A Biometric Residence Permit, usually called a BRP, was a physical card used to prove a person's UK immigration status. It showed key identity details, biometric information and immigration conditions, such as whether the holder could work or study in the UK. BRPs are no longer issued, and all BRPs have now expired. They have been replaced by eVisas, which are digital records of immigration status.
This can be confusing if you still have a BRP in a drawer, wallet or carefully labelled immigration folder. The important point is that the expiry of the card does not automatically mean that your visa, settlement or immigration permission has ended. The card was evidence of status, not the status itself.
If you need to understand your current position, prove your rights or prepare a visa application, extension or settlement application, Immigration UK can help you identify the correct route, check your documents and avoid relying on outdated BRP guidance.
What Does BRP Stand For?
BRP stands for Biometric Residence Permit. The word biometric refers to information used to help confirm identity. In UK immigration, this usually means a facial photograph and fingerprints collected as part of an application process.
A BRP was not a visa route in its own right. For example, a person may have held a BRP because they had permission as a Skilled Worker, Student, partner, dependant or someone with Indefinite Leave to Remain. The BRP simply evidenced the underlying permission and some of the conditions attached to it.
What Information Was Shown on a BRP?
A BRP looked similar in size to a bank card and included personal details and immigration information. Older cards usually showed the holder's name, date of birth, nationality, photograph, card number and validity dates. They also included information about the type of immigration permission and any relevant conditions.
The card could indicate, for instance, whether work was permitted, whether study was allowed, or whether the holder had no access to public funds. However, once the BRP expired, the information printed on it should not be treated as the current proof of immigration status. Your eVisa, decision notice and UKVI account are now the key sources to check.
Who Used to Receive a BRP?
BRPs were generally issued to people subject to immigration control who were granted permission to live in the UK for a longer period, often where the permission exceeded six months. They were used across many immigration categories, including work, study, family and settlement routes.
The process changed over time as UK Visas and Immigration moved from physical documents to digital status records. That means not everyone who applied under the same route at different times had the same type of evidence. Some people received a physical BRP, some received online status, and others may have had a vignette in their passport for travel before accessing digital status.
It is also worth distinguishing a BRP from a biometric residence card, sometimes called a BRC. BRCs were connected with certain EEA and EU Settlement Scheme contexts and should not automatically be treated as the same document as a BRP.
Are Biometric Residence Permits Still Issued in the UK?
No. BRPs are no longer issued in the UK. UKVI has replaced them with eVisas, which are digital records of a person's identity and immigration status. If you see older instructions telling you to collect or renew a BRP, treat them with caution and check current official guidance before taking action.
The official position is explained in the GOV.UK biometric residence permit guidance, which confirms that BRPs have been replaced by eVisas. Information checked: November 2026.
What Replaced the BRP?
The eVisa has replaced the BRP. An eVisa is not a card or a document you carry around. It is an online record linked to your UKVI account. It can show your immigration permission and may help prove rights such as the right to work, rent in England, study or access certain services, depending on your status.
In practice, you usually prove your status by generating a share code. The person or organisation checking your status, such as an employer or landlord, uses that code with your date of birth through the relevant official online service.
- BRP: a physical card, no longer issued and now expired.
- eVisa: a digital immigration status record accessed through a UKVI account.
- Share code: a time-limited code used to let another person check selected immigration information.
- Passport or travel document: still required for travel, even if you have an eVisa.
Does an Expired BRP Mean My Visa Has Expired?
Not necessarily. This is one of the most common and most understandable misunderstandings. A BRP could expire while the underlying immigration permission continues. For example, someone with Indefinite Leave to Remain may have an expired BRP even though their settled status continues, provided it has not been lost or revoked.
You should check your eVisa, your original Home Office decision notice and any later immigration decisions rather than relying only on the expiry date printed on the card. If your situation involves settlement, the Immigration UK page on Indefinite Leave to Remain in the UK explains how settled status works and why it is different from a temporary visa expiry date.
Can an Expired BRP Still Be Used?
An expired BRP may still have limited transitional uses. GOV.UK states that an expired BRP may be used for certain purposes for up to 24 months after the printed expiry date, or until 31 December 2026, whichever comes first. These limited uses include accessing an eVisa, creating a UKVI account or applying to extend immigration permission.
For most everyday proof of status, however, you should use your eVisa and the correct share code. An expired BRP should not be treated as a substitute for the current online checking process.
How Do I Access My eVisa?
