What is a biometric residence permit?

A biometric residence permit (BRP) was a card issued by the Home Office to prove a person's immigration status in the UK. BRPs have been replaced by eVisas, which are digital records. GOV.UK says all BRPs have now expired, but an expired card can still be used for a few set purposes.

How a biometric residence permit worked

A biometric residence permit, or BRP, was a card used to prove immigration status. You might have had one if you were granted permission to live or work in the UK on or before 31 October 2024.^{[1]Home Office, Biometric residence permits (BRPs)}

The word “biometric” refers to a person’s fingerprints and a photograph of their face. The Immigration Rules call this information biometrics.^{[5]Home Office, Immigration Rules: introduction} A BRP card could carry a gold biometric chip, and the Home Office tells people to cut through that chip when they destroy an old card.^{[1]Home Office, Biometric residence permits (BRPs)}

The BRP no longer exists as a current document. GOV.UK says all BRPs have now expired and have been replaced by eVisas. An eVisa is a digital record of your identity and immigration status.^{[1]Home Office, Biometric residence permits (BRPs)}

What you can still do with an expired BRP

If you still have permission to stay in the UK, you need a UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account to reach your eVisa. You can set one up for free. Our page on the UKVI account explains how it works.^{[2]Home Office, eVisas: access and use your online immigration status}

GOV.UK allows an expired BRP to be used for a short time after it expires. You might be able to use it for 24 months after the expiry date printed on the card, or until 31 December 2026, whichever comes first.^{[1]Home Office, Biometric residence permits (BRPs)}

An expired BRP can also help in some applications made from inside the UK. The UKVCAS guidance says you may not need to attend an appointment if you are in the UK, have an expired BRP within the dates above, have given your biometric information before and are applying for certain visas, such as a Graduate visa, Student visa or Skilled Worker visa.^{[4]Home Office, UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services} If you do need one, see our page on the biometrics appointment.

To create a UKVI account, GOV.UK lists an expired BRP, or a valid passport and your BRP number, as things you can use. You will also need a phone number and an email address that you can use each time you sign in.^{[3]Home Office, eVisas: Set up a UKVI account to access your eVisa}

If there is a problem with the card

If there is a problem with your expired BRP, you cannot use it and you must destroy it. GOV.UK tells you to check two things. First, whether you can get access to an eVisa. Second, whether the details on your eVisa are correct. If they are not, you need to report an error with your eVisa.^{[1]Home Office, Biometric residence permits (BRPs)}

You can ask for an administrative review if both of these apply: you applied for your visa from inside the UK, and there are mistakes in the length or conditions of your visa.^{[1]Home Office, Biometric residence permits (BRPs)}

To destroy an expired BRP, cut the card into pieces and dispose of it. Cut through your personal details, the royal coat of arms and the gold biometric chip if your card has one.^{[1]Home Office, Biometric residence permits (BRPs)}

A lost or stolen BRP must be reported, even though it has expired. You can be fined up to £1,000 and made to leave the UK if you do not report it. Someone else can report it for you, for example a legal representative, a charity, a family member, an employer, a college or a university.^{[1]Home Office, Biometric residence permits (BRPs)}

Example

Marta was granted a Skilled Worker visa in 2022. Her BRP shows an expiry date of 30 June 2025. Twenty-four months after that date would be 30 June 2027, but 31 December 2026 comes first. So she can use the expired card until 31 December 2026, and only for the three purposes in the table.

Anil’s card shows an expiry date of 31 March 2024. Twenty-four months after that date is 31 March 2026, which comes before 31 December 2026. His card can no longer be used, so he creates his UKVI account with his valid passport and his BRP number, which GOV.UK lists as one way to do it.

What people get wrong

Many people think a BRP is still the document that proves their status. It is not. GOV.UK says BRPs have been replaced by eVisas, and an expired card can be used only to sign in, to create a UKVI account or to apply to extend your permission.

The second mistake is not reporting a lost card. Even an expired BRP must be reported, and not doing so can lead to a fine of up to £1,000.^{[1]Home Office, Biometric residence permits (BRPs)}

The bottom line

A biometric residence permit was the plastic card that proved UK immigration status. It has been replaced by the eVisa, so your status now lives in your UKVI account. An expired BRP still has a limited use until the date GOV.UK gives, which can be as late as 31 December 2026. Check your eVisa now, and destroy the card properly when you no longer need it.