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A Biometric Residence Permit or BRP can be used to prove your identity, your right to study and right to access public services or benefits.
United Kingdom Immigration
A Biometric Residence Permit or BRP can be used to prove your identity, your right to study and right to access public services or benefits. This article examine the actions that you need to take if your BRP card is lost or stolen and the process.
Given the purpose of a Biometric Residence Permit, it includes various information, such as:
A Biometric Residence Permit may include other details such as whether the holder has access to public funds in the UK.
A Biometric Residence Permit is an important identity document and it is vital this document is kept safe. If you lose your Biometric Residence Permit, or it is stolen, you will need to report this as soon as reasonably practicable.
Failing to report a lost, stolen or damaged BRP may result in a financial penalty of up to £1,000.
You may wish to keep a copy of your Biometric Residence Permit once received so that you have access to the relevant information in the event it is lost or stolen.
You will need to travel with your Biometric Residence Permit as this must be shown at the UK border alongside your passport or travel document. It is not advisable to travel outside the UK without your Biometric Residence Permit unless you are prepared to make an application for a replacement vignette in order to return. This is addressed further below.
Once you are sure that your Biometric Residence Permit has been lost or stolen, it can be reported as such from inside or outside the UK.
You should be contacted within one working day of reporting it.
If you cannot report the Biometric Residence Permit as lost or stolen yourself, or are unable to, you can ask a charity, employer, university or legal representative to do this for you.
You can use this link to report your BRP as lost or stolen.
You will see that the first question is whether you are currently in the UK or outside the UK; the process differs accordingly.
If your Biometric Residence Permit was valid for 3 months or more you should report it and apply for a replacement Biometric Residence Permit.
You must do this within 3 months of losing the Biometric Residence Permit or within 3 months of it being stolen.
This is very important as failing to apply for a replacement within 3 months can result in being made to leave the UK or a fine of up to £1,000.
If your Biometric Residence Permit was valid for 3 months or less, ensure you do one of the following:
If you apply to extend and your application is granted you will receive a new Biometric Residence Permit.
A fee for a replacement Biometric Residence Permit is currently £56. Once an application is processed and hopefully granted you will need to allow time for the Biometric Residence Permit to be delivered.
It is important to note that an application needs to be completed for each dependant applying for a Biometric Residence Permit as well.
Once issued, the replacement BRP Visa vignette will let you re-enter the UK once only. The current cost is £154.
Once you return to the UK you will then be able to apply for a replacement Biometric Residence Permit using the process above. You must apply for a new Biometric Residence Permit within 3 months of reporting it lost or stolen unless you have a good reason. A good reason may include an inability to return to the UK during that time. You may wish to seek advice in this regard from a legal representative.
You will want to be sure that you cannot find your Biometric Residence Permit before reporting. Once you have reported it as lost or stolen, you will not be able to use your Permit if you then find it. You will still be required to follow the process set out above.
If you do find your Biometric Residence Permit and have reported it as lost or stolen you will need to take further action once your new valid permit has arrived. You will need to cut your older Biometric Residence Permit into pieces and post it to the Home Office. The current address is as follows:
Returns Unit
PO Box 195
Bristol
BS20 1BT
If you're in the UK, you can currently post the Biometric Residence Permit in a windowless envelope to the following address:
Returns Unit
PO Box 195
Bristol
BS20 1BT
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.
