The UK Biometric Residence Permit

A guide to what the Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) is, why you need one in the UK and how to get one from an Aussie who lived in the UK.

Every person who is not from a European country but lives, works and/or studies in the UK will have a Biometric Residence Permit. Every one of these people will carry their BRP with them when they leave the UK and when they return. It needs to be shown to your employer before you start a job. It is also useful when you open a UK bank account. This permit allows every one of us to be in the UK and everyone that has one knows to protect it at all costs.

If you are moving to the UK and plan to live and work here you will be picking up your BRP shortly after you land and you should know all about it.

What is a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP)?

A Biometric Residence Permit, BRP for short, provides proof that you have the right to live, work and/or study in the UK. It’s what you need to show UK customs along with your passport every time you enter the country. It is also a well trusted form of identification in the UK. In the UK, it is as important as your passport and it is as difficult to replace so treat it accordingly.

It comes in the form of a card with a chip inside it and it contains all your biographical and biometric information.

What’s on your Biometric Residence Permit?

A Biometric Residence Permit contains your:

• Personal details (name, date of birth, place of birth)
• Immigration status and any conditions of stay
• Fingerprint data and passport photo
• Your signature
• Information on whether you have access to public funds like the NHS health services
• Sometimes it will have your National insurance number

How do I apply for a Biometric Residence Permit?

When you apply for the Youth Mobility Scheme visa, you will be asked to go to a designated centre (there is one in every major city) to provide your biometric information (your photograph and your fingerprints) in the final parts of the application.

Once you receive approval for your Youth Mobility  visa application and receive your passport back with the UK visa vignette sticker in it, you will automatically be issued a BRP. You will then need to go to the UK and collect your BRP.

You do not need to apply for your BRP separately.

How much does a Biometric Residence Permit cost?

The cost of the BRP is included in your Youth Mobility Scheme visa application payment (£244). You do not need to pay a separate, additional cost for your BRP.

Where do you collect your Biometric Residence Permit?

When you apply for the Youth Mobility Scheme visa you will be able to choose your collection point for your BRP. You can collect your BRP from any UK post office. I just googled one close to where I was staying in London. Try to choose a post office close to a Tube station to make it easier for you to get there.

When you receive your visa approval letter, it will tell you the designated UK post office you need to collect your BRP from when you enter the UK as well.

Make sure you take your Youth Mobility Scheme visa approval letter with the designated post office collection point and your passport with the UK visa vignette sticker when you collect your BRP. If you happen to be collecting your BRP from White Chapel’s post office in London try to go during the day. Although it is improving, it’s kind of dodgy at night.

There is a time limit here. You will need to collect your BRP before the UK visa vignette expiry ends in 90 days and within 10 days from when you first land in the UK.

You can be fined up to £1000 and/or have your visa cancelled if you do not collect your BRP.

If I cannot collect my Biometric Residence Permit, can I get someone else to collect it for me?

If you cannot collect your Biometric Residence Permit, you can nominate someone else you trust to collect it if you are ill or disabled etc. The nominated person will need to show the designated BRP collection point letter/email, their own passport, EU national identity card or Biometric Residence Permit. They will also need to show them your passport and visa vignette sticker to prove you are in the UK.

You can also get a legal representative, charity, employer, university or college to nominate someone on your behalf. You will be told within 5 days if the nomination is successful. If you change your mind and want to collect it yourself or nominate a new person, you can. You do not need to delete the original nomination.

How long does it take to get a Biometric Residence Permit?

Once you have received approval for your Youth Mobility Scheme visa and receive your passport back with the UK visa vignette sticker in it, you will have 90 days to enter the UK and collect your BRP (It was recently changed from 30 to 90 days due to Covid). You will also need to collect your BRP within 10 days from when you enter the UK.

Hence, you can get your BRP in as little as a week or as long as 100 days after receiving your Youth Mobility Scheme visa depending on how you plan things.

What if my Biometric Residence Permit is wrong?

When you receive your BRP you need to check all the details on it are correct. If there are any mistakes you will have 10 days from the date of collection to report any mistakes. If not, you will have to apply for a replacement card which is a big pain so don’t forget!

To report any problems use this form: https://www.biometric-residence-permit.service.gov.uk/correct-mistakes

The UK Home Office should email you within 5 days with further instructions

Can I travel without a Biometric Residence Permit?

The short answer is technically no. Not if you want to get back into the UK. You should be able to show customs your BRP every time you return to the UK. Treat your BRP like your passport. It’s very important. Don’t lose it. It’s a bugger to replace. Make sure you keep photocopies of the front and back of your BRP somewhere in your luggage just in case you do lose it.

Note: Since Australians are now able to go through the E-passport gates you usually do not have to show UK customs your BRP. If they do ask and you have lost it, stay calm and explain the situation as UK customs can find out your visa status on their computers. Some Australians have been able to get through without issues but I suspect this is case by case.

What do I do if I lose my Biometric Residence Permit?

The first thing you need to do is report it to the UK Home Office card management service and they will contact you within one working day. If you do not report if it is stolen, lost or damaged, and do not apply for a replacement card within 3 months then you can be fined up to £1000.

Losing your BRP inside the UK

If you lose your BRP in the UK then you need to report it here and apply for a replacement card. Replacement BRP cards will take 8 weeks to be processed and maybe an additional week to be posted to you. You will also need to supply your biometric information again and it will cost you £94.40 (including the biometric fees). You can expedite this process but it will cost you a pretty penny – £685.20!

If your BRP expires in 3 months or less than you do not need to replace it if you are planning to leave the UK.

Losing your BRP outside the UK

If you lose your BRP outside the UK then you need to apply for a replacement BRP visa which will give you a single entry visa to get back into the UK. It costs £154 and takes 15 working days or 3 weeks to be processed. You will need to pay additional fees to speed this process up.

Don’t just return to the UK on a tourist visa as you may not have the right to work in the UK anymore.

You could try using the E-passport gates or explaining the situation to Customs as mentioned above. However, being allowed to enter the country is likely on a case by case basis.

Once you are back, you must apply for a BRP replacement card within 1 month of arriving in the UK. You cannot apply for a replacement BRP card while outside the UK.

It’s important to know that if you find your BRP after you have reported to the UK Home Office it has been stolen or lost you will still need to apply for a replacement card.

That being said, as Australians can now go through the eGates with their passports (no more painfully slow wait times to get through customs) it is uncommon for UK customs to ask you for your BRP. If they do ask you to show your BRP then they can quickly check online if you have a valid BRP. Other Aussies in similar situations have been able to explain their situation and be let into the UK but it’s likely a case by case basis. It will help if you have a copy of your BRP to show them.

Can I start working in the UK without a Biometric Residence Permit?

Yes you can by using your UK visa vignette in your passport to prove your right to work in the UK. However, it is strongly recommended you don’t start working until you have your BRP. This is because your UK visa vignette only lasts 90 days. Once this has finished you no longer have the right to work and your employer will need to fill out more documents with your BRP to allow you to work again. Given you are going to get your BRP within 10 days of entering the UK, why don’t you just enjoy the first few days of being in the UK instead of diving straight into work?