📋 In This Guide
- What is a BRP — and what to do first
- What information does a BRP hold?
- Immediate steps if your BRP is lost, stolen, or damaged
- How to replace your BRP or move to an eVisa
- Costs and fees
- Processing time and what happens while you wait
- BRP vs eVisa — what's changing
- Common mistakes and how to avoid them
- Frequently asked questions
- Conclusion and next steps
Lost Your UK Biometric Residence Permit? Here's What Actually Happens
A Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) is the physical card the Home Office issued to confirm your identity and immigration status in the UK. If yours has gone missing, the first thing to know is this: losing the card does not cancel your visa or your status. The card is proof of your status — it is not the status itself. That distinction is the difference between a stressful evening and a genuine immigration problem.
This guide walks through what a BRP actually shows, exactly what to do in the hours after realising it's gone, how the replacement application works, what it costs, how long it takes, and where most people go wrong along the way — including the confusing shift toward digital eVisas that has changed how "replacement" works since 2024.
What Information Does a BRP Hold?
A BRP card carries your full name, date and place of birth, a photograph, and fingerprint data linked to your Home Office record. It also shows your immigration category — Skilled Worker, Student, Spouse, Indefinite Leave to Remain, and so on — along with any conditions attached to it, such as your right to work, right to study, or access to public funds. Every card also has a unique BRP number, which links to your digital record and is worth writing down or photographing separately from the card itself.
You'd typically have been issued a BRP if you came to the UK for more than six months on a work, study, or family visa, if you extended or switched a visa category from inside the UK, or if you were granted Indefinite Leave to Remain before the digital-only system took over.
Immediate Steps If Your BRP Is Lost, Stolen, or Damaged
What you do in the first few hours matters more than almost any other part of this process. Use this as a direct checklist.
If it happened inside the UK
- Report it online within 3 days of realising it's lost, stolen, or damaged, via the gov.uk reporting service
- If it was stolen (not just misplaced), file a police report and get a crime reference number — you'll need this for the replacement application
- Stop using the card immediately once reported, even if you find it again afterwards
- Log in to your UKVI account to check your current status digitally while the replacement is processed
If it happened outside the UK
- Report it to the local police in the country where it happened and get a police reference number
- Contact the nearest British Embassy, High Commission, or Consulate if you need to get back to the UK urgently
- Apply for a replacement document or an emergency travel document before attempting to book or board a flight
- Do not assume airline staff will accept a photo of your old card or a police report as sufficient — confirm with the UKVI resolution centre first
If the card is only damaged
A damaged BRP that's still readable may still work for now, but if the chip or photo is no longer functioning properly, report it the same way as a lost card and apply for a replacement. Keep the damaged card rather than throwing it away — it may be requested as evidence during the application.
How to Replace Your BRP or Move to an eVisa
This is the part most people search for, and it's also where the process has changed the most in the last two years. Here's the sequence, step by step.
Report the BRP as lost, stolen, or damaged
This is mandatory and must happen before you can apply for a replacement — do it through your gov.uk account.
Sign in to or create your UKVI account
Go to gov.uk/eVisa — this account is now the central place your immigration status lives.
Complete the replacement application
Look for "apply for a replacement biometric immigration document" and fill it out online.
Provide updated biometrics if asked
A new photo and/or fingerprints may be required at a UKVCAS centre.
Upload your supporting evidence
Police report or crime reference number (if stolen), your passport, and your old BRP number if you have it recorded anywhere.
Pay the replacement fee
Paid online as part of the application — see the fee table below.
Attend a biometric appointment if required
Not everyone needs one — the system will tell you if yours does.
Wait for a decision
Track progress at any time through your UKVI account.
Receive your digital confirmation of status
Most replacements now result in an eVisa rather than a reissued physical card.
Set up "View and Prove" and generate a share code
This is what you'll actually hand to employers, landlords, and Border Force going forward.
