The Home Office-sponsored agency responsible for licensing hundreds of thousands of security personnel has confirmed that it will not accept newly introduced eVisas from job applicants, as reported by the Guardian. eVisas, which are intended to replace physical biometric residence permits, have been plagued by difficulties. Issues include banks and academic institutions hesitating to accept eVisas, while the Solicitors Regulatory Authority has also refused to acknowledge them as a legitimate form of identification. There have been reports of NGOs encountering difficulties when their clients try to access child benefits using eVisas as proof of eligibility, although the Department for Work and Pensions disputes these claims.
The Home Office acknowledges that adjustments to the Security Industry Authority’s operational systems are necessary before eVisas can be accepted as part of the license application process. This creates a challenge for many job applicants who lack other forms of official ID. The SIA licensed approximately 451,000 individuals, including security guards, CCTV operators, and door supervisors, last year.
The organization the3million has highlighted several issues with banks and financial providers failing to recognize eVisas as proof of identity or immigration status. Brian Dickoff, a legal officer at Migrants Organise, pointed out that the premise of the eVISA system is to offer secure and easily verifiable identification for individuals, which hasn’t been the case. He expressed concern about potential future problems with individuals wrongly being told that they don’t have the entitlement to live in the country.
Andreea Dumitrache, from the3million, emphasized the confusion caused by the eVisa system and the need for an independent review. The Ministry of Labor (Department for Work and Pensions) has denied any issues regarding eVisas, insisting they are accepted as valid identification or proof of immigration status and do not affect eligibility for benefits. A spokesperson from the Home Office stated that the Security Industry Authority supports the introduction of eVisas, and the necessary changes to their systems are being undertaken to ensure the acceptance of eVisas as part of the license application process.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/jun/30/uk-government-agency-not-accepting-evisas-as-id-from-job-applicants
