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Guidance

Biometric information: caseworker guidance

Immigration staff guidance on managing an applicant's biometric information.

Updates to this page

From:
UK Visas and Immigration
Published:
20 November 2013
Last updated:
28 August 2026
Show all updates

  1. 'Handling facial image search requests from within the Home Office': removed a paragraph about the parts of the Home Office affected by the guidance, and made it clearer on the template the grade of staff authorised to approve a request.

  2. The guidance 'Biometric Residence Permits for overseas applicants: alternatives to customer collection at Post Office' is out of date and has been removed.

  3. Published the 'Handling facial image search requests from within the Home Office' guidance.

  4. 'Biometric enrolment: policy guidance' updated to reflect changes to the sign-off process for foreign royal excusals and associated internal reporting, and to add further guidance on enrolling biometrics at the border.

  5. Added accessible versions of the 'biometric reuse' and 'retention and usage of biometric information' guides.

  6. Updated the Unable to travel to a Visa Application Centre to enrol biometrics (overseas applications) caseworker guidance to provide clearer guidance for assessing criterion 4a.

  7. Replaced "Retention and usage of biometric information" guidance - section on facial images captured at eGates and immigration control has been updated.

  8. Updated the retention and usage of biometric information guidance with a new section on facial images captured at eGates and immigration control.

  9. The biometric enrolment policy guidance has been updated to reflect changes to the sign-off process for foreign royal excusals and associated internal reporting, and to add further guidance on enrolling biometrics at the border.

  10. The biometric reuse guidance has been updated to make it clear that children aged under 5 cannot have their biometrics reused and must attend a VAC in person to enrol their biometrics.

  11. Replaced Biometric reuse document with a new version.

  12. The guidance 'Biometric information: introduction' has been updated to reflect that BRPs and BRCs are no longer issued.

  13. Biometric enrolment: policy guidance has been updated to confirm that greyscale facial images cannot be accepted and latest BRP decommissioning updates.

  14. Both 'Biometric information: introduction' and 'Biometric information: enrolment' documents updated to reflect that BRPs and BRCs will no longer be issued.

  15. Updated the biometric reuse guidance to reflect the closure of the BRP and BRC replacement service.

  16. Updated 'Unable to travel to a Visa Application Centre to enrol biometrics guidance'. A full list of changes can be found in the guide.

  17. Guidance on "Unable to travel to a Visa Application Centre to enrol biometrics (overseas applications)" has been updated to remove the subjectivity test in the unsafe journeys criterion.

  18. Updated Biometric reuse guidance to make it clear that we are unable to offer biometric reuse for individuals who are overseas. Also updated Unable to travel to a Visa Application Centre to enrol biometrics guidance to make it clear when individuals should request to be excused from attending a Visa Application Centre and where they meet the criterion.

  19. Guidance on enrolment updated to explain our approach where individuals are prevented from leaving or entering a country or territory by the controlling authorities.

  20. Updated Biometric information: enrolment guidance to set out the process for supplying biometrics in ETA applications.

  21. The enrolment guidance has been updated to set out who is authorised to agree to reuse biometrics or excuse them in the long term reasons section.

  22. 'Retention and usage of biometric information': removed reference to eGates.

  23. Guidance on biometric enrolment and biometric reuse updated.

  24. Added accessible version of 'Unable to travel to a Visa Application Centre to enrol biometrics (overseas applications)'.

  25. Added the document 'Unable to travel to a Visa Application Centre to enrol biometrics (overseas applications)'.

  26. Accessible versions added.

  27. 'Biometric information: enrolment' updated: addition of process for non-EEA nationals who are detained in prison or in an immigration removal centre in the UK and make an application to the EU Settlement Scheme.

  28. Updates to 'Retention and usage of biometric information guidance' around the use and retention rules that apply depending on whether fingerprints are enrolled or re-used from 1 July 2021 or before that date.

  29. Updated biometric reuse and biometric information: enrolment guidance documents.

  30. Updated 'Biometric reuse' guidance.

  31. Updated Biometric Residence Permits for overseas applicants: alternatives to customer collection at Post Office guide.

  32. Updated 'Biometric information: introduction' with regards to biometric residence permits and how they are used with our online services and at the border.

  33. Introduction document updated, including information about when biometrics must be enrolled and the information about the use of eGates

  34. Updated 'Biometric Information: introduction' guidance. Added new guidance: 'Retention and usage of biometric information' and 'Biometric reuse'.

  35. Added information about biometric enrolment at Post Offices ending on 31 July 2021 to details section.

  36. Updated biometric information - introduction guidance.

  37. Updated to add 'Biometric Residence Permits for overseas applicants: alternatives to customer collection at Post Office'

  38. Updated biometric information: introduction.

  39. Updated guidance documents.

  40. Updated guidance.

  41. Updated guidance.

  42. Updated guides.

  43. Updated guidance.

  44. Updated attachment

  45. First published.

Documents

Biometric information: introduction (accessible)

HTML

Biometric information: introduction

PDF, 239 KB, 13 pages

Biometric enrolment: policy guidance (accessible)

HTML

Biometric enrolment: policy guidance

PDF, 375 KB, 36 pages

Biometric information: case working (accessible)

HTML

Biometric information: case working

PDF, 384 KB, 51 pages

Biometric reuse (accessible)

HTML

Biometric reuse

PDF, 211 KB, 22 pages

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email alternativeformats@homeoffice.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Handling facial image search requests from within the Home Office (accessible)

HTML

Handling facial image search requests from within the Home Office

PDF, 335 KB, 23 pages

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email alternativeformats@homeoffice.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Retention and usage of biometric information (accessible)

HTML

Retention and usage of biometric information

PDF, 290 KB, 15 pages

Unable to travel to a Visa Application Centre to enrol biometrics (overseas applications) (accessible)

HTML

Unable to travel to a Visa Application Centre to enrol biometrics (overseas applications)

PDF, 370 KB, 58 pages

Details

UK Visas and Immigration guidance on how staff manage migrants’ biometric information and the case working process.

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