UK Visa and Immigration Status for Zimbabweans: eVisas, Work Visa Pathways and What Happens If Your Status Lapses

For Zimbabweans living in or moving to the UK, understanding the current immigration system is essential — particularly since the shift away from physical Biometric Residence Permits (BRPs) to a fully digital eVisa system that took effect from January 2025. ## The End of BRP Cards Physical BRP cards are no longer issued or renewed. All BRP cards expired on 31 December 2024, regardless of any later date printed on the card itself. From 1 January 2025, the UK immigration system moved entirely to eVisas — digital records held within a UKVI online account. If you held a BRP and have not yet created a UKVI account, do so immediately at gov.uk/evisa. You will need your date of birth, your BRP or passport, access to an email address and phone number, and a smartphone. Creating the account is free. Your underlying immigration permission — the actual leave granted — is unaffected by the physical card expiring. The eVisa simply replaces the card as the means of proving that status. When you need to prove your right to work, rent, or travel, use the View and Prove function within your UKVI account to generate a Share Code. Airlines and UK Border Force verify status electronically, so there is no need for a physical document. Ensure your UKVI account is set up and linked before you travel internationally. In rare cases where someone needs to travel urgently but cannot access their eVisa, a single-entry temporary vignette may be requested — this costs £154. Expired BRP cards could be used to set up eVisa accounts until approximately June 2026, after which the cards have no further use. ## Applying for a UK Visa from Zimbabwe All UK visa applications are submitted online at gov.uk/apply-uk-visa. Avoid third-party websites, which may charge unnecessary fees or submit incorrect applications. **Standard Visitor Visa** — allows stays of up to six months and costs £135 for the standard duration. Longer-validity visitor visas (two, five, or ten years) cost more. A TB test certificate is not required for visitor visas of six months or less. **Visas over six months** (Skilled Worker, Family, Student) require a TB test from a Home Office-approved clinic in Harare before applying. Zimbabwe is on the UK's mandatory TB-testing list. The certificate is valid for six months from the test date. These visa categories also require payment of the Immigration Health Surcharge — currently £1,035 per year for most adults — paid online before booking a biometrics appointment. ## The Skilled Worker Visa Route The Skilled Worker visa is the primary route for Zimbabweans seeking to live and work in the UK on a long-term basis. It is a points-based, employer-sponsored route and leads to Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) after five years of continuous residence. To qualify, you must score 70 points in total: - **20 points** — a valid Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) from a Home Office-licensed employer on the A-rated register of licensed sponsors - **20 points** — a job offer at RQF Level 6 or above in an eligible occupation - **10 points** — English language proficiency at B2 level or higher - **20 points** — meeting the minimum salary threshold: the general threshold is £41,700 per year, or the going rate for your specific occupation code, whichever is higher Additional tradeable points are available for a PhD relevant to the role (10 points), a STEM PhD (20 points), or a role on the shortage occupation list (20 points). You must also demonstrate £1,270 in personal savings held for at least 28 consecutive days within the 31 days before applying. This financial requirement is waived if you have held a valid UK visa for the previous 12 months, or if your employer formally agrees to cover your first month's costs. Key documents for the application include your passport, the CoS reference number from your employer, proof of English language qualification, proof of funds, relevant academic or professional qualifications, and a TB test certificate if applying from Zimbabwe. Dependent partners and children may accompany or join a Skilled Worker, and dependants can live, work, and study in the UK. ## If Your Status Lapses Overstaying your visa or allowing your leave to expire without applying for an extension creates serious consequences. You lose the right to work, rent property, access NHS services without charge, and re-enter the UK. Overstayers may also face a re-entry ban of one or ten years depending on the length of overstay. If you are approaching your visa expiry date and wish to remain, apply for an extension before your current leave ends. While your application is pending, your existing conditions continue under Section 3C leave. The cost of extending a Skilled Worker visa in-country typically ranges from £769 to over £1,751 depending on the route, plus the Immigration Health Surcharge. If you have already overstayed, voluntary departure and seeking legal advice before any enforcement action is strongly recommended. Several organisations provide free or low-cost immigration advice to Zimbabweans in the UK, including the Zimbabwe Association and various community legal centres. ## Practical Reminders - Create your UKVI eVisa account immediately if you have not done so - Keep your UKVI account contact details up to date, especially if you change phone number or email - Generate a Share Code each time you need to prove your status — codes expire after 90 days - Any visa extension or new grant will appear as an updated eVisa; no physical document will be issued - TB testing for long-stay visas must be done in Harare at an approved clinic before submitting your application