Learn about recent changes to Biometric Residency Permits (BRPs)
BRPs and eVisas
Prior to October 2024, the Biometric Residency Permit was the ID card that was issued to each family member once they arrived in the UK. BRPs have been replaced by eVisas. The majority of BRPs expired on 31 December 2024.
An eVisa is an online record of your immigration status. BRP holders need to create a UKVI account to access their eVisas. If they already have a UKVI account they can apply to link their eVisa to this account. UKVI has produced a video explaining the process: How to create a UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account and get access to your eVisa – YouTube. Creating a UKVI account or linking an eVisa to an existing account will allow eVisa holders to view their eVisa and demonstrate their status and rights with the eVisa and share codes.
There are four national grant-funded bodies offering free support for individuals in their transition to an eVisa. There are Migrant Help, Citizens Advice Scotland, the Welsh Refugee Council, and Advice NI. Many community-based organisations are now actively offering support. More information on who these organisations are and how to contact them can be found here.
For more information on eVisas see here: Get access to your eVisa: Overview – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Changes to details
If the family members you are supporting change their name or address after their arrival in the UK, they should inform the Home Office as soon as possible. They will need to update their eVisa via their UKVI account. More information can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/update-uk-visas-immigration-account-details
Passports should be kept valid and new passport information should be updated with UKVI as the passport recorded with UKVI will be associated to their eVisa. If you are supporting a family member to change their name by deed poll, you should help them to fully explore the costs associated with this change. Find out more information about updating details here: gov.uk/change-circumstances-visa-brp.
Using your BRP or eVisa to demonstrate your status
Everyone issued a BRP can use it to demonstrate their right to work to an employer and their right to rent to a landlord through online checking services; simply go to gov.uk/prove-right-to-work or gov.uk/prove-right-to-rent.
UKVI has advised the new eVisa holders will access a share code that employers, landlords and others can check online to confirm a holder’s status. UKVI is reviewing scenarios where the eVisa will be available for individuals who have only previously held a physical document such as a BRP to ensure that the eVisa can be used to demonstrate a holder’s status for things like work, study and renting a home.