Biometric Resident Permit (BRP) is proof of your identity and should be kept safe when the card is issued. You will need to travel with your BRP card as this must be shown at the UK border alongside your passport or travel document. Once your BRP card is issued, it is important to keep a copy so that you have access to the relevant information in the event it is lost or stolen.
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.
Once you are sure that your Biometric Resident Permit (BRP) has been lost or stolen, it can be reported as such from inside or outside the UK.
If you lost your BRP card inside the UK
If you lost or have your card stolen in the UK, you can apply for a replacement of your BRP card. You need to report to the police and ask them for a police crime reference number. Your lost BRP card will then be reported and you can apply for a replacement. If the card is damaged, you do not need to report and you just apply for a new BRP card.
If you have less than 3 months valid on your lost BRP card and intend to leave the UK before your visa expires, you only need to report it as lost or stolen. If you intend to stay in the UK after the expiry date, you can apply to extend your visa. If you apply to extend and your application is granted you will receive a new BRP card.
If you lost your BRP card outside the UK
Unfortunately, if your BRP card is lost outside the UK, you cannot apply for a replacement BRP card and you will need to apply for a replacement BRP Visa. Once issued, you can re-enter the UK once with a replacement BRP visa vignette.
Once you return to the UK you will be able to apply for a replacement BRP within one month of your arrival.
Apply for a replacement Biometric Residence Permit
You can apply online and you must pay the application fee. However, you do not need to pay IHS surcharge again. You may need to submit your personal detail, current address, nationality, passport number current visa type, and police report confirming your BRP was stolen and some documents may vary depending on the visa category. The processing time usually takes 3 to 8 weeks from within the UK.
What if I find my lost BRP card after reporting it?
Before you report BRP lost or stolen, make sure you cannot find your BRP card. Even if you find an old BRP card after you have reported it as lost or stolen, the old BRP card is no longer valid and cannot be used. Even if you lost it overseas and applied for a replacement BRP visa and found the old BRP card, you will still need to wait for the replacement BRP visa before you can return to the UK.
If you need assistance regarding reporting the loss or stolen BRP card or applying for replacement of your BRP card with your UK visa, please contact us on 020 3865 6219, or leave us a message.