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uk Travel, documents & being abroad passport number mismatch • visa passport number wrong • permit passport number wrong • new passport old visa • visa in old passport • evisa passport changed • ukvi account passport update • evisa details wrong • share code not working • proving immigration status issue • airline says document mismatch • border officer says mismatch • check-in refused mismatch • immigration record mismatch • passport renewed while abroad • wrong details on visa vignette • visa details do not match • travel document discrepancy • identity document mismatch • old passport kept for visa

What to do if…
you are told your passport number on a visa or permit does not match your current passport

Short answer

Don’t travel or rely on the document until you’ve confirmed whether it’s simply a valid visa linked to an older passport, or an actual error in your immigration record. If you use a UKVI account/eVisa, update the identity document linked to your account and report any error with the eVisa details.

Do not do these things

  • Do not try to travel “hoping it’ll be fine” once someone has flagged a mismatch (you can be refused boarding or delayed).
  • Do not edit, annotate, or recreate any visa/permit evidence yourself (including screenshots or PDFs).
  • Do not discard your old passport if your visa vignette (sticker) is in it (even if that passport is expired).
  • Do not submit a brand-new visa application in panic unless an official route tells you to (duplicate records can create bigger problems).
  • Do not hand your passport to unofficial agents who promise a quick fix.

What to do now

  1. Pin down exactly what’s “not matching”.
    Write down: the passport number shown on the visa/permit record, your current passport number, and where you were told this (airline check-in, employer, landlord, border). If allowed, take a clear photo/screenshot of the message/screen.
  2. Check if this is the common “visa in an old passport” situation.
    If you have a valid UK visa vignette in an older passport and a new current passport, you are often expected to carry both passports (old passport with the vignette + your current passport). If the number on the visa/record is one you never held, treat it as an error.
  3. If you have an eVisa/UKVI account, update the passport (identity document) linked to your UKVI account.
    Do this as soon as you can, before you rely on the record for travel, work, or renting.
  4. If the eVisa details are wrong or you can’t use it properly, report an error with your eVisa.
    Use the official “report an error” route if the details shown are wrong, you can’t get a share code, you can’t view your eVisa due to a technical error, or you’ve never been able to access the UKVI account the Home Office set up.
  5. Switch to “proof mode” if travel is soon or you’re being blocked.
    • If you can view your eVisa, save what you’re allowed to use for checks (for example, the online view and/or a share code where applicable).
    • Carry both passports if you have a vignette in the old one.
    • Keep any Home Office decision email/letter you received when your permission was granted.
  6. If you’re abroad and stuck, stick to official support routes.
    If you cannot update your UKVI account, cannot view/use the eVisa, or the error is preventing travel, use the official GOV.UK update/report routes rather than third parties. Keep a short written timeline of what happened (dates, flights, who told you what).

What can wait

  • You do not need to decide right now whether you must “replace” your visa or make a new application—first establish whether it’s just linked to an older passport or a record error.
  • You do not need to argue in depth at a desk or in a queue—focus on consistent documents, saved proof you can show, and starting the official correction routes.
  • You do not need every historic immigration document immediately; start with your passport(s), the visa/permission details you have, and UKVI account access.

Important reassurance

Passport renewals commonly trigger this kind of problem because older records can remain linked to older passport numbers, and digital status can depend on the identity document attached to your account. Slowing down and using the official update/error routes is the safest way to prevent refused boarding and repeated dead ends.

Scope note

These are first steps to stabilise the situation, avoid refused boarding/entry, and start the correction process. If you remain blocked after updating/reporting, or your travel is urgent, specialist immigration advice may be needed for your exact status.

Important note

This is general information, not legal advice. Requirements vary by your immigration route and what type of permission you hold. If you cannot make your identity documents and permission record consistent, avoid travel until you have an official correction or clear written instructions you can rely on.

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