Woman Stranded in Spain After UK eVisa Mistakes Her for Twin

A woman who has lived legally in the UK for eight years was left stranded at a Spanish airport after a Home Office eVisa error incorrectly linked her settled immigration status to that of her identical twin sister. Nidia Webb was told at the departure gate that she could not board her flight to the UK because the digital system could not match her immigration status with her identity.

Webb said she was subsequently informed that the problem was a “known technical issue” affecting some twins within the Home Office system. The incident has renewed concerns about the reliability of the UK’s increasingly digital immigration system, particularly for people who depend on electronic records to prove their right to enter and remain in the country.

The Home Office has said more than 10 million people have successfully used eVisas, while acknowledging that errors can occur as the digital system continues to expand. Current government guidance also warns that passengers can face travel delays if their personal information does not match the details held on their UK Visas and Immigration account.

Webb said the problem became apparent when she attempted to return to the UK from Spain. At the airport, officials were unable to establish that the digital settled status presented in the Home Office system belonged to her.

According to Webb, her eVisa had become associated with her identical twin sister’s details rather than her own. That meant the immigration status could not be properly matched to her identity when her travel documents were checked.

“I was informed that this is a known technical issue affecting some twins within the Home Office system,” Webb said.

The problem was particularly difficult because the eVisa system has replaced many physical immigration documents and is now central to proving a person’s status. Government guidance states that an eVisa records an individual’s identity and immigration status, including settlement or indefinite leave to remain.

For travellers, the consequences of an inaccurate record can be immediate. The Home Office says carriers may refuse boarding where a passenger’s immigration status cannot be verified, and recommends checking UKVI account details and passport information before travelling.

Webb said she contacted the Home Office after being stopped at the airport and was told by staff that the technical problem would be corrected.

However, the situation remained confusing because the confirmation email indicating that the matter had been resolved was sent to her twin rather than to Webb herself.

She said she did not know whether the problem had actually been fixed until airport staff eventually allowed her to board her flight.

“I had no idea the issue had been corrected until I was allowed to board my flight home,” Webb said. “Had I not spent hours on the phone trying to resolve the matter, I have no idea how long I could have remained stranded abroad.”

Daily Dazzling Dawn understands that the Home Office has since indicated that Webb’s particular problem was fixed and that officials would contact her directly.

The department said more than 10 million people have successfully used eVisas and stressed that it is committed to maintaining accurate records and ensuring safeguards are available to people who rely on the digital system.

It also said that, in rare cases where errors are identified, the majority are resolved within 24 hours.

The case comes as the Home Office continues to move towards a predominantly digital immigration system.

An eVisa is a digital record of a person's identity and immigration permission. It can be used to demonstrate rights in the UK and to generate a share code for organisations such as employers, landlords and carriers.

The government has specifically advised travellers to check their UKVI account, confirm that their eVisa contains the correct immigration status and ensure that their current passport or travel document is linked to their account before travelling.

A share code for travel can also be generated before a journey and remains valid for 90 days.

The Home Office has also introduced an online service for reporting eVisa errors, including incorrect dates of birth, immigration status problems and technical failures. Its published guidance says most reported issues are expected to be fixed within five working days, although complex cases can take up to 15 working days.

Webb’s experience is not the first time concerns have been raised about people being unable to prove immigration rights because of problems with the transition to eVisas.

The Guardian reported in July 2025 that as many as 200,000 people who had lived legally in Britain for decades could potentially be affected because the Home Office had struggled to contact some people to transfer older immigration documentation into the new digital system.

Campaign group the3million has also raised concerns about cases involving people being denied boarding because carriers could not verify their immigration status.

Monique Hawkins, acting chief executive of the organisation, said the case demonstrated vulnerabilities within the system and argued that people needed a reliable and stable way to prove their status.

She told journalists that the eVisa rollout had been “rushed” and said the organisation regularly encountered cases in which people were denied boarding or struggled to obtain compensation while airlines and the Home Office disputed responsibility.

The concerns come against a backdrop of continuing government efforts to strengthen the digital system. In July 2026, UK Visas and Immigration published updated guidance specifically explaining what passengers should do if a carrier cannot automatically verify their immigration status before travelling.

For people with settled or other long-term immigration status, the issue is therefore not simply whether the underlying legal right exists. The practical question is whether the digital record accurately identifies the person who holds that right at the moment it is needed.

Webb’s experience illustrates the potential consequences when that connection fails: a person legally entitled to live in Britain can still find herself unable to board a plane home because the government database cannot correctly distinguish her from her own twin.