What is a BRP and what’s changing?

The Biometric Residence system forms part of the Immigration and Border System within the United Kingdom.   The biometric residence permit is proof of the holder’s right to stay, work or study in the UK.

For some immigration categories, the National Insurance Number (NINo) will appear in the remarks on the reverse of the BRP.

If this is the case, there is no need for the holder or their employer to make a separate application to the Department for Work and Pensions to obtain a NINo.

The holder is not required to always carry their permit, but they must show it at the border, together with their passport, when travelling outside of, and when returning to, the UK.

The card confirms the date the holder’s leave expires, whether they have the right to work in the UK and other restrictions placed on the right to stay.

Failure to comply with any of these restrictions (see also police registration below) may result in prosecution and/or removal from the UK.

We strongly advise that employers undertake checks on everyone they wish to employ. This will enable employers to establish a statutory defence against payment of a civil penalty for employing a person with no right to work in the UK, show their recruitment process is open and transparent, and ensure their recruitment practices do not discriminate against anyone because of their race.

The Home Office have recently transitioned many BRP holders to an eVisa. Since 2018, millions of customers have received an eVisa online, for example through the EU Settlement Scheme.

The documents being replaced are:

• Biometric residence permits (BRP)
• Biometric residence cards
• passport endorsements, such as indefinite leave to enter wet ink stamps.
• vignette stickers in passports, such as entry clearance or visa vignettes

An eVisa is an online record of immigration status and the conditions of permission to enter or stay in the UK.

The benefits of eVisas include:

• they are secure and cannot be lost, stolen or tampered with, unlike a physical document
• you will not need to wait for, or collect, a physical document after your application is decided – you might still need to provide biometric information in person, and we will tell you if you need to do this
• it will be quicker and easier to prove your status at the UK border.

Individuals need to register for a UKVI account to view and share relevant information about their status securely with third parties, such as employers or landlords. here

The Home Office aim is to fully transition to eVisas by the end of 2024 and for this reason, they are no longer issuing BRPs with an expiry date after 2024, even when the person’s permission will expire after that date.

We can help with your employer checks and advise upon what you need to be compliant when employing migrant workers. Please contact our expert advisers today via phone or email today. 01403 801 801 www.ukvisas.co.uk