Instead, their immigration status will be accessible through an online eVisa, eliminating the hassle of carrying papers and offering greater convenience.
Rose Graham, CANUK Publicity Secretary, and Mohammed Yiosese, Assistant Publicity Secretary, confirmed the changes in a statement on Sunday. They emphasized that Nigerians affected by the switch must create a UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account to access their eVisa. The Home Office reassured that transitioning to an eVisa will not alter anyone’s immigration status or conditions for staying in the UK.
During a recent meeting with Nigerian community leaders, Home Office officials clarified that eVisas will function seamlessly across borders, requiring only the traveler’s current passport, which must be linked to their UKVI account. For those holding BRPs or other physical immigration documents, CANUK urges immediate action to create a UKVI account at www.gov.uk/evisa to transition smoothly to the new system.
The Home Office has been unequivocal: come 2025, physical immigration documents will be relics of the past. Nigerians in the UK must keep their passport or ID card details current in their UKVI account to ensure their immigration status is easily identified at UK borders. The eVisa will remain valid even if the holder’s passport expires and they obtain a new one.
CANUK, which was established by the Nigerian High Commission in 2005 to unify Nigerian communities in the UK, is urging all Nigerians to comply with the new eVisa regulations promptly. This move is not just a modernization effort but a mandatory shift that will redefine how immigration status is managed in the UK.
Nigerians are urged to act swiftly to ensure they are not left behind in this major transition. The clock is ticking—by the end of 2024, the era of physical residence permits will be over.
