Biometric Residence Permits (BRP)
Set up your eVisa now
The UK Government is transitioning to electronic visas. If you have a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP), you should create an eVisa account with UK Visas and Immigration now. This is particularly important if you plan to travel during the winter break.
Access your eVisa GOV.UKYour BRP explained
Your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) shows your permission to be in the UK and when that permission expires. It also shows the type of permission you have and conditions, such as whether you are allowed to study and work.
Biometric Residence Permits are being replaced by eVisas
UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) are in the process of replacing BRPs with an online record of your immigration status called an eVisa. You will need to create an account with UKVI to access your eVisa.
If you have any questions, contact an immigration adviser.
Find out more about eVisas GOV.UK
If your BRP expires on 31 December 2024
Because BRPs are being phased out, all visa expiry dates from 2025 onwards are shown as 31 December 2024 on the BRP. The actual expiry date of your visa is unaffected.
You can find your visa expiry date on the notification you received when your visa was granted.
You should now create a UKVI account to access your eVisa. You must do this before the expiry date of your BRP.
If your BRP expiry dates corresponds to your visa expiry dates, you must either leave the UK or make a valid visa application before the expiry date on your BRP.
It is important to keep all correspondence you receive relating to your immigration application. This is so that you can cross-check your eVisa with all the other information you have about the decision that was made in your case.
If in doubt, please contact an immigration adviser.
Collecting your BRP
Please see our page on arriving in the UK for information about collecting your BRP.
- Check the details on your BRP carefully. If anything seems incorrect, contact the Immigration Advice Service.
- Keep your BRP in a safe place. If you need proof of age or identity, use a Citizens Card instead.
- If you collect your BRP from a post office, or you receive a replacement BRP at your UK address, please email pbshelpline@uwe.ac.uk so that UWE Bristol can arrange to scan it for our records.
Personal details
Check the personal details on your BRP carefully — they must match your passport at all times.
If any personal details change, you must notify the PBS Compliance Team at PBSHelpline@uwe.ac.uk, because the University has a duty to inform UK Visas and Immigration.
What is on your BRP
The front of your BRP shows:
- A photograph of your face
- Your unique BRP number
- Your name (if you have a family name, it should appear on the top line, with other names below)
- The date your permission expires under 'VALID UNTIL'. Apply for a new visa or leave the UK by this date if it corresponds with your visa expiry.
- The date the BRP was issued
- The type of permission, e.g. 'student visa'
- Conditions, including work restrictions. Y0GU9EHG2 is UWE Bristol’s licence number, showing you are allowed to study here. If you have Skilled Worker permission, your employer’s licence number will show.
The back of your BRP shows:
- Your date and place of birth
- Your sex and nationality
- A chip containing your biometric data
- Remarks, such as 'No public funds'. This means you cannot claim certain state benefits. If you have permission other than student visa, your National Insurance Number may appear here.
- A machine readable zone, which includes much of the information shown elsewhere on your BRP.
Correcting errors
The process for correcting errors will depend on whether you applied for your visa in the UK or in your home country, and on the type of error.
However, during the transition to eVisas, correction may not be necessary, and you are advised to contact The Immigration Advice Service as a first step if you notice an error.
Visa expiry
It is your responsibility to leave the UK or make a valid visa application before your visa expires. It is likely you will not receive a further CAS from UWE Bristol should you overstay.
If you have a student visa, your visa expiry date is based on the end date which appeared on your CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance for Study).
Most students at UWE Bristol will have four months’ permission added to their end date. For example if your end date is 2025, your permission may expire in October 2025. However, if your course is less than 12 months long, only two months are added. So if you are attending the final year of your programme at UWE Bristol from September 2024 to June 2025 for instance, your permission will expire in August 2025.
If your course is more than 12 months long in total (from the original start date of your programme as shown on the CAS), you should receive four additional months even if your most recent visa application was for less than 12 months (for example to attend retakes).
If you are returning from a placement year or moving on to the master's part of an integrated master's with a new visa (e.g. from BEng to MEng) your new expiry date should reflect the additional four months.
Please contact the Immigration Advice Service if you have any doubts or you believe there is an error.
Work
Your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) shows whether you are allowed to work in the UK and any restrictions, such as the maximum number of hours per week.
if you think your BRP is wrong, contact us.
UWE Bristol Student visas allow up to 20 hours' work per week during term time. UWE Bristol recommends you work no more than 16 hours per week in order not to jeopardise your academic progress. Students' dependants should have no restriction on their working hours.
If you are considering a work placement, please discuss your plans with the Immigration Advice Service. You must notify the PBS Compliance Team at PBSHelpline@uwe.ac.uk and the Placements Team before going on a work placement.
For more information, please see Working During Your Studies.
If your BRP is lost or stolen
You must report your BRP missing on the GOV.UK website.
Make sure you are certain it is lost before taking this step. Once reported missing, your BRP will be cancelled. Cancellation cannot be reversed, even if you find it again.
During the transition to eVisas, please contact the Immigration Advice Service for advice on what steps to take next.