UK Biometric Residence Permit: Eligibility Criteria, Cost, and Steps to Apply
Apply for the UK Biometric Residence Permit to get your proof of right to reside, work and study in the UK. Moreover, you can use a Biometric Residence Permit as a form of identity in the United Kingdom. For example, to work, study or open a bank account in the United Kingdom, you need a means of identification. Of course, biometric residence permits can serve perfectly as your identity for official activities.
Moreover, the UK biometric residence permit (BRP) is a safe and secure way of identifying foreign nationals. It is designed to help fight illegal workers and reduce illegal immigration to the UK. Therefore, this Permit provides a convenient and widely accepted means a person can prove his or her immigration status in the United Kingdom.
However, with regards to how important the UK biometric residence permit is, we will properly guide you on how to get it. Aside from that, this article will give the details you are expected to see in the BRP, with other necessary information.
Meaning of UK Biometric Residence Permit
You can see a UK biometric residence permit as a polycarbonate card containing a chip and a immigrant’s biographical details. Such details are name, date, place of birth, and biometric information. This biometric information is digital photographs and fingerprints.
Moreover, this BRP shows the immigration status and entitlements of a foreign national living in the United Kingdom. Therefore, BRP is proof of the holder’s right to stay, work or study in the United Kingdom.
Most importantly, the holder must show his or her biometric residence permit at the border, along with their passport, when traveling in and out of the United Kingdom.
Information on the UK Biometric Residence Permit
You are going to see the some vital details on the United Kingdom biometric residence permit. Such details or information are:
- Immigrant’s Name.
- Birthday and birthplace.
- Fingerprints and photo.
- Information on their current visa and related conditions of stay.
- Information regarding the possibility to access public funds, i.e. health services
Their National Insurance number (not all of them though, depending on the candidate’s circumstances).
Use of biometric residence permit in UK
BRP holder can use this document to show the following:
- Information about their identity.
- Their category of rights for employment or studying in UK.
- And their level of access to public services
Remember, you will automatically get this residence permit as soon as the embassy approved your UK visa application. Therefore, you don’t need to apply for this permit separately.
That is why you need to check your permit as soon as you receive your UK visa to avoid errors. Moreover, if you find any incorrect information, inform the Home Office as soon as possible, so they can correct it and give you another permit which has a correct information.
Who Needs a Biometric Residence Permit?
Any foreigner who is not a member of European Economic Area needs BRP. Moreover, any non EEA who enters the United Kingdom under a long-term authorization has to obtain a Biometric Residence permit within ten days of arrival in the UK. Nevertheless, if the applicant has to obtain a BRP, it will be stated in his or her visa.
Therefore, the people, who must apply for a BRP are those who:
- Applied for a visa to stay more than six months in the UK.
- Or those who applied to extend their existing visa for more than six months.
- And those who applied for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) (Settlement Permission).
- Moved their visa to a new passport
- Applied to get certain travel documents from the Home Office.
How to apply for a Biometric Residence Permit
Note: you may be issued with a Biometric Residence Permit automatically if your visa or immigration application is approved or you are applying to replace an older document. You are not required to apply for a BRP separately once you submit your visa or immigration application and there is no extra charge for a BRP.
However, you will receive a BRP if you successfully:
- Apply to enter the UK for more than 6 months.
- Extend your visa for more than 6 months.
- Transfer your visa to a new passport.
- Apply for specific Home Office travel documents.
Benefits of the Biometric Residence Permit
Holding a UK BRP gives you right and opportunities to do many things in the United Kingdom. So biometric residence permits will make it easier to do the following:
- Provide proof of your right to live in the UK.
- Prove your identity safely and quickly where and whenever this is required.
- Quickly enable employers to identify a non-EEA national identity, employment status, and right to work in the UK.
- BRP is portable for migrants to carry around and helps to avoid carrying other less convenient documents such as passports.
Biometric Residence Permit Extension
You can extend your Biometric Residence Permit when its expiration date is near. Though, that is only if you still wish to remain in the United Kingdom for a longer period, then you will have to apply for its extension before its expiration date. However, if it expires and you did not apply for its extension then you will not have the permit to stay in the UK any longer. That means you will have to leave the United Kingdom and apply for a fresh visa if you want to come back again.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do I do if I lose my BRP?
If you lose your BRP you must report the loss as soon as possible using the service at BRP Lost. Moreover, if you lose the BRP while in the UK, you must apply for another within 3 months. Whereas, if you lose it while outside, then you must apply for a replacement BRP visa to reenter the United Kingdom.
What Can I Do If I Find Someone Else’s Lost BRP?
If by chance you find a biometric residence permit that belongs to someone you don’t know, then you should send it as soon as possible to address by post.
