Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) for UK Visa Applications

TL;DR

The Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) is the physical credit-card-sized ID confirming your UK immigration status. From 2025-2026 the Home Office is transitioning to digital eVisas — most new applicants don't receive a physical BRP at all, and old physical BRPs are being replaced by digital status accessed through the gov.uk View and Prove service.

What is a BRP?

The BRP is a physical card issued by the Home Office showing:

• Your photo
• Full name, date of birth, nationality
• Type of leave (Skilled Worker, Spouse, Student, ILR, etc.)
• Expiry date
• A holographic strip and chip storing your biometric data

It's been the standard physical proof of UK immigration status since 2008.

The eVisa transition

The Home Office is replacing physical BRPs with a digital-only "eVisa" model:

• Most BRPs issued before 2025 had a 31 December 2024 expiry date regardless of when the underlying visa expires
• From 2025 onwards new visa decisions don't issue physical cards
• Your immigration status is now digital — accessed and shared through gov.uk's View and Prove service

You still hold the same visa with the same end date — the physical card is being phased out, not your status.

What to do as an existing BRP holder

1. Set up a UKVI online account at gov.uk/visa-account using the email you registered with your visa
2. Link your BRP by entering the BRP number, date of birth and a verification code
3. Verify your identity with the ID Check app (iOS/Android) or by uploading documents
4. Generate share codes as needed for employers, landlords, banks, travel

Keep the physical BRP card as backup ID until further notice — it's still useful for some scenarios (in-person banking, some legacy processes).

What to do as a new applicant in 2026

When applying for a UK visa from 2026 onwards:

• You'll be asked to set up the UKVI online account during the application
• Once a decision is issued, your status appears in the View and Prove service
• No physical BRP arrives by post for most routes
• Your travel carrier (airline, ferry) checks your status by your sharing a code or them querying via your passport at the gate

Some routes (Refugee, Family Reunion, certain transitional categories) may still issue physical cards. Check the specific route page on gov.uk.

Generating a share code

To prove your immigration status to a third party:

1. Sign in to your UKVI account
2. Choose the type of share (right to work, right to rent, status check)
3. Generate a code valid for 30, 60, or 90 days
4. Send the code to the third party
5. They verify on the gov.uk Verify service using the code + your date of birth

The share code shows only the information relevant to that purpose — for example, a right-to-work share doesn't reveal your visa type or expiry, just whether you have the right to work.

Common issues

• Account locked — too many failed sign-in attempts; reset via account recovery
• BRP details don't match account — if your name was misspelled on the BRP, contact UKVI to correct before linking
• Living abroad with no UK address — the eVisa system works internationally; you can manage status from anywhere
• Travel before linking — risk of travel disruption; link before your next overseas trip
• Lost / stolen BRP — replacement still possible until the route fully transitions; ~£75 fee

What to include in a future visa application

For an extension, switch, or ILR application:

• Reference your existing eVisa / BRP in the application form
• Bundle a screenshot of your current immigration status from the View and Prove service
• Include your BRP scan if you still hold the physical card
• Most documents (passport, financial evidence, supporting evidence) follow the canonical UKVI order

Use our Bundler to assemble these in order. Run the Checklist generator for the complete document list for your specific renewal or switch.