(DDM) – A recent study has revealed that the UK’s transition to a fully digital visa system is creating widespread stress, confusion, and exclusion for foreign nationals trying to live, work, study, or travel in the country.
DDM gathered that the research, conducted by academics at the University of Warwick and Leicester in collaboration with Migrant Voice and the Open Rights Group, highlights significant issues faced by migrants after the Home Office phased out physical visa documents at the end of 2024.
The study, titled Exclusion by Design, found that millions of migrants now have eVisa accounts but are struggling to use them effectively, leading to difficulties proving their immigration status to employers, landlords, and airline staff.
Researchers interviewed 40 migrants in the UK, discovering that while some welcomed the move to digital visas, many reported repeated frustrations and barriers.
Several individuals said they had to repeatedly explain the system to employers who did not understand share codes generated by the government portal.
Landlords were also cited as unfamiliar with the system, often encountering technical issues when attempting to verify a tenant’s share code. This has led to delays or exclusion from housing opportunities for some foreign nationals.
The report also exposed serious security and privacy concerns. In one case, an applicant for indefinite leave to remain discovered their personal information had been merged with another migrant’s account, allowing someone else access to sensitive details, including passport information and contact data.
Travel disruptions were another major concern. The Independent documented instances where migrants were denied boarding, including a woman stranded in Brazil and another challenged at Chicago O’Hare airport for over an hour.
Some migrants reported being unable to travel to see family or attend work due to delays in processing or technical failures in the eVisa system.
Additionally, the study highlighted an emerging problem of “casual surveillance,” where workers not responsible for checking immigration status, such as supermarket staff, requested share codes unnecessarily, adding to anxiety among migrants.
Campaigners emphasized the urgent need for the Home Office to provide physical or digital backups that would allow migrants to prove their status in any situation. Sara Alsherif of the Open Rights Group described the system as “still beset with problems,” while Nazek Ramadan, director of Migrant Voice, said the digital rollout was actively preventing migrants from accessing the rights they already have.
The Home Office defended the system, stating that over ten million eVisas have been issued and that the majority of users continue without problems.
They emphasized that eVisas cannot be lost, stolen, or tampered with, and assured migrants that support is available for anyone experiencing difficulties.
Experts warn, however, that without immediate improvements, the system risks creating long-term barriers to employment, housing, travel, and overall inclusion for migrants in the UK.
The study ultimately calls for clearer guidance, robust technical support, and contingency measures to prevent exclusion, protect personal data, and ensure migrants can fully exercise their legal rights under the new digital visa regime.
