Biometric residence permits (BRPs)

Skip to contents of guide

Getting your BRP if you applied from inside the UK

If you made your visa or immigration application from inside the UK, your biometric residence permit (BRP) will be sent to the address you gave in your application. You do not need to collect it.

There’s a different way to get your BRP if you applied from outside the UK.

When your BRP will arrive

Your BRP will usually arrive within 7 to 10 days of getting your decision email or letter from the Home Office saying that you can remain in the UK.

It may take longer if your BRP is being delivered to the:

  • Isle of Man
  • Isles of Scilly
  • Scottish Highlands or islands

There are other ways to prove your immigration status while you wait for your BRP to arrive.

Receiving deliveries

You’ll get an email or text from Royal Mail telling you when your BRP will arrive.

Nobody needs to be at the delivery address when your BRP is delivered. Royal Mail will post it through the letterbox.

You can track the delivery of your BRP on the Royal Mail tracking website.

You’ll need your Royal Mail tracking number. This is a 13-digit number ending in ‘GB’. You’ll find it in emails you’ve received about your BRP delivery from Royal Mail or UK Visas and Immigration.

If your address has changed

Your BRP will be delivered to the address on your application.

You’ll need to tell the Home Office if your address has changed.

If your BRP is delivered to the wrong address because you did not update it, you’ll need to report a problem with your BRP.

If your BRP has not arrived within 10 days

If your BRP has not arrived within 10 days of getting your decision email or letter, track the delivery of your BRP on the Royal Mail tracking website.

You can contact Royal Mail if you need help with your delivery.

Royal Mail
Telephone: 03452 680 234
Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm
Saturday, 8am to 2pm
Sunday, 9am to 2pm
Find out about call charges
Fill in the Royal Mail contact form 

If Royal Mail tries to deliver your BRP but is unable to, they’ll leave you a card with instructions on it. You must follow the instructions to either:

  • collect your BRP from your local Royal Mail delivery office
  • arrange redelivery

You must either collect your BRP or rearrange delivery within 18 days or your BRP will be returned to the Home Office

You’ll need to tell the Home Office that your BRP has not arrived if:

  • you do not have a Royal Mail tracking number
  • Royal Mail is unable to help with your delivery question
  • it’s been more than 21 days since you missed the delivery of your BRP

Tell the Home Office that your BRP has not arrived

You can contact the Home Office about your BRP delivery if your decision email or letter from the Home Office saying that you can remain in the UK arrived more than 10 days ago.

You should only contact the Home Office if any of the following apply:

  • you have already contacted Royal Mail, and they could not help you
  • you do not have a tracking number to track your delivery with Royal Mail
  • you missed the delivery of your BRP more than 21 days ago

You’ll need the following information:

  • your full name, date of birth and nationality
  • an email or postal address
  • your decision email or letter

You can get someone to contact the Home Office for you, for example a legal representative, charity, employer, college or university.

The Home Office will email you to tell you what to do next. You’ll usually get a response within 7 days. It’ll take longer if you do not give an email address.

Do not use this service if Royal Mail tried to deliver your BRP and left a card, or sent a text message or email. Contact them to rearrange delivery or collect your BRP from your local delivery office.

Report now

If there’s a problem with your BRP

Report any problems with your BRP within 10 days of getting it.

View a printable version of the whole guide

Related content