Biometric permit (BRP)/passport issues

Your biometric permit is evidence of you immigration permission to be in the UK

A Bio-Metric Residence Permit (BRP) is a credit card sized document, similar to a driving licence or identity card, which contains your biometric data (name, date of birth, photograph and digital fingerprints) and evidence of your immigration permission to be in the UK.

International (non-EEA) students who apply under the Student visa route to study on a course of six months or more will have their full immigration permission issued as a Bio-Metric Residence permit.

In this section, you will find useful information about your BRP, issues with BRP collection and advice on things such as what to do if it is lost or stolen and how to report errors.

Show all sections

Biometric Residence Permits and Entry Clearance visas

In this section you will find answers to many questions you may about your BRP or Entry Clearance visa. You will find advice on collecting your BRP when you first arrive in the UK, information on how you receive your BRP if you applied for your student visa in the UK and tips on safeguarding your BRP. Please read our Biometric Residence Permits and Entry Clearance visas information sheet.

Checking your BRP and Entry Clearance visa for errors

You should check your BRP as soon as you receive it to ensure that the information contained on it is correct. If you see any errors, you will need to report this to UKVI. In this information sheet you will find information on what to do if you see an error on your BRP and the procedure to follow as it is different depending on whether you applied for your visa inside or outside the UK. Please read our checking your BRP and Entry Clearance visa for errors information sheet.

Lost or stolen BRPs visas and passports

In this section, you will find information on what to do if your BRP or passport has been lost or stolen. We advise students not to carry their BRP around with them. It is not a legal requirement for you to have this in your possession. Every year we see many students who have lost their BRP or have had it stolen as they carry it around with them. You will only need to carry your BRP with you if you are travelling outside of the UK as you will need it to re-enter the UK when you return. 

If you would like a form of ID to prove your identity, you can apply for a proof of age card that is accredited by the Home Office’s accredited PASS scheme. Details of this scheme can be found Pass scheme website.

Please read our Lost or stolen BRPs, visas and passports information sheet for more information on what to do if your BRP or passport is lost or stolen.