To access your eVisa, you normally need to create or sign in to a UKVI account. You may need your identity document, contact details and information linked to your previous immigration record. Some former BRP holders can use details from their expired BRP as part of the account access process.
- Create or sign in to your UKVI account.
- Use the identity details requested by UKVI.
- Link your current passport or travel document.
- View your eVisa and check your personal details.
- Check that your immigration conditions appear correctly.
- Generate the correct share code when someone needs to verify your status.
If you are unsure where to start, this related Immigration UK article on how BRP holders can access a UK eVisa account as a BRP holder provides useful practical context.
How Do I Prove My Immigration Status Without a BRP?
You prove your status online, usually with a share code. The type of share code matters because the checking service shows information for a particular purpose. A right to work check is not the same as a right to rent check, and a travel-related check may involve different information again.
For employment, you generate a right to work share code and give it, along with your date of birth, to your employer. They then check your status through the official employer checking service. A physical BRP, especially an expired one, should not be relied upon instead of the required online process.
For renting, landlords and letting agents in England may ask for a right to rent share code. The statutory right to rent scheme applies in England, so it should not be described as operating in exactly the same way across every part of the UK.
If your immigration permission is connected with employment or you are planning a new application, the UK work visa guidance may help you understand the difference between holding permission and proving the conditions attached to it.
Can I Travel with an Expired BRP?
You should not rely on an expired BRP as your current travel evidence. From 2 June 2025, expired BRPs could no longer be used to travel to the UK. To travel, you need a valid passport or travel document, and your current document should be linked to your UKVI account.
Before travelling, check that your name, date of birth, nationality and passport details are correct in your UKVI account. The details should match the information provided to the airline, ferry company or other carrier. If your passport has changed and the UKVI account has not been updated, you may face delays or difficulty boarding.
An eVisa is not a passport. It proves immigration status digitally, but you still need the correct travel document. If requested, you may be able to generate a travel share code to help a carrier verify your status.
What If My BRP Is Lost, Stolen or Damaged?
A lost or stolen BRP should still be reported, even if it has expired. GOV.UK warns that failing to report a lost or stolen BRP can lead to serious consequences, including a possible fine. If a card is later found after being reported, it should not be used.
Expired BRPs should be destroyed safely. The usual instruction is to cut through the personal details and the biometric chip so that the card cannot be misused. Sensible scissors are more useful here than immigration panic.
Do I Still Need to Give Biometrics for a UK Visa Application?
Yes, you may still need to provide biometrics even though BRP cards are no longer issued. The end of the physical BRP does not mean the end of biometric enrolment. Applicants may still be asked to give fingerprints and a photograph at a visa application centre or through UKVCAS, depending on the type of application and where it is made.
The difference is that a successful application is now usually evidenced digitally through an eVisa rather than by issuing a new physical BRP. Always follow the instructions given for your specific application, as the evidence and steps can vary between routes.
Common BRP Mistakes to Avoid
The move from cards to digital status has made some parts of immigration admin easier, but it has also created new traps. The biggest mistake is assuming that an expired BRP means you have lost your immigration permission. Another common problem is forgetting to update a UKVI account after receiving a new passport.
- Do not treat an expired BRP as current proof of status.
- Do not travel without checking that your eVisa and passport details match.
- Do not give an employer or landlord the wrong type of share code.
- Do not assume that biometric enrolment means you will receive a physical card.
- Do not rely on old BRP collection or renewal instructions without checking current rules.
If you are preparing an extension, settlement or citizenship application, it is sensible to check your digital status early. Issues such as incorrect personal details or missing account access are much easier to deal with before a deadline or travel date is staring at you from the calendar.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a biometric residence permit?
A biometric residence permit was a physical card used to prove UK immigration status and conditions. BRPs are no longer issued and have been replaced by eVisas.
Is a BRP the same as a visa?
No. A BRP was evidence of immigration permission, not a separate visa route. The actual rights and restrictions came from the underlying immigration status.
Does an expired BRP mean I have no legal status?
Not necessarily. The card may have expired while your immigration permission continues, so you should check your eVisa, UKVI account and Home Office decision records.
Can I work with an expired BRP?
If your immigration permission allows work, you should prove your right to work using the official online service and a right to work share code. An expired BRP should not be relied on as the current proof for an employer check.
How long does a share code last?
A share code generally lasts for 90 days and can be used more than once before it expires. You should generate the correct type of share code for the purpose required.
