BRP, also known as a biometric residence permit, is a proof of identity and immigration status of non-UK nationals. BRP holders can legally stay in the UK for more than 6 months to study and enjoy public services or benefits. According to the Home Office, when traveling abroad and returning to the UK, please present your original BRP along with a most recent valid passport. However, there are times when this card-size document is lost, stolen, or expiring. In this case, you might be wondering whether you can travel internationally. In this passage, we are going to find answers to the question “Can I leave or enter the UK without my BRP?”
Can I Enter the UK Without My BRP
The answer is usually no. On the condition of entering the UK without a BRP, individuals will be treated as common cross-border travelers and face entry restrictions unless they have another certified entry permit. Supposing that your BRP is lost or expires outside the UK, you should obtain a single-entry entry vignette from the local UK embassy or visa application centre with which you can return to the country without an extra tourist visa. After returning, please replace your biometric resident permit as soon as possible, otherwise, it is prohibited from traveling again.
What To Do When You Lose A BRP
No matter when you are inside or outside the UK, you should report lost or stolen and ask for a replacement. What to do depends on where you are.
Lose Biometric Resident Permit Inside UK
If your lost or stolen BRP was valid for at least 3 months, please do as follows.
- Report lost or stolen to Home Office
It can be done on Gov.uk and provide required information, such as where you are, the date of loss, name, date of birth, nationality, reference number, and postal or email address. You can either report it by yourself or by a representative, such as your employer, a college or a university.
- Report lost or stolen to the police
It can be done by calling or visiting the local police station, after which you will be issued a Police Reference (in the case of missing BRP) Crime Reference Number (in the case of stolen BRP).
- Apply for a Replacement
After reporting to the Home Office and the police, it is required to apply for a replacement within 3 months of losing, otherwise, you will be fined £1,000 and deported. Please note that you are not allowed to replace BRP outside the UK. The new BRP card can be applied online through the steps below.
➢ Step 1: Fill out an online application form.
➢ Step 2: Provide supporting documents, including (1) Police reference; (2) Confirmation email of Report Lost/Stolen from the Home Office; (3) signed consent form (available from BRP lost online application); (4) a scanned document to confirm name and current UK address, such as a UK driving license, council tax letter/statement, tenancy agreement, utility bills, letter confirming registration with a doctor/GP, or a recent bank statement.
➢ Step 3: Pay £56 replacement fee.
➢ Step 4: Submit your biometrics (photo and fingerprints). Making an appointment is usually needed.
Supposing that the remaining validity of your BRP is less than 3 months, choose the most suitable solution depending on your real situation.
➢ If you plan to leave the UK after the permit expires, report it lost or stolen as we stated before.
➢ If you plan to leave and return to the UK within 3 months after the permit expires, apply for a replacement.
➢ If you plan to continue residing in the UK after the permit expires, extend the visa.
Lose Biometric Resident Permit Outside UK
You cannot get a new BRP card outside the UK. To enter the United Kingdom as a legal residence, obtain a single-entry “replacement BRP visa” instead. Let’s see what you should do.
- Report lost or stolen to the Home Office and the local police.
The process goes almost the same as reporting inside the UK. Please choose where you are now.
- Apply for a “replacement BRP visa”.
You will submit applications online and submit biometrics in person. Here is a step-by-step instruction.
➢ Complete the application form online.
➢ Provide supporting documents listed on the page, including: (1) Police report of loss (include a translation if it is non-English); (2) Confirmation email of Report Lost/Stolen from the Home Office; (3) Passport or other travel document; (4) a UK passport photo; (5) Other required documents depending on the country you apply from.
➢ Pay the visa fee of £154.
➢ Submit fingerprints and take a biometric photograph at the nearest visa application centre (VAC).
➢ Apply for a replacement after returning to the UK.
Enter the UK Without Single Entry BRP Visa
It is not suggested to travel back to the UK without a valid BRP or single-entry BRP replacement visa. It is said that some international students might be able to return to the UK with a scanned copy of a missing student’s BRP card. However, whether they will be granted entry is up to the border officer in this case. Moreover, if your passport is issued by a UK visa-required country, you are very likely to be rejected boarding the airplane, not to say entering the UK. Therefore, it is necessary to apply for a single-entry BRP replacement visa, which takes about 15 working days. If you do have to travel urgently, you can contact the local visa application centre (VAC) to see whether there is expedited service.
Can I Leave UK Without BRP
Yes. A biometric residence permit is not required when traveling outside the UK, but you might not be allowed to come back. Supposing that you are traveling to some countries open to BRP holders without visas, don’t forget your BRP and make sure it is valid.
What If I Find My Lost or Stolen BRP After Reporting It
Sometimes you leave your BRP card somewhere else at home and mistakenly believe it is lost. Luckily, you finally find it again. However, what if you have reported it lost or stolen? Please note that the card has been invalidated after reporting. When you are outside the United Kingdom, a replacement BRP visa is still needed to re-enter the UK. When you are inside the United Kingdom, applying for a replacement is also required. After getting the new BRP, please cut the old one into pieces to make sure there is no complete personal information, royal coat of arms, or biometric chip because they might lead to identity theft and fraud. Then mail the damaged card back to the Home Office at Returns Unit PO Box 195, Bristol BS20 1BT.
What If I Find Other Person’s Lost or Stolen BRP
Don’t try to keep it for yourself or misuse it because it is illegal. It is suggested to hand it to the authority. When you find it in the UK, send it to the Home office at Returns Unit PO Box 195, Bristol BS20 1BT in a fully sealed and invisible envelope by post. When find it in another country, hand it to the local police station, UK embassy or UK consulate.
FAQ
Q: How long does it take to get UK BRP?
A: It usually takes 6 – 8 weeks. If you pay extra fees for Super Priority service, you can get it the day after the appointment.
Q: How long is BRP valid for?
A: The BRP validity is usually 10 years. As the Home Office is planning to switch the physical card to digital immigration status, all physical BRP cards will expire on 31 December 2024.
Q: Can I travel outside the UK before my new BRP arrives?
A: Yes, but it is not advised because you might not be able to re-enter the UK again conveniently.
Q: How long is the “replacement BRP visa” valid?
A: It is a sticking vignette in your passport valid for 30 days. That is to say, you have to travel to the UK within 30 days after receiving it, or you have to pay an extra fee for another 30-day validity.
Q: Can I travel with a biometric resident permit to visa-free countries for UK nationals?
A: Yes, but not all of them. About 20 countries and territories allow BRP holders to travel without visas, but it must be used along with a valid passport or other travel documents.
Summary
Now that you have finished reading this passage, you must have found the answers to “Can I travel to UK without BRP” and “Can I leave UK without BRP?” The biometric resident permit is an important proof of identity and immigration status for non-British residents. It is highly recommended to take it along with you while traveling abroad, so you don’t have to apply for extra visas to return to the country. If your BRP is unfortunately lost or stolen, the first thing to do is report to the Home Office and the police no matter where you are. When you are in the UK, apply for a replacement. When you are in another country, apply for a single-entry BRP replacement visa to return.
Erin Lo