eVisa system error left a settled resident stranded abroad
29 Aug 2026
A UK resident with settled status was left stranded in Spain after the Home Office's eVisa system mixed up her digital record with her identical twin sister's. Nidia Webb, who has lived in the UK for eight years, was stopped at the boarding gate for her return flight because her digital status would not match her identity correctly.
The Home Office said this is a known technical issue that can affect twins, and that more than 10 million people have used eVisas successfully, with "the majority of cases resolved within 24 hours" when errors are identified. In Webb's case, the email confirming the problem had been fixed was sent to her twin sister instead of to her, which added to the delay.
If you hold a UK visa or settled status on an eVisa, check your account before you travel. UK authorities recommend that eVisa holders check, before travelling, that the information in their UKVI account, their immigration status, and their passport are all correctly linked. This is especially worth doing if you have a twin or a close relative with a similar name or date of birth.
If you spot a mismatch, contact UKVI before you travel rather than at the airport, and keep evidence of your status, such as a screenshot of your UKVI profile, in case you need to show your right to travel while it is being fixed.
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