The legal position
When the airline cannot verify an eVisa
If an airline cannot verify a UK eVisa, the traveller should check that the passport used for travel is correctly linked to the UKVI account and that the name, document number and status details match. Ask the carrier to repeat its official status check and contact UKVI for support where the problem persists. A share code does not guarantee boarding.
Reading tools
If an airline cannot verify your eVisa, check the passport linked to your UKVI account, generate a travel share code and contact Home Office support.
01
Begin with the identity match.
UKVI states that automatic verification can fail where the passport or travel-document details do not match the passenger information given to the carrier. Check the UKVI account, current passport and booking details character by character.
A recent passport replacement, a name variation, dual nationality or an incorrect document number can interrupt the chain even where the traveller can see valid status online.
02
Use live evidence in the form UKVI identifies.
The current carrier guidance says that a person with access to an eVisa can obtain a share code through the view-and-prove service. The share code or a valid physical immigration document, where one still exists, should be shown with the valid passport.
A saved image can assist personal preparation but does not replace the live status check. The carrier decides whether to board the passenger and can contact the Home Office carrier support hub if status remains unconfirmed.
03
Separate an access problem from a status error.
If the holder cannot sign in, recover the UKVI account or seek UKVI assistance. If the eVisa displays the wrong status, date of birth or other immigration information, use the error-reporting service. These are distinct processes and should not be conflated at the airport.
Where the difficulty is known before travel, create time for correction. UKVI states that most reported eVisa errors are aimed to be fixed within five working days, while complex cases can take up to fifteen working days.
Working checklist
Questions before the next step.
- Match booking details to the current passport
- Confirm that the passport appears in the UKVI account
- View the live eVisa
- Obtain the correct travel share code
- Carry valid physical evidence if still applicable
- Report a genuine record error before travel
Primary sources
Rules and official guidance.
Reviewed 24 August 2026. Check the current provision and complete facts before relying on this resource.
How to use the source record
Verify the current instrument, commencement date, transitional position and caseworker guidance against the application date and complete facts. The source may change after this resource was reviewed.
Questions
Points that commonly alter the answer.
Can I show an airline an eVisa share code?+
Yes. UKVI's carrier guidance identifies a share code from the view-and-prove service as a way to evidence status where automatic verification fails. It should be shown with the valid passport.
Who makes the boarding decision?+
The carrier remains responsible for deciding whether to allow boarding under its policies and responsibilities. It can contact the Home Office carrier support hub if it cannot confirm status.
Should I wait until check-in to test the record?+
No. Check access, passport linkage and the visible status before travel so there is time to update the account or report an error.
Continue within this subject
Keep identity, status and travel evidence aligned.
A valid immigration decision can still produce a practical failure where the UKVI account, passport, carrier record or share code does not correspond.
Initial position review
Move from general information to the facts that control the answer.
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