Last week, a Chinese friend studying in London sent me a WeChat message with an anxious tone: "I lost my BRP card. What should I do now? I heard that if you don't call the police, you will be fined or even deported?"
This is not an isolated case. As of December 31, 2024, all BRP cards have been completely invalidated, and the UK has fully switched to the eVisa digital visa system. But many Chinese people have not realized that even if the BRP card has expired, it must still be reported to the Ministry of Home Affairs if it is lost - otherwise it may be fined up to £1,000 or even forced to leave the country.
What makes people even more anxious is that today in May 2026, eVisa has become the only certificate to prove identity, entry and exit, and Right to Work/Rent. How should I deal with the loss of BRP? How to switch to eVisa urgently? How can I get my BRP back to the UK if I lose it overseas? This article gives you a complete and actionable emergency self-rescue guide.
📌 Step one: Report must be made within 24 hours, otherwise the consequences will be serious
Many people think that "BRP has expired, and if you lose it, you lose it." is so wrong .
Even if the BRP has expired, loss or theft must still be reported to the Home Office. It is recommended to report the loss through the Home Office online tool within 24 hours, and the Ministry of Interior will contact you within 1 working day.
emergency action list:
✅ Report BRP lost/stolen immediately at GOV.UK (search "report lost BRP")
✅ If it is stolen, go to the police station to report the crime and keep the police report number (Crime Reference Number)
✅ Record reporting time and any Home Office reply emails
✅ If you find BRP later, it cannot be used again and must be cut into pieces and destroyed.
Why so strict? Because BRP will be canceled immediately to prevent identity theft or visa status abuse. If you do not report it, your BRP will still be "valid" in the Ministry of Internal Affairs system. Once it is used by others, you may bear legal responsibility.
🔄 Step 2: Create a UKVI account immediately and activate your eVisa
The good news is: BRP is lost, but your visa status is not lost . The expiry of BRP does not affect your immigration status and your right to remain in the UK remains valid until the expiration date in the decision letter or UKVI record.
What you have to do now is: set up a UKVI account and obtain eVisa (electronic visa) access rights. Creating a UKVI account is completely free and will not change or affect your existing immigration status or rights.
How to create a UKVI account?
Visit gov.uk/get-access-evisa and follow these steps:
① Prepare materials
- Valid passport (or expired BRP card number, if you still remember)
- Email used when applying for visa
- Mobile phone (used to download UK Immigration: ID Check App to complete identity verification)
② Register online
Use your email address to register a UKVI account, and the system will guide you to complete identity verification. Expired BRP can still be used to set up accounts for 18 months after expiration (a transition period ending around June/July 2026), but the focus has now shifted to full digital access.
③ Verify identity
Download the "UK Immigration: ID Check" app, scan your passport chip and take a selfie, and it's done in a few minutes.
④ View eVisa
After logging in, you will see your digital visa record, including visa type, expiration date, work/study permissions, etc. - eVisa is a digital record of your identity and immigration status, accessed through your UKVI account.
💡 Warm reminder: If you already have a UKVI account (for example, you have applied for EUSS or other visas before), just log in directly and do not register again. Expired BRP can be used to obtain share code within 18 months after expiration, proving Right to Work/Rent, but it can no longer be used for travel.
If you encounter technical problems when creating an account, you can use UKVI's webchat service for help (GOV.UK search for "UKVI webchat").
✈️ Step 3: If you lose BRP overseas, you can return to the UK
The more troublesome situation is: is overseas and BRP is lost, how can he return to the UK?
You can no longer obtain a replacement BRP card. There are two options now:
Option A: If you already have a UKVI account and your passport is linked
Congratulations, you can return to the UK directly with eVisa. However, you must ensure that the passport you use for travel is linked to your UKVI account, otherwise you may be refused entry at the border or denied boarding by the airline. Log in to your account, confirm that your passport information is correct, and you can travel normally.
Option B: If you cannot set up a UKVI account or update your passport information
In this case, you need to apply for temporary single-entry visa (Replacement BRP Visa / Temporary Visa) . The fee is £154 and allows you to enter the UK on a single trip. When applying you need:
- Fill out the online application form
- Make an appointment to take fingerprints at the visa center
- Provide the police report number (if BRP was stolen)
- Pay £154 fee
The processing time is approximately 3-8 weeks, so be sure to apply as early as possible. After returning to the UK, you need to set up a UKVI account and eVisa, or contact UKVI to resolve account access issues.
⚠️ IMPORTANT: If you are outside the UK, your lost BRP should be handed over to the police or the nearest British Embassy/Consulate. If you find BRP that has been reported lost, it cannot be used again and must be destroyed.
🛡️ Step 4: Use eVisa to prove your identity, you must know these scenarios
BRP is lost and eVisa is activated. The next question is: How can use eVisa to prove my visa status?
