‘Rushed’ deadline for UK digital visas puts millions at risk of losing legal rights

FOI reveals non EU migrants could be caught in Windrush style scandal' at end of 2024 as Home Office struggles to contact them

More than 4 million non-EU migrants living in Britain will need to switch to digital eVisas" by the end of this year or risk being unable to prove their legal rights, according to figures seen by the Observer.

Biometric Residence Permits (BRPs) - given to all foreign nationals with permission to live in the UK for at least six months - demonstrate proof of an individual's right to study, access public services and claim benefits. But they are being replaced under the Home Office's digitisation programme.