The permanent residence BRP card in your hand may have quietly "expired" - and many people have not realized that the method of proving permanent residence status has been completely changed. Today is June 13, 2026. There is a deadline of directly related to your permanent residence status, which is in 17 days.
British permanent residence status is now inherited by eVisa
In the past, after you got ILR (Indefinite Leave to Remain, permanent residence), you relied on the BRP card (Biometric Residence Permit, biometric information residence card) to prove your identity. But BRP has completely withdrawn from the stage of history - the validity period of the last batch of cards was uniformly printed to on December 31, 2024 and , and the Ministry of the Interior will no longer issue any physical cards since then.
Instead it is eVisa (eVisa/Online Immigration Status) . It is not a card that can be held in your hand, but a digital record bound to your UKVI account (UK Visas and Immigration account). In other words, your permanent residence status is still there and will never expire, but the action of "showing your identity" changes from taking out a card to logging in to your account and generating a share code.
Important reminder: The expiration of the BRP card does not mean that your permanent residence status has expired. ILR is a residence qualification that is valid for life, and only the method of proof has changed. But if you don't create an account or accept it, you won't be able to use this identity in real life.
The two types of permanent residents have completely different acceptance methods.
Category 1: Permanent residents holding BRP cards. you need to take the initiative to create a UKVI account on GOV.UK and link eVisa to it. When creating an account, your BRP card number, passport information and other credentials will be used. This step is free and can be completed online.
Category 2: Old immigrants who rely on the "ink stamp" or sticker in their passport to prove their permanent residence. Many people who got permanent residence in the early years had a wet-ink stamp or vignette (sticker visa), but they never got BRP. Such people need to apply for through No Time Limit (NTL, no time limit confirmation), which is also and free of charge . After approval, they will get eVisa directly and no physical card will be issued. You only need to upload a copy of your permanent residence certificate and passport when applying. does not need to send the original passport to the Ministry of Interior .
There is another category that needs to be mentioned separately: those who have obtained settled status through EU Settlement Scheme (EU Settlement Scheme) , their identities are already digital, and there is no need to do NTL. The Ministry of Interior has sent a viewing link via email, and you can log in directly.
The deadline for ILR holders is June 30th, don’t miss it
The rule is: you must create a UKVI account within 18 months after the expiration of your BRP card . For the vast majority of people whose BRP will expire uniformly on December 31, 2024, this deadline is on June 30, 2026, and - only more than half a month away.
In addition, two things that are often confused should be distinguished: the grace period for returning to the UK with expired BRP has ended as early as June 1, 2025 - now you must rely on eVisa to travel abroad, and make sure that the passport currently used by has been linked to the account , otherwise boarding the flight back to the UK may be blocked. The expired BRP right to work / right to rent sharing code generated in the UK can still be used 24 months after expiration or December 31, 2026 (whichever comes first).
One word to avoid pitfalls: Domestic business can still last for a while, but the "card era" of traveling abroad has completely changed. Before booking a flight, log in to your account to confirm that your passport has been bound.
3 things permanent residents should do now
📌 is the first, go and create a UKVI account immediately. logs in to the eVisa portal of GOV.UK (search for "get access to your eVisa") and follow the instructions to complete. If you hold BRP, don’t delay past June 30; if you only have an ink stamp/sticker, apply for free NTL as soon as possible.
📌 Second, check and update your passport. After entering the account, checks whether the name, date of birth, and identity category are correct, and associates the current passport number with it. If you get a new passport, you must update it in time.
📌 Third, learn to generate sharing codes. rents a house, joins a job, or handles financial services. When the other party needs to verify their identity, you can use your account to generate a share code and give it to the other party without handing over a physical card.
If you are in the process of saving for permanent residence in 5 years and have not yet reached the ILR stage, this eVisa system also applies to your current visa - it is especially important to remember your number of days of residence and visa timeline. If you want to make precise calculations, you can use 永居计算器 APP to help you keep an eye on the countdown. Don’t wait in vain for a few years because of the 180-day red line or negligence of materials in the final stage.
This article is for reference only. For specific issues regarding identity acceptance and NTL application, it is recommended to consult a licensed attorney.
💬Has your British permanent residence eVisa account been set up? Has the passport been linked successfully, or is it stuck at the NTL application step? Let’s talk about the pitfalls you encountered in the process of taking over the project in the comment area, and give a heads up to fellow travelers who haven’t started yet. If you find it useful, please forward it to your friends who are also applying for permanent residence in the UK - don't let anyone get stuck on the deadline of June 30.
[Data source] GOV.UK:
https://www.gov.uk/evisa
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/indefinite-leave-to-remain-in-the-uk-your-rights-and-status