Is there a deadline for converting ILR to eVisa? The two deadlines for the old BRP

After 24 months, the old BRP still has limited uses.

The UK Government updated its guidance on permanent residence status on 8 June 2026: cards with an expiry date of BRP may be used for specified procedures within 24 months of the expiry date shown on the card, subject to the deadline of 31 December 2026; for cards with an expiry date of , the earlier of applies. As of today, 30 September 2026, there are still people who need to use their old cards to access the digital identity system. This arrangement is separate from the permanent residence status already granted; the card’s validity period should not be interpreted as the remaining duration of permanent residence, nor should it be recalculated from the date the announcement was seen. For those who still hold the old card, the most useful course of action at present is to confirm exactly which stage of the process they have reached.

My view is that anyone still relying solely on the old BRP login should link it to their current passport and complete a one-off verification whilst it is still valid; it is not worth leaving this until just before travelling.

The validity period of the old ILR card is limited to specific purposes only.

The UK Government’s ‘Biometric residence permits’ page describes its uses in very narrow terms: logging in to view eVisa and generate a share code, creating a UKVI account to access eVisa, and applying to extend a UK residence permit. The third item here is intended for those who need to renew their residence permit; holders of a valid ILR do not need to reapply for indefinite leave to remain simply because their card has expired. BRP is the physical residence card, whilst eVisa is the digital record of identity and residence status.

The difference between the two approaches is quite specific: simply keeping the old card safe does not resolve the issue of online identity verification; only once the accounts have been linked can you view your digital records and use the relevant certification services.

If the statement ‘the old card is still valid’ is used directly to determine whether a passenger can board a flight, this goes beyond the scope of this arrangement. The UK Government’s entry guidance clearly states that BRP is no longer valid for travel. The travel verification process checks whether the current passport or travel document corresponds to the digital identity; the fact that one can log in using an old card number does not mean that the newly issued passport has been successfully linked. Whilst both actions can be performed on screen, the information actually being verified is different.

The expiry of the card affects only these specific purposes; this date alone does not imply that permanent residence has lapsed or that it must be reapplied for.

When organising your cards, you may note down the expiry date shown on the card and count 24 months from that date; compare this with 31 December 2026, and take the earlier of the two dates as the cut-off point for the use of the old card. If the deadline has already passed, the official account opening guidelines still list other verification combinations: a valid passport together with a visa application number, or a valid passport together with an BRP number. The expiry date of the physical old card should not be interpreted broadly to mean that the cardholder can no longer activate a digital identity from that point onwards.

As for those who are already able to use eVisa normally and whose current passport has already been linked to their account, there is no need to open a new account just because of this year-end deadline.

First, check your credentials, then select the service portal

Categorising all cases as ‘re-applications’ will involve additional administrative steps. For those with an expired BRP number or an eVisa number that has not yet been activated, the entry point is the UKVI Account Service; for those who only have a permanent residence stamp or sticker on an old passport, they should consider the ‘No Time Limit’ (NTL) route, which is a form of status confirmation with no time limit. The prerequisites and required documentation differ for these two routes; once you have a clear understanding of the evidence you hold, the subsequent steps will become much clearer.

Those who already have an account should continue using their existing account; the UK government’s guide to opening an account clearly states that you should not create a new account if you already have a UKVI account.

If you are unsure whether you have an account, you can first look for the previous account confirmation email, or try logging in to view eVisa. The official guide also distinguishes between ‘creating an account’ and ‘linking eVisa’: once an account has been created, you must still complete identity verification and the linking process before you can view your electronic records. Receiving a registration confirmation message alone is not sufficient to confirm that you have been connected to eVisa. Alternative arrangements for identity verification are available for those who do not possess suitable identification documents or are unable to use a smartphone.

If you have received the account opening email but cannot view your identity details, you should first check whether the identity verification process has been completed; simply registering again does not replace the identity verification steps that have not yet been completed.

Alternatively, those who hold an old passport containing a permanent residence stamp or sticker without an expiry date, and whose status remains valid, may choose to apply for an NTL to obtain an eVisa. Current official guidance permits the continued use of the original physical document; digitisation does not alter the holder’s existing status. The NTL must be applied for whilst in the UK; the application itself is free of charge, and an electronic record is provided upon approval. The process involves the collection of fingerprints and a photograph, as well as the submission of the required supporting documents. The officially stated processing time can be up to six months, so it is advisable to allow ample time when making arrangements.

Therefore, the old BRP deadline of 31 December 2026 cannot be directly applied as the mandatory conversion deadline for all holders of permanent residence stamps in old passports.

There is one detail here that I will check particularly carefully. Home Office, ‘Travel documents: no time limit’, 1 April 2026, 24th edition, states explicitly in the ‘Digital Identity’ section: Persons already holding an eVisa should not apply for an NTL; any NTL application submitted will be deemed invalid. This draws a clear distinction between the two processing pathways. Where an electronic record already exists but there are issues with access, the access issue should be resolved; reapplying for an NTL cannot serve as a substitute for restoring the original account.

NTL also cannot be used to reapply for permanent residence: it merely confirms existing indefinite leave to remain and cannot be used to fulfil the conditions for permanent residence that have not yet been met.

Travel arrangements following the submission of an NTL application must also be considered on a case-by-case basis. The ‘Eligibility’ section of the aforementioned guidance permits applicants to leave the Common Travel Area whilst their application is being processed; an NTL application will not be deemed withdrawn as a result. The UK Government’s guidance on the Settler e-Visa permits the continued use of the original physical document whilst awaiting a decision. Only by considering these two points together can one determine whether the application process and travel can proceed in parallel. Before departure, you must still confirm that the documents in your possession are valid for this entry and exit and can prove your identity. You should also keep an eye out for notifications regarding biometric data collection and requests for additional documentation, and avoid mistaking the application receipt—whilst the application is being processed—for an e-proof that has already been issued.

Submitting an NTL from within the country and being permitted to travel whilst the case is being heard are two separate arrangements; this does not mean that an NTL can be submitted directly whilst the applicant is abroad.

For those preparing to complete the account takeover process, I will place the verification steps before the ‘Apply’ button: first, confirm whether you can log in to the original account and whether the digital records display the correct identity; then, verify the current passport number and contact details. If the identity displayed does not match the approval outcome, follow the procedure via the official eVisa error reporting portal; if a passport has been replaced, follow the procedure for the account details update service. UKVI’s update guidelines also note that there are restrictions on changes to names and passport details whilst awaiting a decision on a visa application.

Family members must also check their details separately. The official account opening guide stipulates that dependent partners and children must each have their own accounts; just because the main applicant can view their details does not mean that the other individuals’ records have been linked correctly.

If I were to carry out the verification just once today, I would check the number in my account against the passport I intend to use for travel, word for word, then log out and log back in to confirm that my identity record can be found. If someone in your household has set up the account on your behalf, you must also ensure that the verification code can be received by yourself or an authorised representative. If you still encounter issues accessing the account, make a note of the error page, the reference number and the steps you have already attempted, then contact the official account support channels to explain the situation; this information will help narrow the issue down to a manageable level.

Old cards can be kept on file; the next time you need to prove your identity, you’ll already have a digital record at your fingertips that you can access and which contains accurate details, thereby eliminating one more instance of having to wait whilst sorting out your affairs.

This article is for information purposes only; please consult a qualified solicitor regarding specific matters.

[Source] UK Government BRP User Guide, e-Visa Series Guides; Home Office ‘No time limit’, 24th edition. This article has been verified against official content available as at 30 September 2026.

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