If you live or work in the UK on a visa and still have an expired Biometric Residence Permit in your wallet, you should treat it as a limited fallback document, not as your proof of immigration status. BRPs have now expired and have been replaced by eVisas for most purposes. Your eVisa is the digital record you use to prove your status, access right-to-work and right-to-rent checks, and travel back to the UK.
The important point is this: an expired BRP no longer proves your right to travel to the UK. Since 2 June 2025, carriers have not accepted expired BRPs or EUSS Biometric Residence Cards as evidence of immigration status for travel. You now need an eVisa linked to your current passport or travel document.
How We Got Here
The UK government began moving towards a digital immigration system several years ago. Many BRPs were issued with an expiry date of 31 December 2024, even where the underlying visa lasted beyond that date. That caused understandable confusion. The card expiry was not the visa expiry.
The Home Office allowed a temporary travel concession so that people with expired BRPs or EUSS BRCs could continue using them for international travel up to and including 1 June 2025. That concession has ended. From 2 June 2025, expired BRPs and BRCs are no longer acceptable evidence of immigration status for travel to the UK.
You may still be able to use an expired BRP to create or access a UKVI account for up to 24 months after the expiry date printed on the card, or until 31 December 2026, whichever comes first. But that is not the same as using it to travel, work, rent, or prove status generally.
What an eVisa Actually Is
An eVisa is a digital record of your UK immigration permission. It shows your identity, immigration status and the conditions attached to your leave, such as whether you can work, study or access public funds.
You access it through a UKVI account. To prove your status to an employer, landlord or other checker, you generate a share code. A right-to-work share code begins with W. A right-to-rent share code begins with R. Share codes are valid for 90 days and must be used for the purpose they were generated for.
The person checking your status sees the Home Office result page. They do not get access to your UKVI account, and you should never share your login details.
Our blog on eVisas and digital status covers the transition in more detail and is worth reading alongside this article.
Why the Passport Link Matters
Your eVisa must be linked to the passport or travel document you use when travelling. This is one of the most common causes of problems at airports.
When a carrier checks you in, their system checks your passport details against Home Office records. If your current passport is not linked to your UKVI account, the system may not confirm your permission. That can lead to delays or denied boarding, even where your immigration status itself is valid.
If you have renewed your passport, update your UKVI account before you travel. You should also keep your email address and phone number up to date because they are used for account access and verification codes.
Who Needs to Take Action Now
If you have not created a UKVI account, do it as soon as possible. You can usually use your expired BRP to help create the account during the transitional period.
If you have renewed your passport, link the new passport to your UKVI account before booking or taking international travel.
If your email address or phone number has changed, update those details so you do not lose access to your account.
If you have settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, log in and check that your status is displayed correctly.
If your eVisa shows incorrect details, such as the wrong expiry date, name, photo or conditions, report the error through the UKVI process and keep records of all correspondence. If the error affects your employment, housing or travel, take legal advice promptly.
What Employers and Landlords Must Do
Employers cannot accept an expired BRP as standalone right-to-work evidence. For someone with an eVisa, the correct process is the online right-to-work check using a W share code and the person’s date of birth. You should keep a copy of the result page and repeat checks where the person has time-limited leave. Our article on right-to-work checks explains the current process in more detail.
Landlords in England should follow the same principle for right-to-rent checks. A tenant with an eVisa should generate an R share code. The landlord must complete the online check and retain the result. Civil penalties for failing to conduct proper right-to-rent checks remain significant, up to £10,000 per occupier for a first breach and up to £20,000 for a repeat breach.
What This Means for Skilled Workers and Sponsors
If you are in the UK on a skilled worker immigration route, your permission is now evidenced digitally. When you extend your visa or change employer, your new permission will usually appear in your UKVI account rather than on a new BRP. The same applies if you are on a self-sponsorship visa in the UK or another work route.
For businesses with a sponsor licence, this affects HR records and compliance systems. You need to retain online right-to-work check results, monitor visa expiry dates, and use the Employer Checking Service where the online check cannot be completed due to a pending application or technical problem. Our blog on sponsor duties and compliance explains what sponsors need to maintain in terms of records and reporting.
eVisas, ETAs and Travel
The UK’s Electronic Travel Authorisation scheme is separate from eVisas. From 25 February 2026, many non-visa nationals travelling to the UK as visitors need an ETA before travel. If you already hold UK immigration permission, you generally do not need an ETA when travelling on that permission. But you do need your eVisa linked to the passport you are travelling with.
Before travelling, sign in to your UKVI account, check your details, link your current passport, and generate a share code in case your carrier asks for evidence.
eVisas, Settlement and Citizenship
If you are working towards Indefinite Leave to Remain or British citizenship, the move to digital status affects how your immigration history is evidenced. The Home Office increasingly relies on digital records, border crossing data and employment information when considering applications.
For Skilled Worker applicants, our article on ILR settlement for skilled workers explains the settlement process and evidence usually required. If you are planning ahead, our guide on British citizenship after ILR covers the naturalisation stage. If you hold a UK expansion worker visa or are considering that route, the same digital status principles apply.
FAQs
My BRP has expired. Does that mean my visa has expired?
Not necessarily. Most BRPs expired on 31 December 2024, regardless of when the underlying visa ended. Check your eVisa through your UKVI account to confirm your actual permission.
Can I still use my BRP to prove my right to work?
No, not as standalone proof. For eVisa holders, the correct process is to generate a share code and ask the employer to complete the online right-to-work check.
What if I cannot access my UKVI account?
Use the account recovery options first. If that does not work, contact the UKVI Resolution Centre. If the issue affects your job, tenancy or travel, seek legal advice quickly.
I renewed my passport. Do I need to update my eVisa?
Yes. Link your new passport to your UKVI account before you travel. This is essential for carrier checks.
Does this affect older ILR holders?
Some older ILR holders still rely on passport stamps, vignettes or other legacy documents. If you have not moved to digital proof, you may need a No Time Limit application to access modern online status evidence.
Get the Right Advice Before It Becomes a Problem
The shift to eVisas is now part of everyday UK immigration practice. For many people, the system works well once the account is correctly set up. But errors, old passport details and access problems can still cause serious disruption.
Whether you are a visa holder trying to understand your digital status, an employer adapting your right-to-work processes, or a sponsor managing compliance across your workforce, getting advice from experienced UK immigration solicitors can prevent a small administrative issue becoming a major problem.
At Garth Coates Solicitors, our team of immigration lawyers has been advising individuals and businesses on UK immigration status, compliance and applications since 2008.
Contact us today to request a consultation.
