Biometric Residence Permit Card UK: How to Apply and Collect in 2025?

Importance of a BRP for Indian Students

Here’s a brief overview of the importance of the biometric residence card UK:

• Acts as proof: BRP acts as proof of your legal right to stay and study in UK at the university of your choice. Hence, it is a dual-purpose document, that not only serves as an identity card but also as a residence permit.
• Ticket to access services: You need a BRP to access essential services like health care, bank account opening, housing booking or travelling.
• Work rights: BRPs also work a legal document specifying your work rights for part-time jobs in UK, including the number of hours you can work during study terms and holidays.

How to Collect BRP Card in UK

If you have applied for a UK student visa outside from UK, you need to collect your BRP once you enter the country. If you apply for entry clearance for permission of more than 6 months, a 90-day vignette is issued. A vignette is a sticker that is placed in a passport or travel document after a successful immigration application. You need to use this 90-day vignette to enter UK and then collect a biometric residence permit or BRP. You must do this before the vignette sticker in your travel document expires or within 10 days of entering UK, whichever is later.

Where to Collect BRP Card

Once your immigration status is confirmed, you will receive a decision letter from the Home Office. It will tell you where you can collect your BRP from. The options include

• A Post Office branch
• Alternative Collection Location (ACL)

Bring your passport or travel document with your vignette sticker in when you collect your BRP.

Note: You must have to be over 18 years of age to collect a BRP. If you cannot pick up your BRP, tell the Home Office as early as possible. The Home Office will email you to tell you what to do next. You will get a response within 5 working days after informing.

How to Apply for a BRP

There is no separate application process to get a BRP, it is an integral part of your UK Student visa application process. The steps to apply for a UK Student visa and collect a BRP can be summarized as follows

• Step 1: Directly apply for a UK student visa at the official UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) website or at a UK Visa Application Centre (VAC).
• Step 2: Attend a biometric interview, where you will be required to submit your fingerprints and photograph.
• Step 3: Receive the decision letter once your immigration application/ visa application has been approved. This letter will provide you with information about where and when to collect your BRP.

Also Check: UK Study Visa Interview

Documents Required for a BRP Application

You need to have the following documents to apply a get a residence permit UK.

• Valid passport
• Visa approval letter/ notice
• Biometric appointment/ confirmation letter
• Proof of address

Also Check: Short Term Study Visa in UK

Things to Check After Getting Your BRP

You need to perform the following steps after getting a BRP

• Verify that the details on your BRP, like your personal information, signature, etc.
• Make sure to check the visa conditions, and duration, are correct.
• Keep your BRP secure, as it is your official proof of immigration status.
• In case of any errors, report them to UK VI as soon as possible
• Report any lost or stolen BRP to the Home Office immediately, and you will be required to apply for a replacement.

Note: If your BRP is lost or stolen, the fee and application process will depend on your visa status.

It is mandatory to carry your BRP with you as a form of identification in the UK. You may be asked to show your BRP by the officials at any point of time during your stay in UK. Any changes, like a new passport or UK student visa extension, must be reported, and you will need to apply for an updated BRP. It remains valid for the duration of your visa. If you extend or change your visa, you need a new BRP.