Today in 2026, BRP can no longer be used to prove Right to Work, nor can it be used for international travel from June 1, 2025. All identification is completed via Share Code .
What is Share Code?
The Share Code is a nine-character code that matches your date of birth so employers and landlords can verify your entitlement through a secure government portal. Validity is usually 30 or 90 days (depending on use).
How to generate Share Code?
Log in to your UKVI account → Select "View and Prove" → Select the purpose (work/rent/other) → Generate code → Share with employer/landlord/service agency.
When the other party enters your Share Code and birthday, they can check your visa status, work permissions, residence period and other information online - is completely digital and does not require any physical documents .
Common usage scenarios
- is looking for a job/changing jobs: employer provides Share Code when doing Right to Work inspection
- rental: landlord conducts Right to Rent inspection (England) and provides Share Code
- bank account opening: Some banks in require identification, and Share Code can be provided
- entry and exit: border officials scan your passport and automatically associate it with your eVisa record (no additional operations required)
- applies for permanent residence/naturalization: Ministry of Interior system automatically reads your eVisa history
💡 Tips: After changes your passport, be sure to log in to your UKVI account to update your passport information and associate the new passport. Otherwise, the airline cannot check your eVisa when leaving the country and you will be refused boarding. You can use the "永居计算器" APP to set up passport expiration reminders to avoid affecting the use of eVisa due to passport expiration.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions: Those details you care about most
Q1: If BRP is lost, will my permanent residence countdown be affected?
Won't. Your length of stay and days out of the country are recorded in the Ministry of Interior system and have nothing to do with the BRP card itself. As long as you report in time and activate eVisa, your path to permanent residence will not be affected. If you are not sure whether your travel days comply with the 180-day rule, you can use 永居计算器APP to accurately calculate each rolling period.
Q2: I haven’t created a UKVI account yet, and now BRP has lost it, what should I do?
Follow the "Step 2" process to create it immediately. Even if BRP is lost, as long as you remember your email address and passport information when applying for a visa, you can activate eVisa through identity verification. If you really encounter technical difficulties, you can contact UKVI webchat or call the Home Office hotline for help.
Q3: I have ILR (permanent residence). Do I still need to report if BRP is lost?
need. Even if you hold permanent resident status, a loss or theft of BRP must be reported to the Home Office and the BRP will be canceled to protect your identity. Then create a UKVI account, your ILR identity will be displayed in eVisa, and then use Share Code to prove your permanent residence status.
Q4: Can I apply for a new physical BRP card?
No, the BRP replacement service has been stopped. Starting from November 2024, the Ministry of Interior has stopped issuing new BRP cards and has fully switched to the eVisa system.
Q5: What should I do if I don’t know how to use a computer/mobile phone?
The Home Office has provided funding support of up to £400,000 to 25 national and community organizations to help disadvantaged people access or use eVisa. You can contact local charities, university international student offices, employer HR departments, or consult a licensed immigration lawyer (such as our lawyer WeChat: uklvshi) for one-on-one assistance.
💬 Written at the end: In the digital age, don’t let a card ruin your visa journey
Losing BRP does make people anxious, but as long as you deal with it calmly and follow the steps, you can completely avoid the danger. Remember these four key actions:
① Report within 24 hours → ② Create UKVI account immediately → ③ Lost overseas and apply for temporary visa → ④ Use Share Code to prove identity
The British immigration system in 2026 has been fully digitized. Digital identity can reduce administrative costs, curb document fraud, and enable faster analysis-based security screening. For the Chinese, adapting to this new system is a required course - your visa is not in a card, but in the cloud .
If you have any questions about eVisa settings, permanent residence countdown, and visa renewal, you are welcome to use the "永居计算器" APP ( https://justiscript.com/ilr) to calculate your permanent residence timeline, or add our licensed lawyer WeChat (uklvshi) to get professional advice.
finally wants to ask everyone: have you activated eVisa? What pitfalls have you encountered during use? Welcome to share your experience in the comment area to help more Chinese people successfully transition to the digital visa era.
Disclaimer: This article is for reference only and does not constitute legal advice. The British immigration policy is continuously updated. For specific information, please refer to the latest announcement of GOV.UK or consult a licensed immigration lawyer.
data source:
• GOV.UK - Biometric residence permits (BRPs): https://www.gov.uk/biometric-residence-permits
• GOV.UK - Updates on the move to eVisas: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/updates-on-the-move-to-evisas/updates-on-the-move-to-evisas
• GOV.UK - Indefinite leave to remain in the UK: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/indefinite-leave-to-remain-in-the-uk
📚 Data source
·https://www.gov.uk/biometric-residence-permits
·https://www.gov.uk/biometric-residence-permits/lost-stolen-damaged
· https://ukvisa.blog/home-office-fees-ilr-brp-citizenship/
· https://www.gov.uk/guidance/indefinite-leave-to-remain-in-the-uk