Your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) used to confirm your right to live, work or study in the UK. BRPs are no longer issued, and they all expired on 31 December 2024 as the UK moved to a fully digital eVisa system. So the real question now is not how to renew a BRP, but how to access and use your eVisa. This guide explains what to do.
An expired BRP does not mean your status has expired
Even if your BRP shows an expiry date of 31 December 2024, your underlying immigration status is unaffected. If your leave, including Indefinite Leave to Remain, runs beyond that date, you still hold it. Only the card has stopped being valid. You now prove your status through your eVisa, accessed via a UKVI account.
How to access your eVisa
1. Create a UKVI account
Set up your account at gov.uk/evisa. You will need your passport, your BRP number if you still have it, and a recent photo.
2. Check your status is linked
If your immigration status is not already linked to your account, you may need to update your record. This is free.
3. Use your digital status
Once active, you can share your status with employers or landlords using a share code, update your personal details, and see your visa expiry date.
If you have Indefinite Leave to Remain
You do not need a new visa. You do need to set up your eVisa. Create your UKVI account, keep your ILR, and apply for British citizenship later if you are eligible.
Proving your right to work
Employers check your status with a share code from your UKVI account, not a physical card. See our right to work check guide.
If you cannot access your account, or your details change
If you cannot access your UKVI account, contact UKVI to recover it. Keep your passport and contact details up to date in the account, especially before you travel, as your eVisa is linked to the passport recorded there.
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Setting up a UKVI account and activating your eVisa is free.
How Borderless helps you stay compliant
We help individuals and employers move to digital status correctly, and keep sponsors compliant with Home Office rules through monitoring and reminders. Whether you need help with sponsor duties, right to work checks or the visa process, we are here to help. Download our Right to Work Checklist to stay audit-ready.
