Visa Centre Closures
Some of the visa biometric enrolment centres in the UK and overseas are currently closed although they are slowly re-opening. If you are in the UK, you can apply for a BRP replacement card as some centres have reopened. The latest information can be found at https://www.gov.uk/ukvcas.
If you are overseas, you can check if visa centres are open here:
- TLS page (if you’re in Europe, Africa and parts of the Middle East) - check if your local visa centre is open here: https://uk.tlscontact.com/
- VFS global page (for all other countries) - check if your local visa centre is open here: https://www.vfsglobal.co.uk/en.
Lost Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) Card
This information is only applicable to University of Bristol students.
If you are in the UK
- Request and receive a student status letter (which should state your UK term-time address) from this link: Get a student status letter | Current students | University of Bristol. This will serve as a proof of address and you will need it to apply for your replacement BRP card. You can use other types of proof of address instead, e.g. a bank statement or a utility bill.
- Within 3 months of reporting your lost BRP, you must apply for a replacement BRP card online. Once you have your student status letter, please complete the replacement BRP card application form online following this comprehensive step-by-step guide - Applying for a Replacement BRP card guide (PDF, 138kB).
- Currently a replacement BRP card application costs £19.00 (this is standard service where decision is issued within 8 weeks from the date of your biometric appointment). If you wish to apply with a Super Priority Service, the costs are considerably higher. You may have to pay an extra fee for the biometric appointment.
If you are outside the UK
- Report your lost or stolen BRP to UKVI immediately.
- If your BRP has been stolen, report it to the local police and obtain a police report/crime reference number.
- If you are outside the UK it is very important that you: contact your Faculty office to make them aware of the situation and of your absence, and request a student status letter (which should state your UK term-time address). As you are overseas, please ask your Faculty to send the letter to you electronically via email. You will need this letter to support your replacement BRP visa application.
- Follow the UKVI instructions to apply for a replacement BRP visa outside the UK in order to obtain a replacement BRP visa to return to the UK. The application fee is £154 and this visa will only be valid for a 30-day period and will allow you to enter the UK only once. You will need to go to the section "If you’re outside the UK" and click on "apply for a replacement BRP visa". This will take you to the country selection page where you choose the country you are in, followed by a confirmation that you have checked the available biometric enrolment locations. In the next screen you will see the information about replacement BRP visa and a link to apply for one. The application should cost you approximately £154 and you should not be asked to pay Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS). If you are prompted to pay IHS, you are using an incorrect link so please do not proceed.
- When you are back in the UK, you must apply for a replacement BRP card within one month. Please do so by following this comprehensive step-by-step guide - .
- If you used a 'Replacement BRP Visa' visa to travel back to the UK, you will need to take a high quality, colour photo or scan of your one month vignette and email this to us so we can update your record. Once you get your new BRP card, please take another high quality, colour photo or scan and email this to us so we can update your record.
- Currently a replacement BRP card application costs £19.00 (this is standard service where decision is issued within 8 weeks from the date of your biometric appointment). If you wish to apply with a Super Priority Service, the costs are considerably higher. You may have to pay an additional fee for the biometric appointment.
It can take several months for a replacement BRP to be issued. It is very important that you do not let your visa expire while you wait for the UKVI to send you a new BRP. If you need more time in the UK to complete your studies, then you should submit a Student visa application before your visa expires and include a letter explaining why you are unable to send your BRP card.
Document checklist for BRP (RC) application
- Passport (if your original BRP was issued more than 2 years ago)
- Document proving your UK term-time address, e.g. student status letter containing your address (can be requested from your Faculty Office)