Getting your BRP if you applied from outside the UK

If you applied for your immigration status (for example, your visa) from outside the UK, you’ll need to collect your biometric residence permit ( BRP ) once you’re in the UK. You must usually collect your BRP before the vignette sticker in your travel document expires or within 10 days of arriving in the UK, whichever is later. Check your decision letter. It will tell you to collect your BRP from either: a named Post Office branch your sponsor, if you chose this option when you applied You must be over 18 to collect a BRP . What you’ll need Bring your passport or travel document with your vignette sticker in when you collect your BRP . You’ll get your vignette sticker when your visa application is approved. Collecting a child’s BRP You must be nominated to collect a child’s BRP , even if you’re the child’s parent. The Home Office will tell you within 5 working days if you’re approved to collect the child’s BRP . You do not need to be nominated if you’re also collecting your own BRP and you are named on your child’s vignette sticker. Collecting your BRP from a different Post Office branch You can choose to pick up your BRP from a different Post Office branch. You’ll need to arrange this at the Post Office branch you want to use and pay a fee. The Home Office cannot change the Post Office branch for you. Check that the Post Office branch you want to use offers a ‘ BRP collection service’. Nominate someone else to collect your BRP You can nominate someone else to collect your BRP if you have a serious illness or disability that prevents you from collecting it. You cannot nominate someone else to collect your BRP for any other reason. The Home Office may email you to ask for proof that you cannot collect your BRP in person - for example, a letter from your doctor. Your nominated person will not be allowed to collect your BRP if you cannot show any proof when asked. The person you’ve nominated to collect your BRP must provide your passport as evidence that you’ve entered the UK. The person you nominate must have one of the following: a passport an EU national identity card a BRP You can get someone to make the nomination for you, for example a legal representative, charity, employer, college or university. You’ll be told within 5 working days if the person you nominate is approved to collect your BRP . There are other ways to prove your immigration status before they collect it. If you change your mind, you can still collect your BRP yourself or you can nominate a different person. You do not need to cancel the original nomination. Nominate someone Report a problem with collecting your BRP Tell the Home Office if you cannot collect your BRP for any reason, for example: you went to collect it from the Post Office and it was not there you’ve lost your passport or travel document, or cannot prove your identity you do not know which Post Office to go to because you’ve lost your decision letter The Home Office will email you to tell you what to do next. You will usually get a response within 5 working days. It’ll take longer if you do not give an email address. There are other ways to prove your immigration status before you collect it, for example if you need to leave and re-enter the UK. Report now After you get your BRP BRPs are being replaced by eVisas. An eVisa is an online record of your immigration status. Most BRPs will expire on 31 December 2024. If you have permission to stay in the UK longer than your BRP , you need to set up access to your eVisa before your BRP expires.

Prove your status without a BRP

The way you prove your immigration status is changing. Biometric residence permits ( BRPs ) are being replaced by eVisas. An eVisa is an online record of your immigration status which you can use to prove your status instead of a BRP . Set up access to your eVisa . If you do not have a UKVI account already, you’ll need to create an account. You can do this at the same time as you set up access to your eVisa. If you need to leave and re-enter the UK You may be able to prove your immigration status in a different way if you are outside the UK and you either: cannot use your BRP - for example because it is lost, stolen or expired cannot set up access to your eVisa or update your UKVI account Depending on your circumstances, you’ll need to either: get a temporary visa apply for a Returning Resident visa Get a temporary visa A temporary visa is a short-term vignette in your passport. It will let you re-enter the UK once only. It costs £154. When you apply, you’ll need to: choose the country that you’ll provide your biometrics (fingerprints and photo) in confirm that you can travel to a visa application centre Apply for a temporary visa . Apply for a Returning Resident visa If you have been away for over 2 years and you’ve lost your documentation proving your right to live in the UK, you can apply for a Returning Resident visa . It costs £637.

