"The groups cite a "high volume" of data errors linked to the eVisa scheme, which they say amount to both operational failures and serious data protection breaches. In one documented case referenced in the letter, the passport details, contact information, and immigration status of a Canadian citizen were wrongly disclosed to a Russian woman. Other failures have seen migrants locked out of their eVisa accounts, with no effective support from the Home Office and no clear way to escalate urgent issues."
"At the heart of the complaint is the Home Office's Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA), which the signatories describe as incomplete and misleading. The groups argue it misses obvious risks baked into a digital-only system, especially for older people, disabled users, and those who are digitally excluded, while brushing off the impact of stripping away all physical proof-of-immigration status in favor of real-time online checks."
Civil society groups asked the Information Commissioner's Office to investigate whether the Home Office's digital-only eVisa system breaches GDPR due to systemic data errors and design failures. The eVisa replaces physical proof of immigration status with a live online record checked in real time, and errors have caused wrongful disclosures of passport and contact details and locked people out of accounts. Migrants lack meaningful support, escalation routes, or any physical fallback, preventing access to work, housing, travel, education, and services. The Home Office's DPIA is described as incomplete and misleading, and the system disproportionately risks older, disabled, and digitally excluded people.
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