A major shift in the UK's immigration system is causing significant distress and practical problems for many foreign nationals, according to a new academic report. The study, titled 'Exclusion by Design', reveals that the transition to fully digital eVisas has led to confusion, exclusion from flights, and difficulties in proving the right to work or rent.
Widespread Confusion Over Digital Proof
Since physical immigration documents were phased out at the end of 2024, millions have registered for online visa accounts. However, researchers from the University of Warwick and the University of Leicester, working with Migrant Voice and the Open Rights Group, found the system is not working smoothly for everyone. They interviewed 40 migrants about their experiences.
While some welcomed the digital convenience, many others described a burden of constant explanation. The system requires users to generate a share code from a government website to prove their status to employers, landlords, or airlines. The report found that awareness of how these codes work is critically low among those who need to check them.
"You are here with all your information dealing with an ignorant system and it's a burden having to say things over and over again," one interviewee told researchers.
Real-World Consequences: Jobs, Homes, and Flights
The confusion has had serious repercussions. The study documents cases where migrants lost job opportunities because prospective employers did not understand the share code system. Landlords, preferring familiar physical documents, also presented obstacles. "Imagine you are a landlord. You have five people willing to rent your house. Three of them have a physical document... and then these two have these strange numbers," explained one participant.
Travel has been a particular flashpoint. The Independent has reported several cases where people were blocked from boarding flights because foreign airport staff were unfamiliar with eVisas. These include Maria Juliana Marquez Monsalve, stranded in Brazil, and community worker Marzena Zukowska, challenged for over an hour at Chicago O'Hare Airport.
Alarmingly, the report also highlighted a case of merged identities within the Home Office system, where one applicant's personal details and passport information were visible on another migrant's online account.
Calls for Change and Official Response
Campaign groups are urging immediate action. Sara Alsherif of the Open Rights Group stated the eVisa system remains "still beset with problems" and called for a physical or secure digital backup to reduce migrant anxiety. Nazek Ramadan, director of Migrant Voice, said the findings "clearly show" the digital scheme is "preventing migrants from demonstrating and accessing the rights they already have."
Dr Derya Ozkul from the University of Warwick summarised the human impact: "We heard from individuals losing employment opportunities, missing flights, having their personal information shared with others... and worrying that they had lost their legal status."
In response, a Home Office spokesperson pointed to the scale of the rollout, stating: "Over 10 million eVisas have now been issued, and the vast majority of people with an eVisa continue to use them without any problems." They emphasised the security benefits of a system that cannot be lost or tampered with and said support was available for those facing difficulties.
