If your BRP is lost or stolen

You can report your biometric residence permit (BRP) lost or stolen from inside or outside the UK. You can only apply for a replacement from inside the UK.

The Home Office will contact you within one working day of reporting it.

You can get someone to report for you, for example a legal representative, a charity, employer, college or university.

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

BRPs are different from biometric residence cards (BRCs). BRCs are also called ‘UK residence cards’. You might have one if you’re in the UK as a family member of someone from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein. Find out how to report a lost or stolen BRC.

If you’re in the UK

If your lost or stolen BRP was valid for 3 months or more, report it and apply for a replacement. You must do this within 3 months of losing it.

You can be fined up to £1,000 and made to leave the UK if you do not apply for a replacement within 3 months.

If your BRP was valid for 3 months or less, you must do one of the following:

  • report it as lost or stolen if you do not intend to remain in the UK after its expiry date
  • apply for a replacement if you plan to leave and re-enter the UK within 3 months of its expiry date
  • apply to extend your visa if you want to stay in the UK after its expiry date - if granted, you’ll automatically get a new BRP

If you’re outside the UK

You must report your lost or stolen BRP outside the UK.

You cannot apply for a replacement BRP outside the UK. Instead, you’ll need to apply for a ‘replacement BRP visa’, which lets you re-enter the UK once only. It costs £154.

You can apply for a replacement BRP when you return to the UK. You must do this within 3 months of reporting it lost or stolen unless you have a good reason, for example you were unable to return to the UK in that time.

If you’ve been away for over 2 years and you’ve lost your documentation proving your right to live in the UK, you can apply for a Returning Resident visa.

If you’re in North Korea you cannot apply for a replacement BRP visa online. Read the guidance for North Korea and use form VAF2 instead.

If you find your BRP after reporting it lost or stolen

You will not be able to use your BRP if you find it after you report it lost or stolen.

If you’re in the UK, you’ll still need to apply for a replacement.

If you’re outside the UK, you’ll still need to apply for a ‘replacement BRP visa’ to travel back to the UK before applying for a replacement.

When your replacement arrives, cut your older BRP into pieces and post it to the Home Office. Make sure you cut through:

  • your personal details
  • the royal coat of arms
  • the gold biometric chip, if your card has one

Returns Unit
PO Box 195
Bristol
BS20 1BT

If you’ve found someone else’s lost or stolen BRP

If you’re in the UK, post the BRP to the Home Office using an envelope without a window.

Returns Unit
PO Box 195
Bristol
BS20 1BT

Do not send any other items or documents with the BRP - they’ll be destroyed.

If you’re outside the UK, hand the BRP in to the police or to the nearest British embassy or consulate.