Research and analysis

Experiences of migrants and employers using eVisa (2022)

Published 22 May 2025

Introduction

Throughout June 2022, an external research agency, IFF, conducted fieldwork on behalf of Home Office Analysis and Insight (HOAI) to explore:

1. Migrants’ use of electronic Visa (eVisa) and its services (for example Right to Work and Right to Rent).
2. Employers’ use of the Right to Work services.

This report summarises the key findings from both surveys.

1. Key results - eVisa users

The survey included:

• 902 visa holders who verified their ID using the ID check app and received an eVisa
• 287 visa holders who verified their ID at a visa application centre (VAC) and do not have an eVisa but may have opted into using online services to prove their status

This includes Hong Kong British National (Overseas), Graduate, Skilled Worker, Student and Global Talent visa holders. It does not include those with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme.

1.1 Awareness and usage of eVisa – ID check app visa holders

Eight in 10 (80%) ID check app visa holders were aware they had an online immigration status (eVisa) when surveyed, while a fifth (20%) were not aware.

91% of ID check app visa holders who were aware of their eVisa had accessed it at least once to view it and/or check their rights in the UK.

Six in 10 (60%) had used their eVisa to prove their right to rent in England at least once, and a similar proportion (59%) had used their eVisa to prove their right to work at least once.

Three-quarters (75%) of ID check app visa holders said they were satisfied with the information provided to them about using their eVisa, while 4% were dissatisfied.

1.2 Ease of use

Just over two-thirds (68%) of ID check app visa holders who had used their eVisa to prove their immigration status found it easy or very easy to do so, whereas 9% found it difficult or very difficult.

Three-quarters (74%) of those who updated their details found it easy to do so, whereas 5% found it difficult.

Around one in 10 (12%) of ID check app visa holders felt there were barriers that would prevent them proving their rights online. The most common barriers were not having easy access to the internet, not having easy access to a device, and language barriers.

Just under one-fifth (18%) of VAC visa holders felt there were barriers that would prevent them proving their rights online. The most common barriers were not having easy access to the internet, not having easy access to a device, and limited digital skills.

Please note, most respondents completed the survey online, which may impact the results, as those who are most likely to struggle with online services are less likely to have participated in the research.

1.3 Take-up of online services – VAC visa holders

Of all VAC visa holders who had proved their right to rent to a landlord since the online right to rent service was introduced, 16% had used the online service.

Of those who proved their right to work to an employer since the online service was introduced, 33% had used this service.

Of those who used their physical biometric residence permit (BRP) to prove their right to rent or right to work, a majority said they did so because their landlord/letting agent or employer asked to see a physical document. Other reasons include lack of awareness of online services and a preference for physical documents.

1.4 Awareness of legislation changes

Overall, one-fifth (20%) of ID check app visa holders with a BRP were aware of the legal changes that came in on 6 April 2022 whereby they can no longer use their physical BRP to prove their right to work or right to rent.

Similarly, 17% of VAC visa holders were aware of the changes.

2. Key results – Sponsors

The survey included 1,202 employers registered to sponsor skilled or temporary workers.

Please note, it is possible that registered sponsors have greater familiarity with the immigration system than other employers, and this may have some impact on the results.

2.1 Usage

69% of employers surveyed had used the online Right to Work checking service and one-quarter (26%) had not used it.

Just over half (53%) of employers had checked an employee’s right to work using their BRP and 40% had not.

Of employers who had considered using the online Right to Work checking service but decided not to, 39% said they prefer checking other identity documents (for example, passport), one-quarter (25%) prefer checking BRPs, and one-fifth (21%) said they had no need to use the online checking services.

2.2 Ease of use

85% of employers that used the online checking service found it easy and 4% found it difficult.

Two-thirds (66%) of employers experienced no technical issues when using the online Right to Work checking service.

Smaller proportions did find some issues such as the website would not load (15%), issues using a share code (for example, the share code was invalid) (13%) and issues receiving a share code (for example, received an email where the URL did not work) (12%).

2.3 Comms for employers

Around 9 in 10 (93%) employers that have used the online checking service use the GOV.UK website to get information and guidance about conducting checks.

Just under half (46%) get information from Home Office emails and nearly one-quarter (22%) from an immigration advisor.

Smaller proportions have used other information and guidance from other sources, such as a colleague in their business, from traditional media and Future Borders and Immigration System (FBIS) advisory groups.

2.4 Awareness of legislation changes

Two-thirds (66%) of employers were aware of the legal changes which came in on 6 April 2022 and 31% were not aware of the legal changes.