BRP refers to a Biometric Residence Permit, allowing foreigners to live, work, and study in the United Kingdom. This card-sized identification used to be valid for 10 years or subject to the visa length. Now it has a uniform expiry date and it is necessary to renew it before expiration. This passage will introduce the due date and BRP card renewal.
When Will Your BRP Expire
There is a “VALID UNTIL” field on the front side of the card, which means when it will expire. The duration is usually the same as that on the UK visa. If you have indefinite leave to remain (ILR), also known as permanent residence card in UK, the BRP should be renewed every 10 years. However, BRPs issued in and after 2020 will expire on 31st December 2024 despite the validity period of your visa or residency. Initially, that’s because the European Union (EU) requires its member countries to add encryption technology to immigration identity documents before 1st January 2025. As Britain has withdrawn from the EU, the Home Office decided to digitalize the BRP instead of updating the physical card. Foreign citizens will prove their immigration status online through EVISA which is not required to be renewed regularly.
What Documents Do I Need to Renew My BRP
Supposing that the expiry date on the existing BRP is earlier than 31st December 2024, you still need to renew it by submitting the following required documents.
- A valid passport (or equivalent identity document);
- Proof of continuous residence, including tax bills, utility bills, and a letter from the employer (required for ILR for over 2 years);
- 2 identical passport-style photos;
- Current BRP.
How to Renew BRP Card Online
What you need to do when your BRP expires depends on whether your permission to stay is valid.
Apply for Visa Renewal/Extension
The BRP of temporary residents usually has the same expiry date as the visas. If your UK visa expires soon, you can choose either of the following to stay in the country legally.
- Renew/Extend Current visa
It only applies to renewable/extendable visa types, such as Student Visas, work visas, family visas, innovator visas, start-up visas, global talent visas, and ancestry visas. Each features different qualifications and requirements. To apply for visa renewal/extension, please visit the UK Visas and Immigration Page to choose the visa you currently own and file applications online. When UKVI approves your request, you will be issued a new BRP.
- Apply for a New Visa
Even if your current visa cannot be extended, you can switch to another visa type to stay in the country as long as you satisfy the new visa requirements. For example, a student visa holder might be eligible to obtain a work visa after having a job offer after graduating. Please note that not all visas can be applied from within the UK.
- Apply for indefinite leave to remain (ILR)
Foreign citizens might be qualified for the permanent resident card in UK (ILR) after living in the UK for a consecutive 5 years. With ILR, one can live and work permanently without restrictions on travel and immigration policies.
Renew Biometric Residence Permit
If your current BRP expires before the end of 2024 and you have permanent residency, you still need to renew it as usual. The new BRP will also expire after 31st December 2024 and be switched to an eVisa. The authority will send you an email to guide you through creating a UKVI account and accessing the eVisa before expiry. Upgrading, updating, replacing, transferring, or switching BRP could be done through the following steps.
- Visit GOV.UK and create an account by providing your location, email, etc.
- Choose “To update, replace or transfer your BRP” for “Category of application”.
- Answer the questions on the online application form, including name, email, address, gender, marital status, nationality, date of birth, place of birth, passport details, and so on.
- Submit clear photocopies of the supporting documents listed on the screen.
- Agree to the declarations and pay the UK residence permit renewal fee. It can be paid online unless you are requesting to transfer from a paper document.
- Visit the selected office and submit biometrics (fingerprints and photos) in person.
How to Renew BRP Card Outside the UK
The BRP renewal can only be done when applicants are physically in the UK. Supposing that your BRP expires and you are outside the country, you should obtain a replacement BRP visa to return to Britain on GOV.UK. It takes up to 3 weeks (15 business days) to issue the BRP replacement visa. Before receiving it, you should stay in the country where you apply. Once receiving it, you should return to the UK as soon as possible and apply for a replacement BRP.
UK Biometric Residence Permit Renewal Fee
The BRP renewal fee costs £56 to renew or replace a BRP in the UK, which can be paid online through credit or debit cards. Provided that you apply from outside the UK, you have to pay £154 to get a replacement BRP visa. Moreover, there might be extra service fees for expedited processing, delivery, etc.
How to Replace a Lost or Stolen BRP Card
You must report the loss to the local police as soon as possible. You can ask someone else or an organization to report on your behalf. The Home Office will contact you within one business day after the report. How to replace it depends on whether it is lost or stolen inside or outside the UK.
Inside UK
If the remaining validity for the lost or stolen BRP is 3 months or longer, you should report and replace it through the steps below. It must be done in 3 months, otherwise, you will face a maximum fine of £1,000 and forced departure. If the remaining validity is less than 3 months, you can only report lost or stolen if you don’t plan to stay in the UK after the BRP expires, or you should extend your visa and get a new BRP.
- Report lost/stolen by visiting GOV.UK and answer questions about your location, date of loss, personal information, contact information, etc.
- Wait for the authority’s notification about your report and apply for replacement.
- Visit GOV.UK and prepare the replacement. If there are other ongoing Home Office applications, you should not replace BRP.
- Fill out the online application form.
- Submit supporting documents as instructed on the screen.
- Pay the replacement fees.
- Submit biometrics at the Home Office branch.
Outside UK
You should also report the loss, but you can’t replace the BRP outside the UK. Here is the instruction.
- Report the lost/stolen BRP on GOV.UK or to the local police.
- Apply for a replacement BRP visa online which is a single-entry permit to re-enter the UK.
- Apply for a replacement BRP after returning to the UK within 3 months after reporting it lost/stolen.
What Happens After Submitting BRP Replacement Application
After submitting the application form and fulfilling payment, the UK Home Office will send you an email to confirm that your application has been received. Just follow the authority’s instructions to submit the required documents and make an appointment on the UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) portal. Attend the appointment on the scheduled date to capture biometrics at the selected visa application centre (VAC).
How to Return BRP in the UK
The old BRPs must be returned to the UK Home Office after the new one arrives in 5 days or after the cardholder’s permission to stay is revoked or expires. The regulation aims to prevent card counterfeiting and identity theft, thus affecting your daily life and legal rights in the UK. Here are some tips to return the card.
- Note down the card number and make a photocopy as a backup.
- Cut off the BRP card.
- Pack it in a non-transparent and sealed envelope.
- Mail it to “BRP Returns, P.O. Box 195, Bristol, BS20 1BT”.
Bonus: How to Create BRP Photo for Renewal
As stated before, biometric photos are needed for BRP renewal. An unqualified photo will be rejected and you have to spend more time and money to retake a new one. With AiPassportPhotos, things will become easier. It is an online ID photo editor powered by AI technology. It can produce a completely acceptable picture within seconds and simple steps. All you need is to visit the UK BRP photo website, take a picture according to the photography tips, and upload it. It will check photo compliance and resize it automatically. Once the image is edited, download it and print it out at home or at the photo store.
FAQ
Q: How long does replacement BRP take?
A: It takes about 8 weeks.
Q: Can I travel while waiting for a BRP replacement?
A: Yes, but it is not suggested if you travel abroad because you need to re-enter the UK with the BRP.
Q: Is BRP valid if passport expires?
A: Yes. The BRP’s validity is linked to your visa instead of your passport, but you must present a valid passport to renew or replace the BRP.
Summary
Now you have learned that starting from 1 January 2025, all visa holders will switch from physical cards to EVISA and BRP will no longer be needed. If it expires before 31st December 2024, you should extend your visa or renew the BRP according to your residence status. It must be done online from within the UK. When you are not physically inside the UK, a replacement BRP visa is needed to return to the country. Supposing that you can’t provide the current BRP card, report it lost or stolen before applying for a replacement BRP.
Erin Lo