uk Travel, documents & being abroad

What to do if…
a visa or permit has an incorrect, blank, or outdated passport detail

Produced and maintained by PanicStation.org Published: 26 July 2026 Last reviewed: 12 August 2026 Editorial policy UK guide

Short answer

Identify whether the problem is in your UKVI account, your eVisa, a physical visa vignette, or an application awaiting a decision. Update a changed passport through the appropriate UKVI route, report an actual eVisa error, and check the position before travelling.

Do not do these things

Do not write on, alter, peel, or damage a visa vignette or physical immigration document.
Do not give a carrier guessed passport details or details from a passport you will not use.
Do not assume that a blank or outdated detail means your immigration permission has ended.
Do not assume that the visa remains usable for travel without checking the linked passport and eVisa.
Do not create another UKVI account if you already have one.
Do not withdraw an application or submit a new one solely because you found a mismatch.
Do not share photographs of your passport, visa, account screen, reference numbers, or share code publicly.

What to do now

Put your current passport beside any old passport, visa vignette, permit, decision email, and UKVI account details. Write down the exact mismatch, such as the passport number, expiry date, name, nationality, or missing document.
Sign in to your UKVI account if you have one. Check which passport or travel document is linked to the account, then separately view your eVisa and check that its identity, immigration status, and conditions are correct.
If you received a new passport after your application was decided, or the account still lists an old passport, use the UKVI account update service to add or update the passport you will travel with. Keep the confirmation securely.
If information on the eVisa itself is incorrect, or you cannot view or use the eVisa properly, use the official eVisa error-reporting service. Do not use that service merely to replace an old linked passport with a current one.
If the error appears on a visa vignette, check the eVisa. If the same error appears there, report the eVisa error online. For other changes, update your UKVI account. Current GOV.UK guidance says a replacement vignette is not issued for this type of correction.
If the application is still awaiting a decision, do not try to change the name or identity document through the usual UKVI account update service. If you applied inside the UK, follow the change-of-circumstances route. If you applied outside the UK through a visa application centre, contact that centre. Use the UKVI contact tool if you are unsure which route applies.
If you are due to travel soon, make sure the passenger information given to the carrier exactly matches the valid passport you will use. If the carrier cannot verify your status, you may be able to provide a travel share code or a valid physical immigration document with your passport.
If you cannot sign in, update the document, or resolve the mismatch, contact UKVI through the official help route. Give the exact incorrect detail, your application or customer reference if available, and your travel date if relevant.

What can wait

You do not need to replace an otherwise valid passport, withdraw an application, submit a fresh application, make a formal complaint, or decide whether to cancel later travel until you have identified where the mismatch appears and checked the correct official route.

Important reassurance

An old or incorrect passport detail in an account does not by itself necessarily mean that your immigration permission has ended. It can still prevent automatic checks or cause delays, so it is worth dealing with before travel.

Scope note

This guide covers immediate checks and correction routes only. Questions about whether your permission is valid, what conditions apply, or whether you can travel in a particular case may require advice from a regulated immigration adviser or solicitor.

Important note

This is general information, not legal or immigration advice. The correct process depends on whether the problem concerns a UKVI account, eVisa, physical vignette, pending application, and whether you are inside or outside the UK.

Additional Resources

About this guide

This guide was produced and is maintained by PanicStation.org using its published editorial process. Official and specialist sources are checked where relevant, and AI-assisted tools may be used for drafting, organisation, and consistency checks. The site operator remains responsible for publication, revision, and removal decisions.

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