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 notice was seen. For those who still hold an old card, the most useful step 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 verify their identity once whilst it is still valid; it is not worth leaving this until just before travelling.

The expiry date of the old ILR card applies only to specific uses

The UK Government’s ‘Biometric residence permits’ page describes the card’s uses as quite limited: 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 leave to remain; holders of a valid ILR do not need to apply for permanent residence again simply because their card has expired. BRP is the physical residence card, whilst eVisa is the digital record of identity and conditions of residence.

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 verification services.

If the phrase ‘the old card is still valid’ is used directly to determine whether a passenger can board a flight, this would go beyond the scope of this arrangement. The UK Government’s entry guidance clearly states that BRP can no longer be used 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 these specific uses; this date alone does not mean that permanent residence has lapsed or that it must be reapplied for.

When organising your cards, you can note down the expiry date shown on the card, count back 24 months from that date, and compare it with 31 December 2026; take the earlier of the two dates as the cut-off point for using 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.

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

First, check which voucher applies to you, then select the relevant service portal.

Categorising all cases under ‘re-application’ will involve additional administrative steps. For those with an expired BRP number or a number that has not yet been activated (eVisa), 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 verification with no time limit. The prerequisites and required documentation differ for these two routes; by first identifying 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 explicitly 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. A message confirming successful registration 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 whose old passports bear 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 published processing time can be up to six months, so it is advisable to allow ample time when making arrangements.

Therefore, the old BRP cut-off date 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, explicitly states in the ‘Digital Identity’ section: individuals who already hold 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 access issues are encountered, the access issues should be resolved; reapplying for an NTL cannot serve as a substitute for restoring the original account.

NTL also does not provide the facility 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. Meanwhile, 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 concurrently. Before departure, applicants must still confirm that the documents in their possession are valid for this entry and exit and can prove their identity. They should also remain alert to notifications regarding biometric collection and requests for supplementary documents, and avoid mistaking the application receipt 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 verify 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 identities 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 continue to experience 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 down the issue 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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