How to prove British permanent residence status? BRP to eVisa undertakes the whole process
The moment they received their permanent residence (ILR), many people thought that this protracted battle was finally over. The blue BRP card in his hand seemed to be the "ironclad proof" of his identity. But today I want to remind you of something that is easily overlooked, but may suddenly get "stuck" at the airport, renting a house, or joining a job - your permanent residence status is no longer proved by that card.
The UK has already fully shifted from physical BRP (Biometric Residence Permit, biometric residence card) to eVisa (electronic visa/online immigration status) . If you haven't set up a UKVI account and haven't bound your passport yet, then there is only half a year left before a critical node - today is July 5, 2026, and the channel for to create an account with expired BRP will be closed by on December 31, 2026 at the latest.
How to prove permanent residence status? Fundamental change from physical card to eVisa
Proving permanent residence used to be easy: just show your BRP card. It's different now. eVisa is an electronic record stored in the Ministry of Home Affairs (Home Office) system. It shows your identity, the type of permission you hold, what you can do (work, rent, receive benefits), and when the permission expires.
Good news for permanent residence holders: after logging into your UKVI account, your ILR record will be displayed as "No time limit" (no time limit) or "Indefinite" (indefinite) , without any expiry date . This is exactly what "permanent residence" should be.
🔑 Key concept: BRP card is "identity" and eVisa is "method of proving identity". Expiration of the card does not mean that your permanent residence status has expired - but you must present it in a different way.
Can I still use BRP after it has expired? Remember the deadline of December 31st
Many permanent residence holders’ BRP cards have an expiration date of the end of 2024. You may be wondering: The card has expired, is it still useful?
The answer is: can also use within a limited range. According to GOV.UK's current rules, expired BRP can be used to create a UKVI account and verify identity . The period is "24 months after the expiration date on the card" or "December 31, 2026" - whichever comes first. For most people, the end of this year will come first.
But please be sure to distinguish one thing: it is just a grace period that allows you to "complete digital registration with your old card". is not a travel voucher, nor does it extend your immigration permit . You cannot enter or leave the country with expired BRP. To truly prove your identity and clear customs for travel, you rely on eVisa bound to your passport.
How to set up permanent residence eVisa? UKVI account in 3 steps
The entire process is completed for free on the GOV.UK official website, and no paid intermediary is required. The core are three steps:
Step one: Create a UKVI account. prepare any set of materials - valid passport + visa application number (GWF or UAN), or your expired BRP (within the period mentioned above). Go to GOV.UK and search for "Get access to your eVisa" and follow the instructions to register.
Step 2 of : Verify identity and associate with eVisa. The system will ask you to confirm your identity and connect your account with your eVisa record. Once completed, log in to see your permanent residence status.
Step 3: Bind current passport. This step is the easiest to overlook, but it is the most fatal. You must update the passport information currently used by in your UKVI account. If you get a new passport, you must update it in time, otherwise you will be stuck at the border control when entering and exiting.
✈️ Check three things before traveling: whether eVisa is visible, whether the current passport is associated, and whether personal information is correct. All three are green, then buy a plane ticket.
How to prove permanent residence when working and renting an apartment? Share Code usage
After digitization, proving identity to employers and landlords relies on the share code (share code) . Log in to GOV.UK's "View and prove your immigration status" service and generate a string of sharing codes to the other party. They will use the code to verify your Right to Work (right to work) or Right to Rent (right to rent a house) online.
Please note: a sharing code of is only valid for 90 days. So don’t generate it too early. It’s safest to open it now and give it immediately when you use it. Please choose the corresponding type of sharing code for different purposes (work/renting), don’t give the wrong one.
By the way, from February 25, 2026, even the vignette sticker will no longer be affixed after the visitor visa is approved, but eVisa associated with the UKVI account will be issued. It is a general trend that the entire British immigration system is "paperless". The sooner permanent residence holders adapt, the less worry they will have.
What should permanent residence holders do now? an action list
If you have already received ILR but have yet to move on it, do the following things before the deadline at the end of the year:
① Use your passport or expired BRP to create a UKVI account immediately, don’t wait until December 31st; ② Log in to confirm that the permanent residence is displayed as "Indefinite / No time limit"; ③ Bind and check ’s current passport ; ④ Update the account in time after changing your passport, address, and email address; ⑤ Before traveling, joining a job, or renting a house, test whether the sharing code can be generated normally.
Permanent residence will not disappear just because a card expires, but if the account is not set up and the passport is not bound, there will be a lot of troubles in reality - flight check-in is blocked, employment background check is stuck, and rental verification is failed. Only by taking this step of digitalization firmly can we truly "secure" our permanent residence. As for when you can apply for naturalization after 12 months of permanent residence and how to keep the number of days you have left the country, you can use the 永居计算器 APP to help you calculate the timeline; for complex situations where you are unsure, you can also ask our licensed lawyers on WeChat.
⚠️ This article is for reference only. Please consult a licensed immigration lawyer for specific cases, and the latest announcement from GOV.UK shall prevail.
💬 Chat in the comment area: Is your eVisa tied up?
What pitfalls have you encountered when setting up a UKVI account or generating a sharing code? Have you ever encountered a situation where eVisa cannot be displayed or passport association fails? Tell us about your experience in the comment section, and help fellow travelers who haven’t figured it out yet.
If you find it useful, collect this article , and check it item by item against the list before the end of the year, so that you can check it at any time later.
[Data source] GOV.UK: https://www.gov.uk/evisa/get-evisa-settlement-uk; https://www.gov.uk/evisa/set-up-ukvi-account