(UK) — Skilled Worker visa holders must now manage their immigration status through a digital eVisa, as the UK replaces physical documents with an online system tied to a UKVI account.

An eVisa is a digital record of a person’s UK immigration status. It displays identity, immigration permission, and conditions attached to the status, such as whether the person can work or study. For Skilled Workers, the record shows the visa type, immigration expiry date, work permission, any conditions or restrictions, and the right to prove status digitally. The eVisa does not sit inside a physical card. It is accessed through a UKVI account.

Common Problems with eVisas

Skilled Worker permission is tied to work, sponsorship, and immigration conditions. A worker may hold valid immigration permission but still face practical problems if the UKVI account is inaccessible, the passport is not linked, the share code is wrong, or the eVisa record shows incorrect details.

Status evidence affects at least twelve practical situations. These include starting a new job, continuing work with a sponsor, proving right to work, renting a home in England, opening or maintaining bank services, travelling outside the UK, returning to the UK, updating passport details, extending a visa, changing employer, supporting dependants, and preparing for settlement.

A worker who renews a passport but does not update the UKVI account may face airline or border delays. A worker who sends the wrong share code to an employer may delay onboarding. A worker whose eVisa shows the wrong visa type or expiry date should not ignore the discrepancy.

Step 1: Confirm Access to Your UKVI Account

Every Skilled Worker should first confirm they can sign in to their UKVI account. This means knowing the login route, ensuring the registered email and mobile number are active, verifying the ability to receive security codes, and confirming that a passport or identity document can be used to sign in. Workers should also know their UKVI customer number and have saved important Home Office reference numbers. Testing access should happen well before a job start date, rental check, or airport journey.

Step 2: Review Your eVisa for Accuracy

After signing in, workers must review the eVisa for accuracy. Details to check include full name, date of birth, nationality, photograph, visa category, permission expiry date, work conditions, sponsor-linked conditions, and dependant status. If any element is wrong, the error should be reported through GOV.UK. The system will not correct itself.

Step 3: Generate the Correct Share Code

Generating the correct share code is the next step. A share code allows another person or organisation to verify immigration status digitally through the official GOV.UK service. For Skilled Workers, the right-to-work share code is typically the most important, as employers use it to confirm lawful work permission. Share codes are purpose-specific. A right-to-work code differs from a right-to-rent code, which differs from an immigration-status share code. A screenshot of an eVisa does not substitute for a formal online check.

Each share code remains valid for 90 days and can be used more than once before expiry. Workers should avoid generating codes too early. A right-to-work code should be generated close to the employer’s check, and a right-to-rent code close to the tenancy check. If an earlier code has expired, a fresh one must be generated. Keeping a note of which code was generated for which purpose prevents confusion between old, expired, or wrong-purpose codes.

Step 4: Keep Passport and Contact Details Updated

Passport and travel document details must also be kept current in the UKVI account. Updates are required when a passport is renewed, replaced after loss or damage, or when nationality changes. A new travel document, a name change, or the addition of another passport all require an account update. Airlines and border systems may need to confirm permission digitally. If the passport used for travel is not linked to the UKVI account, delays can follow.

Contact details demand the same attention. A change in mobile number, email address, home address, or postal address must be reflected in the UKVI account. UKVI uses these details to communicate decisions, errors, documents, and account access information. Losing access to a registered phone number or email can make it difficult to sign in and prove status.

Starting or Changing Jobs

Before starting or changing jobs, workers must ensure their right-to-work status is verifiable. The employer must hold the appropriate sponsor licence and assign a valid Certificate of Sponsorship. Workers should prepare a right-to-work share code, date of birth, passport details, visa decision email, Certificate of Sponsorship reference, employment contract, and sponsor contact details. When changing employer or job role, the existing eVisa alone may not suffice. A new Skilled Worker application may be required before starting the new role, depending on the change.

Maintaining a file of sponsor and employment records strengthens long-term compliance. Useful documents include the Certificate of Sponsorship reference, visa decision email, employment contract, job title and occupation code, salary details, payslips, P60s, sponsor licence details, Home Office correspondence, share-code records, travel history, and eVisa screenshots for personal reference. These records support visa extension, employer change, settlement planning, and correction of future records.

Dealing with BRP Cards and International Travel

Workers who previously relied on a BRP card should not treat an expired BRP as main proof of status. An expired BRP may still assist in limited situations, such as setting up or accessing a UKVI account. It should not serve as primary evidence for right to work, right to rent, or travel permission. The correct approach is to sign in, view the eVisa, and generate the appropriate share code.

International travel requires a separate check before departure. Workers should verify that the eVisa is visible, the passport is current and linked to the UKVI account, and the name and date of birth match the passport. Permission must still be valid, the visa route and expiry date must be correct, and the registered email and phone must be accessible abroad. Dependant accounts should also be updated, and travel document details should be current. This check should happen before booking travel where possible, and certainly before going to the airport.

Dependants and Error Reporting

Dependants require individual attention. A Skilled Worker’s spouse, partner, or children may have their own immigration permission and need their own eVisa access and share codes. One family member’s UKVI account does not prove everyone’s status. For each dependant, workers should check UKVI account access, eVisa visibility, passport details, expiry date, right to work or study where relevant, share-code access, travel document link, and contact details. This applies to school enrolment, travel, work checks, renting, and future visa applications.

Reporting eVisa errors early prevents complications. Errors warranting a report include wrong name, date of birth, photograph, nationality, immigration status, expiry date, missing work permission, or inability to generate a share code. A Skilled Worker should not start work or travel while ignoring a serious eVisa mismatch. Fixing problems can take time, so checking early is essential.

Long-Term Planning and Common Mistakes

Workers planning to extend their visa or apply for settlement should treat eVisa records as part of a wider compliance file. Proof of continuous lawful status, payslips, P60s, employment letters, sponsor details, travel dates, passport copies, eVisa status evidence, share-code history, and Home Office decision emails all contribute to long-term planning. The eVisa proves current status, but long-term immigration planning depends on thorough records.

Common mistakes to avoid include not creating or accessing a UKVI account, using an expired BRP as general proof, sending screenshots instead of share codes, generating the wrong share code, letting share codes expire before use, failing to update a renewed passport, losing access to the registered phone or email, ignoring eVisa errors, assuming dependants are covered by the main worker’s account, travelling without checking eVisa visibility, and starting a new role without verifying whether a new application is required.

Specific Considerations for Indian Skilled Workers

Indian Skilled Workers in the UK face specific considerations. A new passport should be linked to the UKVI account before international travel. Workers should avoid relying on WhatsApp screenshots, expired BRP cards, or old visa letters when an employer requests proof of right to work. When changing employer, the eVisa alone does not authorise the new job. The Skilled Worker route is sponsor-based, and a new application may be required before starting. Family members should be checked individually, as a spouse or child may need their own share code for work, study, rent, or travel.

A valid visa remains important. But in the digital system, being able to prove that visa quickly and correctly matters just as much. The safest approach is to sign in early, check the eVisa, update the passport, generate the correct share code, and fix errors before they cause problems.