Replacing documents (BRP/visa/passport)

My Biometric Residence Card (BRP) has been lost or stolen in the UK

The International @CampusLife (ICL) team can help you with applying for a replacement BRP and the process is outlined below. You should undertake step 1 as soon as possible and before meeting with an Adviser. In addition, if your BRP was stolen you need to report it at Swansea Central Police Station. They may give you a Police Report Reference Number but do not worry if they do not.

Please read all the information here so you are fully aware and prepared to make your replacement application.

What do i need to do?

1. Inform UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) about your lost BRP as soon as possible. You do this online by following the instructions here on the Gov.UK website. It will take you just a few minutes to complete.
2. Apply for a replacement BRP within three months of notifying the UKVI that your BRP has been lost. Important: if you fail to apply for a replacement BRP within three months of losing the card, you may be issued a Civil Penalty of up to £1,000 and be made to leave the UK.

How do i make the replacement application and how much does it cost?
You apply for a BRP replacement card online and then attend a Biometric Registration Appointment (our closest Appointment Centre is in Cardiff).

An ICL Adviser will help you check and submit your application. However, you will need to start the application form before you see them. Fill in the form but please stop before you make any payments so that they can check your answers and support you through the payment and biometric booking processes. The online form can be found here on the Gov.UK website.

The cost for a standard replacement card is £75.20 and in most cases this includes your Biometric Registration Appointment fee. However, in some instances you may also need, or choose, to pay extra for a Biometric Registration Appointment (depending on location and availability) of £50+. We will not know this before you make the application and your Adviser will explain this to you during your submission session.

What documents do I need?

• Passport
• Student Statement from MyUniHub confirming your UK address
• Police Registration Certificate with updated address (not all students will have/need this. Check your Nationality here)
• If your BRP was stolen you may have a Police Report Reference Number from Swansea Central Police Station (it is not necessary to make a report it to the Police if your BRP was lost)
• Credit or debit card to pay the online application fee and any biometric appointment fees (UK bank card if possible)

Once you have collected all your documents, and have completed most of the form up to the payment page, please come to an ICL drop-in session. Drop-in times are available on the ICL webpages here.

 How long will the process take?

A standard application for a replacement BRP usually takes around 8 weeks but can be up to 12 weeks at UKVI busy times. It is possible to make it quicker by paying for a faster service (this costs an additonal approx. £800) but this can still take several weeks. It is not a quick process.

It is very important that you replace your BRP as soon as you realise it is missing. ICL staff are unable to make a new card come back any quicker as it is a UKVI process. If you do not sort your replacement out and then try and do this very quickly, as you have booked travel or have a family emergency, it can be extremely stressful (and very expensive). Please make sure you do not put yourself in this position if avoidable.

Please note: if you leave the UK whilst a BRP replacement application is under consideration, your application will be classed as withdrawn by the UKVI, a replacement card will not be issued and you will need to follow the process for replacing a BRP overseas before you can come back to the UK.

My Biometric Residence Card (BRP) has been lost or stolen overseas

Unfortunately, you are not able to replace a lost or stolen BRP directly from overseas, as this process can only be undertaken in the UK. You have to apply for a replacement 30 day single entry vignette, which will get you back into the UK, and then you apply for your replacement BRP once you arrive back in the UK.

What do i need to do?

1. Inform UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) about your lost BRP as soon as possible. You do this online by following the instructions here on the Gov.UK website. It will take you just a few minutes to complete.
2. Apply for a replacement BRP vignette transfer

How do i make the replacement BRP vignette transfer application and how much does it cost?

You make the application online via the Gov.uk website here and to make the application you will need to:

• complete the application form and answer in English
• pay for the visa fee online (£154)
• provide your biometrics (fingerprints and facial photograph)
• provide your tuberculosis test result (if you are resident in a country where you must take the test and you have been outside the UK for more than 6 months)
• provide your passport and other supporting evidence (a student statement available from MyUniHub should be all you need)

How long will it take for me to get my replacement vignette to allow me to travel back to the UK?

It can take several weeks for you to get a replacement visa dependant on the country and time of year. It may be possible to make a quicker application via a Premium Service but this is dependant on the post you are applying from and how much you are willing to pay- it can be very expensive.

Do I need to tell anyone at the University that I have lost my BRP?

If you are going to miss any of your studies due to your lost BRP and subsequent visa application process, you should let both your College and Student Compliance know as soon as possible. They can advise you on any academic or compliance steps you need to take. If you have any welfare issues, please contact International@CampusLife so they can try and assist you.

What do I do when I get back to the UK

Once you get back to the UK, you need to apply to replace your actual BRP card. The process for that can be found under the In UK: Lost or stolen BRP section of this web page. Make sure you are doing this promptly as you are required to provide the University with a new visa card to enable you to keep studying.