A visa centre offers a paid "UKVI account creation" extra: is it required, and how does my family set up their eVisa?

Who does this apply to?

• This is general information. It is for people with a UK visa, especially those bringing a parent or relative from Türkiye on a visitor visa. It is based on GOV.UK pages as of October 2026.

Why is it asked?

People in groups report that visa centre staff, at the fingerprint appointment, said a UKVI account was needed and charged an extra fee (about 800 TL was mentioned in the group). These are user reports. We could not verify the fee or the practice. Let us look at the official pages.

What does the official page say?

• GOV.UK says that to access an eVisa you set up a UKVI account and confirm your identity. You cannot access your eVisa until the account is linked.
• You need: a phone number and email you can use to sign in, and a valid passport plus your visa application number (GWF or UAN). The identity check uses a smartphone app. There are other ways if you have no phone or passport.
• The GOV.UK eVisa page says plainly that you do not need to pay to set up a UKVI account, nor to access your eVisa. You can set it up yourself on GOV.UK. The page does not describe a visa centre doing it for a fee.
• Access is usually immediate, sometimes up to 24 hours.
• The visitor visa page says that once the visa is approved you get eVisa access by linking to a UKVI account.
• Partners and children need their own accounts. Someone who cannot manage an account themselves (a child, an older person who does not use the internet) can have someone else set it up, using their own phone number and email. When the person can manage it, the details should be changed to their own phone and email.

When is it done?

• In the groups most people said they set the account up after the visa was approved. Some suggested preparing earlier. The official page does not set an order; the steps are described once you have your application number.

Points to watch

• Setting up the account yourself before your relative goes to the fingerprint appointment, or briefing them, avoids deciding under pressure.
• The GOV.UK page says you will not need to show your eVisa. A share code can be used with people such as employers and landlords, or when you travel. For what may be asked at the border, see Travel with your eVisa.
• If you have trouble, use the UKVI webchat.
• Official pages change. This post is a general summary.

What can you do?

• Follow the steps on Get access to your eVisa.
• For codes, see View your eVisa and get a share code.
• If you are unhappy with a service, use the visa centre's complaints channel and the GOV.UK contact UKVI page.