Your Biometric Residence Permit Was Lost or Stolen
If your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) has been lost, stolen, or damaged, you must report it to the Home Office within three months and apply for a replacement. Failure to report a lost or stolen BRP is a breach of your visa conditions. This page explains the steps to take, the fees involved, and what to do if you are travelling urgently.
Quick Answer
Report a lost or stolen BRP to the police (to obtain a crime reference number) and to the Home Office within three months. Apply for a replacement BRP using the online service. The fee is ยฃ154 for applications made outside the UK; separate fees apply for in-country applications. Failure to report within three months may be treated as a breach of your immigration conditions.
Full Explanation
A Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) is the physical document that confirms a non-EEA national's immigration status, leave to remain, and right to work or study in the UK. The legal framework for BRPs is set out in the Immigration (Biometric Registration) Regulations 2008 (as amended).
If a BRP is lost or stolen, the holder has a legal obligation to report the loss to the Home Office as soon as reasonably practicable and in any event within three months. Failure to report is a breach of immigration conditions, which can affect future immigration applications.
The first step is to report the loss or theft to the police. Obtain a crime reference number (where the BRP was stolen) or a police report reference โ the Home Office may require this. You then report the loss to the Home Office online and complete the BRP replacement application.
The replacement fee structure depends on your location. If you are outside the UK and need to travel, you will need to apply for a replacement visa at a UK Visa and Application Centre. The Home Office may issue a Visa Letter confirming your status to enable urgent travel while the replacement BRP is processed.
Your immigration leave is not affected by the loss of the BRP โ the leave exists independently of the document. However, you may encounter difficulties with right-to-work or right-to-rent checks until the replacement is issued. In such circumstances, your employer or landlord can use the Home Office online checking service to verify your status.
Note that since 31 October 2024, many BRP holders have been transitioning to using eVisa (digital immigration status) โ check your UKVI (UK Visas and Immigration) account to see if your status is recorded digitally, which may reduce the urgency of replacing a physical BRP.
Legal Basis
- ยงImmigration (Biometric Registration) Regulations 2008 โ legal framework for BRPs
- ยงImmigration Act 1971 โ immigration leave exists independently of physical documents
What To Do
Report the Loss or Theft to the Police
If your BRP was stolen, report this to the police immediately (dial 101 for non-emergency). Obtain a crime reference number. If it was lost, you may still wish to obtain a police lost property reference. The Home Office may request this reference when you apply for a replacement.
Report the Lost or Stolen BRP to the Home Office Within Three Months
Use the online BRP reporting service on GOV.UK to notify the Home Office. Do this as soon as possible and in any event within three months of the loss or theft. Late reporting may be treated as a breach of immigration conditions.
Apply for a Replacement BRP
Complete the online BRP replacement application and pay the required fee. You will need to attend a biometric appointment (fingerprints and photograph) at a UK Visas and Immigration service centre. The replacement BRP will be sent to a Post Office or collection point.
Use the Home Office Online Checking Service for Right-to-Work or Right-to-Rent
While awaiting your replacement BRP, ask your employer or landlord to use the Home Office online checking service (using your share code) to verify your immigration status. This provides a statutory excuse for right-to-work and right-to-rent purposes.
Check Your eVisa Account
Log in to your UKVI account on GOV.UK to check whether your immigration status is recorded digitally (eVisa). If it is, your physical BRP may be less critical โ your digital status can be shared with employers, landlords, and at the border.
Important Deadlines
Important Warnings
Do not travel outside the UK without your BRP or an alternative document confirming your immigration status โ you may be refused re-entry. Contact the Home Office or a solicitor if you need to travel urgently.
Failure to report a lost or stolen BRP within three months is a breach of immigration conditions and may affect future visa applications.
Do not attempt to use, lend, or claim to have lost a BRP that you still possess โ this is a criminal offence.