Lost or stolen BRP

Your BRP Card

Your BRP card is your visa and proof of your permission to be in the UK and study at Aston University.  The Home Office is phasing out the use of BRPs after 31 December 2024 and introducing an electronic system where immigration status will only be viewable online. This is known as an eVisa and more information on this can be found here.

If you need an alternative, cheaper form of ID to use in shops, pubs or clubs instead of your passport, we strongly recommend that you apply for a proof of age card that is accredited by the Home Office’s PASS scheme. Find out more here.

If you have lost your BRP card, you must still report this to the Home Office.

Click on the tabs below to find out exactly what you need to do. 

BRP card

Lost or Stolen BRP/Passport – Outside of the UK

It’s not now possible to replace your BRP card.  You can enter the UK with your passport and eVisa only, once you have created a UKVI account (see the dedicated web page for registering for your eVisa here). It is important that your UKVI account is kept up-to-date and is linked to your current passport.  You must still complete step 3 below regardless.

If you have lost your BRP card, you are not in the UK, and you are not able to set up access to your eVisa, you’ll need to apply for a single entry ‘Replacement BRP Visa’.

The application will cost £154, and you’ll need to get this visa before you can re-enter the UK.

1) Report it to the police

Report to the local police that you have lost your BRP card. If possible, ask the police to provide you with a crime or incident report and try to obtain a reference number.

2) Report to your embassy (lost passport only)

If you have lost your passport and you are not in your country, report this to your country’s embassy. Apply for a new passport or temporary travel document.

3) Report it to the Home Office

Report the loss of your BRP card to the Home Office. You can do this here. The Home Office will then cancel your BRP card.

4) Apply for a Replacement BRP Visa

You can apply for this type of visa here.

  • Create an account
  • Click ‘Applying For Myself’

Select Visa Type:

  • Reason for Visit: Other
  • Visa Type: Others
  • Visa Sub Type: Replacement Biometric Residence Permit

You will need to make an appointment at a Visa Application Centre to submit your documents

Take these documents with you:

  • your passport
  • a passport photo
  • the police report
  • your student status letter (request this from MAP, and it will be emailed to you the following working day)

5) Return to the UK

Once you have the Replacement BRP Visa, you can re-enter the UK.  You should then register for a UKVI account and apply for your eVisa to prove your immigration status and for future travel.

Lost or Stolen BRP/Passport – Inside the UK

Please follow the steps below and then contact the team by email at astoninternational@aston.ac.uk for support.

1) Try to find your BRP

If you have lost your BRP card, try to find it first:

  • If you lost it on a night out, call any venues that you visited.
  • If you lost it on campus, visit the Security team behind reception in the Main Building to check lost property
  • Call or visit the local police station to see if somebody has handed it in

If it is definitely lost or stolen…

2) Report it to the police

Visit the local police station, or call the police non-emergency number on 101. Some police forces also allow you to report crimes and lost property online.

Ask the police to provide you with a crime reference or incident number.  You will be asked for this when reporting the loss online.

3) Contact your embassy (lost passport only)

If you have lost your passport, you’ll need to contact your embassy to get a replacement. You can find a list of embassies in the UK here.

4) Report it to the Home Office

Report the loss of your BRP card to the Home Office. You can do this here. The Home Office will then cancel your BRP card.

5) Create a UKVI account and access your eVisa

See the dedicated web page for registering for your eVisa here

Lost or Stolen Passport (Visa in Passport)

Outside of the UK

If your visa is a sticker (vignette) in your passport and you have lost your passport outside of the UK, you’ll need to apply to transfer your visa to your new passport. The application will cost £154.

1) Report the loss of your passport to the local police and try to obtain a police report and/or reference number.

2) Contact your embassy to apply for a new passport

3) Once you have your new passport, apply for a Vignette Transfer here.

On the application form, select the following options:

  • Reason for Visit: Other
  • Visa Type: Others
  • Visa Sub Type: Vignette transfer

In the additional information section, explain why you need to apply to transfer your visa.

4) When you go to your appointment at the visa application centre take:

  • your passport
  • a passport photo
  • the police report
  • your student status letter (request this from MAP and it will be emailed to you the following working day)

5) Once you return to the UK, please visit the Student Solutions Centre so that we can scan your new passport and visa.

Inside the UK

If your visa is a sticker (vignette) in your passport and you have lost your passport outside of the UK, you’ll need to apply for a Transfer of Conditions..

The International Advice Team can help you with this application, which will cost £161.

1) Report the loss of your passport to the local police and try to obtain a police report and/or reference number.

2) Contact your embassy to apply for a new passport

3) Apply for a Transfer of Conditions here.

4) Update the Student Solutions Centre once you have your new immigration status

Frequently Asked Questions

I am overseas - can I travel back to the UK without my BRP card?

If you are a ‘visa national’ (you require a visa to enter the UK) you should be able to travel back to the UK with your passport and eVisa only, providing that you have created your UKVI account and accessed your eVisa before travelling.  See the dedicated web page for registering for your eVisa here

If you are unable to access your eVisa, you will need to apply for a Replacement BRP Visa according to the instructions above.

If you are a ‘non-visa national’ (you don’t require a visa to enter the UK), see the answer to the next question.

I am overseas, but I don’t need a visa to enter the UK – do I need to apply for a Replacement BRP Visa to re-enter the UK?

If you are a ‘non-visa national’, you are not normally required to apply for a visa before you travel to the UK. Instead, non-visa nationals have the ability to apply for permission to enter the UK when they arrive at the UK border (at the airport).

However, we do still recommend that non-visa nationals create a UKVI account and access their eVisa, or apply for a Replacement BRP Visa if unable to access their eVisa, before they travel back to the UK.

This is because we cannot guarantee that the border officer will allow you to enter the UK using your Student/other visa.

If you enter the UK as a visitor, this could, in theory, cancel your other immigration permission. It could potentially also cause problems if you need to extend your visa from within the UK at a later date.

If you need advice upon your return, get in touch with the International Advice Team by email at astoninternational@aston.ac.uk. 

I am in the UK, but I need to travel outside of the country soon – can I leave without my BRP?

It is possible to leave the UK without your BRP, however, you will need to either register for a UKVI account and access your eVisa or apply for a Replacement BRP Visa in order to return to the UK.

Be aware that the Replacement BRP Visa application can take 15 working days, so you should always try to register for your UKVI account and access your eVisa.  If you do not have time to make a Replacement BRP Visa application, then you may need to amend your travel plans so that you either leave or return to the UK later.

I am finishing my course soon and I will be leaving the UK permanently – do I need to replace my BRP?

As it is now no longer possible to apply for a replacement BRP card, there is no expectation for you to obtain a replacement.  However, you still need to report that you have lost it to the Home Office.

You can report that you have lost your BRP card here. Click ‘Report a BRP lost or stolen if you do not need replacement’ and then enter your BRP details and the date that you lost it.

Please note that your BRP will be cancelled once you complete this report. This means that even if you find it again you will not be able to use it to re-enter the country.

You should still create a UKVI account and access your eVisa.  See the dedicated web page for registering for your eVisa here

Last updated: 15/10/2024 KB