UK BRP replacement process and eVisa steps in 2026.

A Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) is the physical proof of your UK immigration status. If it is lost, stolen, or damaged, you are legally required to report it to UKVI within three months. The BRP itself is not your visa — it is evidence of your leave — but without it, proving your right to work, rent, or access services becomes significantly harder.

The Home Office transitioned to a digital eVisa system in 2026, which replaced physical BRPs. During this transition, replacing a lost or damaged BRP follows a specific process that includes online reporting, biometrics, and a replacement fee. The rules differ depending on whether the BRP was lost in the UK or abroad, whether a police report was obtained, and whether the card is still within its validity period.

This guide covers the step-by-step process for replacing a UK BRP, the documents you need, the timelines UKVI works to, and how the eVisa transition affects your obligations.

Non-EEA nationals who hold or have held a BRP as evidence of their UK immigration status and need to replace a lost, stolen, or damaged card. This includes:

• Students on a Student Route visa whose BRP has been lost or stolen
• Workers on Skilled Worker, Global Talent, or other work routes
• Family members with leave under Appendix FM who hold a BRP
• Settled persons with indefinite leave to remain evidenced by a BRP
• Applicants whose BRP was never delivered or contains incorrect details

If you are outside the UK and need to return but have lost your BRP, the process differs — see the travel section below for the replacement BRP visa route.

For a standard BRP replacement application, prepare:

• Valid passport or travel document — must be current and contain your personal details
• Police crime reference number — required for stolen BRPs, recommended for lost cards
• Digital photograph — taken at a UK Post Office or uploaded during the online application
• BRP reference number — if you have it, found on the decision letter or old correspondence
• Proof of address — the BRP will be delivered by courier to your UK address
• Written statement — explaining the circumstances of the loss or theft

For a replacement due to incorrect details (UKVI error), include the original decision letter showing the correct information and a covering note explaining the discrepancy.

The three-month reporting window is the most important deadline. From the date you discovered the loss or theft, you have three calendar months to report it to UKVI using the online service. Reporting after this window does not automatically invalidate your leave, but it creates a compliance concern.

After reporting, you submit the online replacement application and book a biometric appointment at a UK Post Office or UKVCAS centre. Standard processing takes up to eight weeks from the biometric appointment. If you need the replacement urgently, no priority service is available for BRP replacements — plan for the full eight-week window.

If you need to travel internationally while waiting, apply for a replacement BRP visa (GBP 154) which allows a single entry to the UK. This should be obtained before departure.

UKVI needs three things to issue a replacement: proof of identity, proof of the loss or theft, and confirmation that you remain eligible for the underlying leave. Prepare a clear timeline of events — when you last had the BRP, when you realised it was missing, and what steps you took to search or report it.

If the BRP was stolen, the police crime reference number speeds up the process and reduces the risk of UKVI questioning the genuineness of the claim. If the BRP was lost, a dated written statement describing your search efforts serves the same purpose.

Ensure your UK address is correct on the application. BRPs are sent by courier (DX or similar) and require a signature. An incorrect address means the card is returned to UKVI and you must reapply, paying the fee again.

Late reporting. The most common error is waiting weeks or months before reporting. UKVI checks the reporting date against the date you state you discovered the loss. A gap of months with no explanation raises credibility concerns.

No police report for theft. Without a crime reference number, UKVI may treat a claimed theft as a loss and apply stricter scrutiny to the application.

Incorrect address on the application. The courier cannot redirect BRPs. If you have moved since your last application, update your address with UKVI first.

Travelling without a replacement BRP visa. Leaving the UK without a valid BRP and without a replacement BRP visa means you cannot re-enter until a new BRP is issued — and you cannot be issued a new BRP from outside the UK.

Assuming the eVisa transition removes the reporting obligation. Until you have an active eVisa account and can generate share codes, the physical BRP remains the primary evidence of status. Losing it still requires reporting.