Current BRP cards being issued by the Home Office are all being issued up until the 31st December 2024, in line with the government’s plan to move people’s immigration status to an online digital platform.
After 31st December, people will only be able to prove their immigration status for the UK online, with the use of an eVisa. To access this, users will first need to create an account. Passports will be linked to this account too, enabling people to travel in and out of the UK with their immigration status connected to their travel document.
The Home Office have published the below guidance regarding how to set up your eVisa account:
Create a UKVI account
We are replacing physical documents, such as Biometric Residence Permits (BRPs) and vignette stickers, with an online record of your immigration status. This is known as an eVisa.
What you need to do now
You must now create a UKVI account to access your eVisa
Use the following link to create a UKVI account: https://www.gov.uk/get-access-evisa.
To create a UKVI account and access your eVisa you will need:
- Your date of birth
- Your BRP Number or Unique Application Number (UAN)
- Your passport (if you do not have a BRP)
- Access to an email address and phone number
- Access to a smartphone
If you need help creating your UKVI account you can get help at https://www.gov.uk/assisted-digital-help-online-applications
Once you have created your UKVI account you will be able to view the details of your eVisa online, for example your type of permission, when it expires and your conditions of stay. You will also be able to update your personal details and register your passport in your UKVI account so that you can easily travel to and from the UK.
Sharing information about your immigration status
Employers, landlords in England or other organisations may need to check your immigration status, for example to check whether you are allowed to work, rent somewhere to live, or access public services.
Once you have created your UKVI account and accessed your eVisa, you can use the ‘view and prove’ service at https://www.gov.uk/view-prove-immigration-status using your UKVI account sign in details to share relevant information about your immigration status. You will need to make sure that you select the correct reason for sharing your information, so that the appropriate details are selected. You will then be given a ‘share code’. This can be passed on to the person you want to share your status information with. The share code will give that person time limited access to the relevant information. You will also need to give them your date of birth, so they can prove they have your permission to check your information.
Your new BRP expires on 31 December 2024.
This does not affect your period of grant of permission to stay or your conditions, which you can view in your UKVI account. You can continue to use your BRP until it expires. Once it expires you are likely to have problems proving your status or when travelling if you do not create a UKVI account.
Your new BRP is an important document, and you should look after it carefully. You can find more information about the BRP, including what to do if your BRP is lost or stolen at https://www.gov.uk/brp