Digital-only immigration system is causing stress, fear and exclusion

Research led by the University of Warwick has found that the Home Office's digital-only immigration status is causing stress, confusion, and exclusion for migrants across the UK.

The digitalisation of immigration status began in 2018 and is now mandatory for many. The findings show that people are struggling to navigate a system that is complex, glitch-prone, and often lacks clear support.

Dr Derya Ozkul from the University of Warwick said: "In our research, we heard from individuals losing employment opportunities, missing flights, having their personal information shared with others, struggling to complete processes due to technical issues, and worrying that they had lost their legal status.

"This report should serve as a warning to everyone about what can go wrong when systems are made compulsory and digital-only, without offering any alternatives."

Migrants told researchers they faced errors, shifting deadlines, and technical failures that affected their ability to work, travel, rent, study, and access public services. Many reported feeling vulnerable and anxious when attempting to correct mistakes they did not cause.

People with limited digital literacy, language barriers, disabilities, or caring responsibilities were most at risk of exclusion. Others relied heavily on friends, community groups, and migrant-led online platforms because official guidance was difficult to access or unclear.

Employers, landlords, airline staff, and border officials often lacked understanding of digital immigration checks, leading to delays and confusion. Some migrants reported being asked to explain the system themselves.

The study was conducted by Dr Derya Ozkul (University of Warwick) and Dr Marie Godin (University of Leicester/Oxford) in collaboration with the charity Migrant Voice and the Open Rights Group.

Nazek Ramadan, Director of Migrant Voice, said: "The findings of this report clearly show how the design and implementation of digital-only status are preventing migrants from demonstrating and accessing the rights they already have. We need to shift the narrative from surveillance and enforcement to inclusion and service delivery."

Dr Marie Godin from the University of Leicester said: "Our report highlights the experiences of migrants across the UK. Many described confusion and anxiety as they navigated a complex, glitch-prone platform. This research reinforces migrants' perceptions that the shift to digitalisation prioritised control over fairness, efficiency and accessibility."

Sara Alsherif, Open Rights Group, added: "A year after it was supposed to come into effect, the e-Visa system is still beset with problems. Lessons must be learnt, especially as the government intends to roll digital ID out to everyone in the UK."

For the full report, please see: https://digitalgood.net/dg-outputs/exclusion-by-design/

ENDS

Notes to Editors

For more information please contact:

Stevie Connoll, Media & Communications Officer

[email protected] / +44 (0)7824 540791

Image credit: Majid Adin

About the research:

The project was carried out by Dr Derya Ozkul (University of Warwick) and Dr Marie Godin (University of Leicester/Oxford), working with Migrant Voice and the Open Rights Group. It used FOI requests, roundtables and interviews with 40 migrants from across the UK.

The research was completed before June 2025, when physical documents were still accepted. The authors warn that harms are likely to intensify now that digital-only status is fully in place.

About the University of Warwick:

Founded in 1965, the University of Warwick is a world-leading institution known for its commitment to era-defining innovation across research and education. A connected ecosystem of staff, students and alumni, the University fosters transformative learning, interdisciplinary collaboration and bold industry partnerships across state-of-the-art facilities in the UK and global satellite hubs. Here, spirited thinkers push boundaries, experiment and challenge convention to create a better world.

5 December 2025