If you have been granted permission to enter or remain in the UK or even ILR, you may have noticed that your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) expiry date says 31 December 2024. You may be wondering why this is the expiry date when your visa ends later than this.
Your BRP card will expire on 31 December 2024 because the Home Office is moving from physical BRP cards to digital immigration status. The Home Office has confirmed that from 1 January 2025 you will no longer need a BRP card and you will be able to prove your immigration status online via the ‘view and prove your immigration status’ service.
The Home Office intends for everyone to have online status by the end of 2024 and BRP cards will become a thing of the past.
So when does my visa expire?
It is very important to be aware and make note of your visa expiry date because you will need to submit a valid application to extend your stay before your current visa expires.
When your visa was granted, you should have received a letter or email from the Home Office confirming when your visa expires. Many people will also be able to check their visa expiry date already using the ‘view and prove’ service and will be using this service to prove their right to work and right to rent in the UK.
How do I get an eVisa?
You will need to create an online UKVI account and verify your identity using a mobile phone app to convert your physical document to the new eVisa.
The Home Office has started contacting indivudals via email with an invitation to start this process. They are doing this in batches starting with Skilled Workers, Students and their dependents and people with Indefinite Leave to Remain. You should receive an email from donotreply.evisadirectmail@notifications.service.gov.uk with instructions to set up your UKVI account and verify identity using the 'UK Immigration ID Check' app.
If you have not been contacted yet, the Home Office should contact you in the coming months via email. Keep checking your inbox and junk folders and make sure your contact details, including your email address, are up to date.
How we can help
If your visa has expired, you do not know when your visa is due to expire or would like help using the ‘view and prove’ service, please contact us and we will be happy to help.
If you have been contacted by the Home Office and would like assistance converting your BRP card to an eVisa, we can help you with this process.