Calls for the ICO to investigate failing Home Office eVisa system
11/12/2025 | Open Rights Group
An open letter signed by 19 civil society organisations, led by the Open Rights Group, has urged the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) to investigate significant data protection breaches and accessibility concerns related to the Home Office's eVisa scheme.
The organisations claim that pervasive data errors and a poorly designed system hinder migrants from proving their rights to work, rent, study, travel, or access essential services. They argue that users have reportedly been locked out of their accounts without adequate support from the Home Office. The situation disproportionately affects vulnerable groups, including refugees and those lacking digital access. The letter argues that the Home Office’s Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) is misleading and inadequate, failing to address various risks, including those associated with automated checks and digital-only access, which excludes individuals without smartphones or those facing socio-economic barriers.
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