The Home Office have reversed their decision to curtail all BRPs by the end of 2024 and BRPs can now be used to enter the UK until 1 June 2025.
This article has been updated, further to the publication of a Home Office announcement extending the grace period for BRPs and BRCs to 1 June 2025.
It was previously understood that all Biometric Residence Permits (BRPs) and Biometric Residence Cards (BRCs) would expire on 31 December 2024, as part of the ongoing transition to eVisas. Concerns were raised that any delays or issues with the eVisa transition process might be particularly problematic for those migrants travelling overseas for the Christmas holidays, who risked returning on 1 January 2025 to find themselves unable to re-enter the UK due to the expiry of their BRP.
In recognition of these potential pitfalls, the Home Office initially announced that BRPs and BRCs would continue to be accepted as valid entry permission at the UK border until 31 March 2025. This is the case even if the BRP or BRC in question states that its expiry date is 31 December 2024 – though, of course you must still have valid immigration permission at the time of entry, in order to enter and remain in the UK, irrespective of this new date for using BRPs.
With the eVisa transition continuing to encounter technical problems, the Home Office have now confirmed that the grace period for BRPs and BRCs is to be extended until 1 June 2025. As such, you can continue to use your BRP or BRC at the UK border until 1 June 2025 – again, provided always that you have valid immigration permission at the time of entry.
The Home Office have also recommended that BRP and BRC holders continue to bring these documents to the UK border, even if they have already switched to an eVisa, due to the technical problems mentioned. We would also recommend that you travel with a print-out of the approval letter/email for your most recent visa application, showing when your current visa’s expiry date is, to act as secondary evidence of your immigration permission.
We would still strongly encourage all BRP holders to switch to an eVisa as soon as possible. Although the deadline has been pushed back again to 1 June 2025, this should not be seen as an excuse to kick the can down the road. At some point or another, having an eVisa will be required for returning to the UK, and dealing with this transition now rather than later will minimise the risk of you coming up against the eventual deadline and facing issues at the UK border.
If you require assistance with a visa application or with managing the transition to eVisas for your employees, please do get in touch at [email protected]