Freepost RRYX-GLYU-GXHZ
Returns Unit
PO Box 163
Bristol
BS20 1AB
Note: The postage is free, which means you will not have to pay anything for sending someone else’s BRP card to this address.
Do UK citizens have a biometric residence permit?
Successful applicants receive a biometric residence permit as evidence of their status in the UK. Migrants applying successfully in categories that do not have to enroll in biometrics will instead receive a sticker (vignette) in their passport.
How do I get a biometric card in the UK?
You must apply from inside the UK. The fee and how you apply depend on your visa status. When you apply, you’ll be asked to make an appointment at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services ( UKVCAS ) service point to provide your biometric information (your fingerprints and a photo).
Who needs a biometric residence permit in the UK?
The Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) is issued to all non-EEA nationals who are staying in the UK for longer than six months. It will thus be issued to all persons who have successfully applied to settle in the UK, foreign students coming to study in the UK, and persons on the long-stay UK work visas
How long is a BRP valid for?
10 years. Biometric Residence Permits (BRPs) are usually valid for 10 years, but if you have been granted Indefinite Leave to Remain at some point within the past few years, then you may have been given a biometric residence permit that expires on 31st December 2024.
How do I get BRP UK?
You will usually get a BRP if you:
- apply to come to the UK for longer than 6 months.
- extend your visa to longer than 6 months.
apply to settle in the UK. - transfer your visa to a new passport.
apply for certain Home Office travel documents.
How much does a BRP cost in the UK?
It usually costs £19.20 to give your biometric information (or reuse it if you’ve provided it before) if you apply from within the UK. You’ll be told if you need to pay this fee when you apply. If you apply from outside the UK the cost is included in your application fee.
How long can I stay outside the UK with BRP?
Permitted absences of up to 6 months. You are allowed to spend time outside of the UK so long as these periods of absence do not exceed 6 months at any one time.
What is the difference between BRP and BRC?
A UK residence card or BRC is different from a ‘biometric residence permit’ (BRP). You might have a BRP if you have a visa for more than 6 months, indefinite leave to remain, or certain Home Office travel documents. While BRC functions as a visa that enables one to live and work in the UK.
How long does it take to get a biometric residence permit in the UK?
It is within 7 to 10 days. If your immigration application was made from inside the UK, your Biometric Residence Permit should be received within 7 to 10 days from the receipt of your decision letter. Your BRP will be sent to the address provided as part of your application.
Can I work in the UK without BRP?
You may be able to prove your immigration status differently if you have not received your biometric residence permit ( BRP ) yet, or if your BRP is lost or stolen. You cannot use a BRP to confirm your right to work or rent. You’ll need to prove your right to work online or prove your right to rent online instead.
What is the difference between BRP and ILR?
If you have indefinite leave to remain in the UK, you can use your Biometric Residence Permit as a document to confirm both your identity and your immigration status. If you have obtained indefinite leave to remain but do not have a BRP, a No Time Limits (NTL) application can be made to transfer ILR to a BRP.
Who gets a biometric residence permit?
A Biometric Residence Permit is issued to all overseas nationals who are staying in the UK for more than 6 months, this includes those who have successfully applied to settle in the UK, people who have entered the UK on long-term work visas, and foreign students coming to study in the UK.
Why is my BRP only valid for 3 years?
That is to say that EU law required the Home Office to issue BRPs that incorporated the latest encryption technology. Suffice to say as the BRPs issued by the Home Office did not contain the relevant technology then a decision was made to restrict the validity of the current format of BRPs until 31st December 2024.
How can I extend my biometric residence permit?
If you have ILR and your BRP card has or is about to expire complete the renewed Biometric Residence Permit form – BRP(RC)
pay the application Biometric Residence Permit renewal fee (see below for more details on the fees payable) have your biometrics taken by a UKVCAS service center (fingerprints and a photo).
What happens after indefinite leave remains?
After you’ve held ILR status for at least one year. If you meet all the other requirements, you can apply for citizenship. If you’re married to a British citizen, you don’t need to wait a year to apply.
Are BRP and visa the same?
A Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) is a secure identity card. It contains personal details and biometric information. Mostly for those who have permission (a visa) to come to the UK for more than 6 months. When your visa is granted you will be issued with a vignette (sticker in your passport) which is valid for 30 days.
Who needs a biometric residence permit in the UK?
The Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) is issued to all non-EEA nationals. Those who are staying in the UK for longer than six months. It will thus be issued to all persons who have successfully applied to settle in the UK. Foreign students coming to study in the UK, and persons on long-stay UK work visas.
Conclusion
We believe you now have enough information about the UK Biometric Residence Permit. Therefore, you can follow our guide to apply and enjoy the benefits of having it.
