Lost or Damaged Passports, Visas & BRPs

Lost passports, visas or BRP cards

This page offers useful guidance if your passport, visa or BRP card (a physical document) has been lost or stolen in the UK or Overseas.

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Step-by-step guides for lost or stolen BRP cards

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Visa/BRP lost or stolen overseas

Follow the below step-by-step guide if your biometric residence permit (BRP) is lost or stolen outside of the UK:

Step 1 - Check where it might be Step 2 - Tell the Home Office

Once you are certain it cannot be recovered, you will need to report the loss of your BRP to the Home Office, so they can cancel your BRP.

Failure to report the loss or theft to the Home Office and local police may result in a civil penalty.

You will be asked to provide your personal information and contact details.

Step 3 - Gather documents

So that you have access to view and prove your immigration status (e.g. to an employer, landlord, or the university) whilst you obtain new physical documents, register for your eVisaLink opens in a new window if you haven't done so already. However, please be aware that you will still require new physical documents to re-enter the UK before 1 January 2025.

You can also use our request form to get a copy of your BRP images, as held by the university.

Step 4 - Apply for a replacement travel visa

If you lost your BRP card overseas, you must apply for a replacement BRP visa in order to re-enter the UK.

If you applied for a visa in the UK and were granted both the digital status and a BRP; if you lose the BRP, you'll still need to get a replacement vignette to return to the UK as you will not be allowed to travel on the basis of digital status alone.

The "replacement BRP Visa" can take between 1-2 weeks to process, so think carefully whether it is best to make this application from where you are, or whether it would be better to return to your home country if you can be better supported there.

The replacement BRP visa is a single-entry visa valid for one month.

To make this application from overseas, you must complete an online application formLink opens in a new window.

You'll need to provide a copy of your previous BRP and a current student status letter when attending your appointment. If you need us to send you a scanned copy of your passport or the BRP card, please complete our request form. You can download a copy of your student status letter via Student Records Online.

Access the GOV.UK online formLink opens in a new window

You should include your police report and details of how you lost/had your BRP stolen from you.

You will need to pay online (154 GBP) for your application and make an appointment to present your documents and have your biometric data taken at a local visa application centre

Once your application is approved, you will receive a vignette (sticker) inside your passport giving you permission to return to the UK and make a further application for a replacement BRP card once you have done so.

Step 5 - Apply for an eVisa

It is no longer possible to apply for a replacement BRP. If you haven't already done so, you'll need to apply for an eVisa.

If you already had an eVisa linked to a lost passport or BRP you'll need to update your UKVI account using your new identity document.

Please get in touch with us if you have any questions.

Step 6 - Tell the University about your eVisa

BRP card lost or stolen in the UK

Follow the below step-by-step guide if your biometric residence permit (BRP) is lost or stolen in the UK:

Step 1 - Check where it might be

Don't panic!
First make sure that you have checked all locations where it may be.
If you are on campus, check with the Community Safety Team - Tel: 02476522083.
Do a thorough search before reporting it to the Home Office because once your BRP is cancelled, it cannot be reversed!

Step 2 - Tell the Home Office

Once you are certain it cannot be recovered, you will need to report the loss of your BRPLink opens in a new window to the Home Office, so they can cancel your BRP.

Failure to report the loss or theft to the Home Office and local police may result in a civil penalty.

You will be asked to provide your personal information and contact details.

Step 3 - Gather documents

You can also use our request form to get a copy of your BRP images, as held by the university.

Step 4 - Apply for an eVisa

It is no longer possible to apply for a replacement BRP. If you haven't already done so, you'll need to apply for an eVisa.

If you already had an eVisa linked to a lost passport or BRP you'll need to update your UKVI account using your new identity document.

Please get in touch with us if you have any questions.

Step 5 - Tell the University about your eVisa

Search for your query

On the below FAQs please select the ' >>' widget next to the section title to unhide the text so it becomes visible to the screen reader.

1- Do I need to replace a lost or stolen BRP ?

No.

From October 2024 it is no longer possible to replace a physical Biometric Residence Permit, since BRPs have been replaced by digital immigration status, or eVisas.

You do still need report the loss or theft of your BRP to the Home Office but instead of applying for a replacement card you'll need to apply for an eVisa.

1 - My passport is lost or damaged and I am in the UK

You will need to contact your country's embassy to obtain a new passport.

You do not need to report a lost passport to the police in the UK or the Home Office as they will be unable to give you a crime reference number or log details.

Once you have your new passport, you must:

Provide it to the University via our online form
Update UKVI by uploading it to your UKVI accountLink opens in a new window, and by downloading, completing, and posting the "Migrant Change in CircumstancesLink opens in a new window" form if you have a physical visa document (e.g. a BRP)

2 - My passport is lost or damaged and I am outside of the UK

You will need to contact your country's embassy to obtain a new passport.

You do not need to report a lost passport to the police in the UK or the Home Office as they will be unable to give you a crime reference number or log details.

Once you have your new passport, you must:

Provide it to the University via our online form
Update UKVI by uploading it to your UKVI accountLink opens in a new window, and, once you re-enter the UK, by downloading, completing, and posting the "Migrant Change in CircumstancesLink opens in a new window" form if you have a physical visa document (e.g. a BRP)

2 - What should I do if I've lost the BRP which was linked to my eVisa?

If you created a UKVI account for your eVisa using a BRP which you no longer have, you'll need to update your UKVI account using another identity document, such as your passport.

You can also get help in creating an account to access your eVisa if you have a valid passport, and you need to find your BRP number or application number: https://www.request-reference-evisa.homeoffice.gov.uk/.

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A-Z of Visa Terms

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Check our list of common visa-related terminology.

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