• Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) Replacement

Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) Replacement

A Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) is a credit card-sized physical document containing the holder’s personal details and biometric information, as well as details of their UK immigration status.

BRPs are typically issued to individuals who are granted a new or extended visa for a period of more than six months, who apply to settle in the UK, transfer their visa to a new passport, or who apply for certain travel documents issued by the Home Office.

What information is held on a Biometric Residence Permit?

A Biometric Residence Permit typically includes:

  • the holder’s name, date of birth and place of birth
  • the holder’s photograph and fingerprints
  • the holder’s immigration status and any immigration conditions
  • the holder’s entitlement status for public funds e.g. access to public healthcare (the NHS) or the ability to apply for benefits

In addition, some BRPs will have the holder’s National Insurance number printed on the back. If you hold a BRP which does not have your National Insurance number, you will need apply for a National Insurance number separately if you do not already have one and you are intending to work, apply for a student loan, pay voluntary Class 3 National Insurance contributions, or undertake paid work.

How do I replace a Biometric Residence Permit that is expired or due to expire?

How you apply for a replacement BRP will depend on your individual circumstances.

If you already have Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) or Indefinite Leave to Enter, you will have to use UK Visas and Immigrations’s online BRP replacement service from within the UK. Decisions on replacement BRPs requested in this way are typically reached within six months of submitting your application.

Important: If your visa (not just your BRP) is due to expire, you will have to apply for a visa extension or new visa instead of a BRP replacement. You will receive a replacement BRP if you are successful in your visa application.

If you are physically outside the UK when your BRP expires, you will not be able to apply for a replacement. Instead, you will need to apply for a Replacement BRP Visa and, if granted, re-enter the UK and apply for a replacement BRP within three months of the BRP’s expiry.

Can I replace my visa with a BRP?

If you have a visa in your passport and your passport has expired, or the details on your visa have changed, you can apply for a BRP providing you are within the UK. You will have to visit a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services service point to provide your fingerprints and photo.

If you have Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), you can apply online and will receive a decision within six months. If you have temporary leave to remain, you can apply online and will receive a decision within eight weeks, unless you pay around £1000 for the super priority service to receive a decision within two working days.

Discuss your BRP replacement with our team

Demetris Demetriou

Demetris is a dual-qualified lawyer in the UK (Solicitor) and Cyprus (Advocate) with 10+ years of experience in UK immigration. He completed his legal studies at University College London and City University London. Over the course of his career, he held key roles as Head of Immigration at Legal 500 firms and within the Big4, overseeing teams of 15+ fee earners handling 2000+ applications annually.

Demetris went on to co-establish his firm in London and continues to offer innovative solutions and strategic immigration planning to multinationals, SMEs, and private clients.

He personally represented 1500+ clients in 30+ visa routes including investors, entrepreneurs, innovators, sole representatives, students, family visas, global talent, UK ancestry, administrative reviews and appeals. Demetris has managed corporate relocations, conducted immigration law training and implemented post-Brexit immigration policies for corporate clients.

Demetris has been featured in various events and publications focusing on UK immigration, notably at the Cambridge Network, the Westminster Policy Forum and most recently at DGEMS, a global mobility summit hosted by Forbes India.

If you would like to discuss your UK immigration matter or have any questions about your options for immigrating to the UK, you can book a consultation here.

Tatiani Preifelt

Tatiani has a wealth of expertise in global mobility and corporate immigration. Her ample skills were acquired within leading immigration practices including three out of the Big4 firms in both the UK and Sweden. Tatiani went on to co-establish her firm in London where she continues to advise clients predominantly in corporate, business and skilled work migration.

Having personally relocated to 10 different countries, Tatiani understands the importance of an expedient and successful immigration process and takes pride in delivering a seamless experience to her clients as well.

Over the course of her career, she has assisted over 500 individuals and businesses to obtain the appropriate visa permits in the UK.

Her awarded academic work at The University of Oxford, The London School of Economics, and at The Geneva University is in the fields of Political Science, International Human Rights Law, and Global Migration Governance.

She regularly provides immigration training and has recently participated as a speaker and panellist at DGEMS 2023, a global mobility summit hosted by Forbes India.

If you would like to discuss your UK immigration matter or have any questions about your options for immigrating to the UK, you can book a consultation here.