Where to start, depending on your situation
| Situation | Where to go first |
|---|---|
| Lost or stolen inside the UK | gov.uk — report biometric residence permit lost, stolen or damaged |
| Lost or stolen abroad | Nearest UK Visa Application Centre or British Embassy/Consulate |
| Damaged only | Same reporting portal — no police report needed |
Costs and Fees
| Fee type | Amount (2026) |
|---|---|
| Replacement/transfer application fee | £56 |
| Additional biometric enrolment (if required) | Included in the £56 |
| Priority replacement service | Not generally available |
| Police report (stolen cases) | Free |
| Total estimated cost | £56 in most cases |
Processing Time and What Happens While You Wait
| Service type | Processing time |
|---|---|
| Standard online replacement/eVisa transfer | Up to 8 weeks |
| Urgent cases (travel already booked) | Contact the UKVI resolution centre directly — expedited handling isn't guaranteed |
| Biometric enrolment appointment wait | Typically 1–3 weeks, varies by UKVCAS centre |
While your case is being processed, your underlying immigration status is not affected — only the physical proof is missing. You may be asked for further evidence or a follow-up biometric appointment along the way, and you can check progress at any time through your UKVI account. A confirmation email and updated eVisa record follow once the case is resolved.
BRP vs eVisa — What's Changing and Why It Matters
The UK has been moving toward a fully digital immigration system, and the printed 31 December 2024 expiry date on so many BRP cards is a direct symptom of that shift — it marked the point the card stopped being the primary record, not the point your visa ended. Physical BRPs are being phased out in favour of the eVisa, which lives in your UKVI account and is shared through a share code rather than a card you hand over in person.
Even if your BRP hasn't been lost, it's worth creating your UKVI account and generating a share code now, before you're standing at a border, in front of a new landlord, or starting a new job and need one urgently. A share code typically needs to be regenerated for each new check — it isn't a one-time password you can reuse indefinitely.
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
| Mistake | How to avoid it |
|---|---|
| Not reporting within 3 days | Report the moment you confirm it's lost or stolen — delays can complicate the replacement application |
| Assuming losing the BRP cancels your visa | Incorrect — your underlying status is unaffected; only the physical proof is missing |
| Travelling without checking eVisa or share code access first | Generate and test a share code before booking or attending check-in |
| Expecting a replacement physical card | Most replacements now result in a digital eVisa, not a new card |
| Not updating your employer or landlord with a new share code | Right-to-work and right-to-rent checks can fail if an old or expired code is used |
| Losing the BRP shortly before a flight | Contact the resolution centre or nearest embassy before attempting to travel — don't wait until the airport |
| Not keeping the police report or reference number | Required as supporting evidence for stolen-card replacement applications |
Frequently Asked Questions
It confirms your identity and immigration status in the UK, and is used to prove your right to work, study, rent property, and access certain services. It's increasingly being replaced by digital eVisa records.
No. The card is proof of your status, not the status itself. Your visa or leave to remain stays valid — you simply need to report the loss and get a replacement or eVisa confirmation.
The standard replacement/transfer fee is £56 as of this review, though you should verify the exact current amount at gov.uk since fees are reviewed annually.
Standard processing is typically up to 8 weeks. Urgent travel-related cases should be raised directly with the UKVI resolution centre, though faster handling isn't guaranteed.
No. If your record has moved to eVisa, your share code is the primary way to prove status now — the physical card is no longer the main reference point.
It depends on your situation. Check with the UKVI resolution centre before booking anything non-refundable, and confirm you have a working share code or valid travel document before attempting to fly.
Report it to the local police for a reference number, then contact the nearest British Embassy, High Commission, or Consulate — especially if you need an emergency travel document to get back to the UK.
The system is shifting toward eVisas as the primary record, and most replacements are now digital rather than a new physical card. Always check gov.uk for the latest position, since this is still evolving through 2026.
Once reported lost or stolen, the card is treated as invalid even if you find it again — don't try to use it. Continue with your replacement or eVisa application as normal.
Conclusion and Next Steps
Losing a BRP is stressful, but it's rarely a genuine immigration emergency — your status doesn't disappear with the card. The priority is simple: report it fast, apply for the replacement promptly, and get comfortable with your UKVI account and share code so you're not caught off guard by the eVisa shift. This area is still changing through 2026, so it's worth rechecking gov.uk every few months rather than assuming today's process stays fixed.
If your BRP went missing while you were travelling, it's a good moment to make sure you have proper travel insurance in place — SafetyWing covers this kind of situation alongside general health cover for visa holders and international movers. This post contains an affiliate link. We may earn a commission at no cost to you.
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