UK eVisa Glitch Leaves Traveler Stranded in Spain
AI-generated image · US National Wire
A 'known issue' with the Home Office's digitized immigration system linked a woman's settled status to her twin sister, preventing her from boarding a flight home.
Nidia Webb, a legal UK resident of eight years, was stranded at a Spanish airport after the Home Office's eVisa system erroneously linked her digital settled status to the details of her identical twin sister, as The Guardian first reported. According to Politico, Webb was informed at the departure gate that she could not board her flight because her identity could not be properly matched to her status, a situation she was told is a "known technical issue" affecting twins within the system.
Webb reported that despite phone promises from Home Office staff that the error would be corrected, a confirmation email was mistakenly sent to her sister. Webb stated she remained unaware the issue was resolved until she was finally permitted to board her flight.
The Home Office defended the rollout, stating that over 10 million people have successfully used eVisas and that most errors are resolved within 24 hours. A spokesperson noted the department is committed to data accuracy as the digital system expands.
However, the system has faced broader criticism. The Guardian reported in July 2025 that up to 200,000 legal residents were at risk of a Windrush-style scandal due to the Home Office's inability to contact them to transfer old documents to the digital platform. Monique Hawkins, acting chief executive of the immigration campaign group the3million, told Politico that the rollout was "rushed" and noted that carriers and the Home Office often shift responsibility to one another when people are denied boarding or compensation.