Passport, visa and BRP problems

Last modified: 09 October 2024

A vignette is a sticker placed in your passport following a successful entry clearance application. It contains basic details about you and the permission you have been granted. A Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) is a document in the shape of a card issued by the Home Office to Students (and their partners and children) as evidence of their immigration permission (also known as permission to enter or stay). The BRP card includes a microchip which contains two of your fingerprints and a digital photograph. As part of the process of applying for permission (outside, or inside, the UK) you have to give your fingerprints and have your photograph taken (these are known as your "biometrics"). For more details on the process for giving your biometrics, please see our information on applying for Student route immigration permission from outside the UK and inside the UK.

If you make a successful immigration application, you will be issued with one of the following documents: a vignette for full length of permission; or a 90-day vignette (formerly 30-day vignette); or a biometric residence permit (BRP). The following information outlines the steps to take if you are in possession of one of these documents and it is lost, stolen, or damaged, and/or it contains errors, and/or you receive a new passport while you are in possession of the document. See Report change of circumstances about what to do if you have a change of circumstances while in possession of one of these documents.

Any reference to 'Student' includes 'Tier 4 (General)' immigration permission, and any reference to 'Child student' includes 'Tier 4 (Child)' immigration permission. 

Vignette for full length of permission

Last modified: 04 October 2023

A vignette for the full length of permission is issued following a successful entry clearance application if the permission is for six months or less. [Vignettes for the full length of permission used to be issued to all applicants, before the phasing in of the 30-day vignette (now 90-day vignette), which happened between 18 March 2015 and 31 July 2015.]

The following information outlines the steps you will need to take if there is a problem with a vignette issued for the full length of permission.

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Vignette lost/stolen/damaged outside the UK

Vignette lost/stolen/damaged inside the UK

Errors on vignette

New passport (and you have a vignette for your full length of permission)

90-day vignette

Last modified: 04 October 2023

A 90-day vignette is issued if you apply for entry clearance for permission of more than six months. You will need to use this 90-day vignette to enter the UK and then collect a biometric residence permit (BRP). You must not enter the UK earlier than the first date of your 90-day vignette. Entering the UK prior to the first date on your vignette will result in two different outcomes depending on if you are a visa or non-visa national. For visa nationals who have obtained entry clearance in another immigration category in addition to the grant of your Student permission, this will mean that your Student permission will be invalidated. For non-visa nationals, entering prior to the start date of your 90-day vignette, this will mean that you enter as a Visitor and not as a Student. Entry as a Visitor will mean that you will not be permitted to study on your course. You will need to leave the UK and re-enter within the validity dates of your 90-day vignette in order to be permitted to study your course. 

The following information outlines the steps to take if there is a problem with your 90-day vignette.

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90-day vignette lost/stolen/damaged/expired outside the UK

90-day vignette lost/stolen/damaged inside the UK

Errors on 90-day vignette

New passport (and you have a 90-day vignette)

Biometric Residence Permit (BRP)

Last modified: 09 October 2024

A BRP is issued if your application is made from within the UK and is for further permission to stay in the UK. In addition, if you have a 90-day vignette you will also be issued with a BRP which must be collected after your arrival in the UK. For more details, read Home Office information about BRPs.

The following information outlines the steps you will need to take if there is a problem with your BRP:

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BRP lost/stolen/damaged outside the UK

BRP lost/stolen/damaged inside the UK

Errors on BRP

New passport (and you have a BRP)

Digital status

Last modified: 20 March 2024

EU and EEA nationals who have used the UK Immigration: ID check app receive their visa in the form of an online digital status. Digital statuses (or eVisas) are also slowly being rolled out to other applicants.

Together with your online digital status you should also receive an accompanying letter from the Home Office confirming the grant of your immigration permission. This letter contains instructions on what you need to do if you spot any errors with your personal details on viewing your online digital status. If you do spot any errors with your personal details, you will need to visit the following website in order to report these errors - https://www.gov.uk/view-prove-immigration-status This website is the same website you will need to use in order to view and prove your immigration status.

Concerning any other type of error, we have been advised that the Home Office has now introduced a temporary correction process which is outlined in the Study Sector Support guidance. If you discover any other type of error with your digital status, please discuss with your sponsor the steps you need to take in order to remedy this. 

Visitor permission obtained on entry to the UK

Last modified: 04 October 2023

Non-visa nationals wishing to study on a course of studies for a period of six months or less, may either apply for prior entry clearance as a Visitor, or at the port of entry on arrival in the UK by having your passport endorsed with a stamp by a Border Force Officer.

Eligible nationals from the EU, EEA, Switzerland, Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea and the United States of America, are permitted to use an eGate in order to enter the UK as a Visitor. On entry to the UK as a Visitor, you will be able to carry out your course of studies using your Visitor immigration permission. You do not need to see a Border Force Officer in order to receive a stamp.

Should you lose your passport following your arrival in the UK in any circumstance, you will firstly need to replace your passport by making the appropriate arrangements with your embassy in the UK.

If you were eligible to use an eGate, you would not have obtained a stamp in your passport when you entered the UK so there is nothing to replace. It is recommended however that you retain a copy of some form of evidence of the initial date of your arrival in the UK, for example flight tickets or your boarding pass.

Visa national Visitors who obtained prior entry clearance in order to study a course of six months or less, should follow the instructions for vignette for full length of permission if you lose your passport following entry to the UK.

Non-visa nationals are not eligible to use the eGates as discussed above. If you lose your passport following entry to the UK, you will firstly need to replace your passport as also discussed above. Following replacing your passport, you will need to leave and re-enter the UK in order to obtain a further Visitor stamp by seeing a Border Force Officer on re-entry. Until you depart the UK and obtain a further Visitor stamp, you still remain a valid Visitor in the UK. It is recommended however that you make arrangements to depart and return as soon as possible so that you can evidence the basis for your stay in the UK. You also should keep some form of evidence of the date of your original arrival in the UK. 

 
© 2024 UK Council for International Student Affairs

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