Biometric residence permits to launch in Australia
Changes to visa process for applicants travelling to the UK for more than 6 months
From 31 May 2015, biometric residence permits (BRPs) for non-EEA nationals travelling to the UK for more than 6 months will begin to be issued to visa applicants in Australia.
The changes will affect those applying for youth mobility scheme and ancestry visas, students and workers applying for a longer stay visa as well as those applying to join family in the UK. If you are applying to go on holiday or on a short business or study trip, you will not need a BRP. There is no additional fee and the visa application fee remains the same.
Applying for a UK visa after 31 May 2015
If you apply after 31 May 2015, you will receive a 30 day sticker in your passport instead of a ‘vignette’ with the full grant of leave. You must provide an accurate UK postcode as part of your application, as you will be designated a specific Post Office branch on the basis of the information provided in the application form. You will receive a letter with your passport and visa which provides these details. BRPs must be collected from a post office within 10 days of arriving in the UK. The BRP card can then be used as proof of the right to work, study and access public services in the UK.
If you want to go to the UK for more than 6 months, you will be asked for additional information when you complete your online visa application, which will include the postcode of your new address in the UK.
Travelling to the UK
You must provide an accurate travel date as part of your application, as you will be designated a 30 day travel window on the basis of the information provided in the application form. Please make sure you know the date you will travel to the UK before you apply.
Your temporary visa will only be valid for 30 days once you receive it and you will need to travel within this period. If you receive your temporary sticker, and can’t travel during the 30 day window, you will need to apply for a new replacement to apply for a transfer of visa.
Further information on biometric residence permits for overseas visa applicants is available here.