Report a problem with your BRP

You cannot get a replacement biometric residence permit ( BRP ). BRPs are being replaced by eVisas. An eVisa is an online record of your immigration status. If there are any problems with your BRP when you get it, you’ll need to: set up access to an eVisa check that the details on your eVisa are correct - if not, you’ll need to report an error with your eVisa You can also ask for an administrative review if both of the following apply: you applied for your visa from inside the UK there are mistakes in the length or conditions of your visa What you do not need to report You do not need to tell UKVI if your BRP expires on 31 December 2024 but your immigration status (for example, your visa) allows you to stay longer. You need to set up access to your eVisa so you can prove your immigration status online after your BRP expires. If you’re in the UK and your BRP has not arrived You can contact the Home Office about your BRP delivery if your decision email or letter saying that you can remain in the UK arrived more than 10 days ago. You should only contact the Home Office if any of the following apply: you have already contacted Royal Mail, and they could not help you you do not have a tracking number to track your delivery with Royal Mail you missed the delivery of your BRP more than 21 days ago You’ll need: your full name, date of birth and nationality an email or postal address your decision email or letter You can get someone to contact the Home Office for you, for example a legal representative, charity, employer, college or university. Do not use this service if Royal Mail tried to deliver your BRP and left a card, or sent a text message or email. Contact them to rearrange delivery or collect your BRP from your local delivery office. Report that your BRP has not arrived . The Home Office will email you to tell you what to do next. You’ll usually get a response within 7 days. It’ll take longer if you do not give an email address.

If your BRP is lost or stolen

You cannot get a replacement biometric residence permit ( BRP ). You’ll need to set up access to an eVisa instead. You must report a lost or stolen BRP . You can be fined up to £1,000 and made to leave the UK if you do not report a lost or stolen BRP. You can get someone to report it for you, for example a legal representative, a charity, a family member, employer, college or university. The Home Office will contact you within one working day of reporting it. Find out how to prove your immigration status without a BRP . If you find your BRP after reporting it lost or stolen You will not be able to use your BRP if you find it after you report it lost or stolen. You should cut the BRP into pieces and dispose of it. Make sure you cut through: your personal details the royal coat of arms the gold biometric chip, if your card has one If you’ve found someone else’s lost or stolen BRP If you’re in the UK, post the BRP to the Home Office using an envelope without a window. Returns Unit PO Box 195 Bristol BS20 1BT Do not send any other items or documents with the BRP - they’ll be destroyed. If you’re outside the UK, hand the BRP in to the police or to the nearest British embassy or consulate .

Biometric residence permits (BRPs)

Q: If your BRP is expiring

What you need to do when your biometric residence permit ( BRP ) expires depends on why it’s expiring. If your permission to stay in the UK (for example, your visa) is expiring You must apply to extend your stay or get a new type of permission. For example, you can extend your visa or apply for a new visa . If your BRP is expiring BRPs are being replaced by eVisas. An eVisa is an online record of your immigration status. If you have permission to stay in the UK longer than your BRP , you need to set up access to your eVisa before your BRP expires. You can keep using your BRP until it expires. You do not need to tell UKVI when your BRP has expired. Keep your expired BRP - you might be able to use it as evidence if you apply to stay in the UK.

What a BRP is

A biometric residence permit (BRP) can be used to confirm your:

identity
right to study
right to any public services or benefits you’re entitled to

You cannot use your BRP to prove your right to work or prove your right to rent.

BRPs are different from biometric residence cards (BRCs), which are also called ‘UK residence cards’.

BRPs are being replaced by eVisas. An eVisa is an online record of your immigration status. BRPs are no longer issued, but you can still collect one if you made a visa application from outside the UK.

If you have a BRP

Most BRPs will expire on 31 December 2024. The expiry date of your BRP is printed on your permit.

You can continue to use your BRP until it expires.

You will not be able to use your BRP to prove your immigration status after your BRP has expired. You’ll need to use an eVisa instead.

Set up access to your eVisa.

If you do not have a UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account already, you’ll have to create an account. You can do this at the same time as you set up access to your eVisa.

If you have permission to stay in the UK longer than your BRP, you need to set up access to your eVisa. Access to your eVisa will not be automatically set up.

What’s on a BRP

A BRP will include:

your name, date and place of birth
your fingerprints and a photo of your face (this is your biometric information)
your immigration status and any conditions of your stay
whether you can access public funds, for example benefits and health services

You may also have a National Insurance (NI) number printed on the back of your permit.

View a printable version of the whole guide

Biometric residence permits (BRPs)

What a BRP is

If you have a BRP

What’s on a BRP

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Biometric residence permits (BRPs)

What a BRP is

If you have a BRP

What’s on a BRP

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