Passport and visa problems

Explore solutions for issues with your passport, visa, or Biometric Residence Permit (BRP), including what to do if your documents are lost, damaged, or contain errors, ensuring your stay in the UK remains compliant with immigration rules.

Last updated on January 15, 2025

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Introduction

Last updated December 23, 2024

Read this information to find out what to do if you encounter problems with your immigration permission endorsed in your passport (vignette), in your eVisa, or on a BRP (where this is still applicable). From a lost or stolen passport, to errors on your eVisa, find out what action you need to take. Whilst this information is aimed at those with Student permission, we do also explain some provisions relating to those on Visitor permission.

With the roll-out of eVisas in 2024-2025, Government web information is regularly changing and being updated. Currently, gov.uk information on Get a decision on your application indicates that, if you make a successful immigration application outside the UK, you will be issued with one of the following documents depending on the length of your stay and on how you proved your identity during the application process: a vignette for the full length of permission; or a 90-day vignette, accompanied by an eVisa. If you make a successful Student immigration application inside the UK you will now receive an eVisa.

When you receive a vignette and/or eVisa, it is important to check the details on it in case you need to report an error. This includes checking your name is spelled correctly and that the length of your permission and work conditions are correct.

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 is a sticker placed in your passport following a successful entry clearance application. It contains basic details about you and the immigration permission you have been granted.

An eVisa is an online digital record of your immigration permission. These have been introduced widely throughout 2024. Read our information about eVisas.

Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) is a physical document in the shape of a credit card which was formerly issued by the Home Office to Students (and their partners and children) as evidence of their immigration permission. The Home Office stopped issuing BRPs on the 31 October 2024, as Students (and their partners and children) are now expected to create a UKVI account and obtain an eVisa. Although you may still be in possession of a BRP if you applied for immigration permission before eVisas were introduced, this will likely contain an expiry date of 31 December 2024 or later. It is important that if this applies to you, you create a UKVI account and obtain an eVisa. Please refer to the gov.uk webpage and the eVisa page for further details on how to create a UKVI account and access your eVisa.

See our webpages if you would like more information on applying for Student route immigration permission from outside the UK and inside the UK.


eVisa, or online immigration status

Last updated December 20, 2024

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For all the latest information, see UKCISA's eVisas page.

For details specifically about eVisa error correction, see There is an error with my eVisa. What should I do?.


Vignette for full length of permission

Last updated December 20, 2024

The Home Office is aiming to replace all physical immigration documents by the beginning of 2025. However, the timeline for the phasing out of vignettes is not yet known. We will provide a further update to this page when we know any further details.

Up to and including 2024, a vignette for the full length of permission would be issued following a successful entry clearance application if the permission granted is for six months or less.

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. What you will need to do differs depending on whether it was lost, stolen or damaged inside or outside of the UK.

 

You should, of course, obtain evidence, eg police report, of loss or theft (if relevant/possible). You will also likely need to obtain a new passport.

With the roll-out of eVisas in 2024-2025, information from the Home Office is changing and being updated regularly. However, see gov.uk information on Transfer your visa from your passport or replace your visa. We will continue to seek clarity on this from UKVI.

Following applying for a new passport, you can choose to replace your visa with an eVisa. See gov.uk information on Transfer your visa from your passport or replace your visa, and UKCISA’s eVisas page for further details.

If the error could prevent you from entering the UK (e.g. your name, nationality or 'valid from' date) you can contact the Home Office International Enquiry Service to request the error be amended in order to travel to the UK. Please note, you will be charged or asked to make payment to use this service. Alternatively as soon as you become aware of the error, you may wish to contact the Visa Application Centre (VAC) where you made your application in order to have your vignette amended. It is also recommended to seek advice from your institution.

Where at all possible, errors on your vignette should be spotted and corrected before you come to the UK. With the introduction of eVisas, it is currently not clear what process you should follow, if you spot an error on your vignette once you are in the UK. Instructions on what do are still contained within a Home Office document called Entry Clearance Basics ECB 19. However, following the roll-out of the eVisa system in 2024-2025, we are awaiting clarity from UKVI on this process.

Gov.uk information on Transfer your visa from your passport or replace your visa states: “You can use the valid visa in your expired passport when you’re travelling to and from the UK. You’ll need to travel with your expired and your new passport.” Alternatively, it states “If you’re outside the UK you can choose to transfer your visa to a new passport online (it costs £154). You’ll need to prove your identity at a visa application centre to complete your application.”

Gov.uk information on Transfer your visa from your passport or replace your visa states: "You can choose to replace your visa with an eVisa". For further details see UKCISA’s eVisas page.


90-day vignette

Last updated December 20, 2024

With the roll-out of eVisas it is now less clear who will get issued with a 90-day vignette and who will just be issued an eVisa. It seems possible that a 90-day vignette will still be issued to you if you applied for entry clearance for permission of more than six months, and you also visited a Visa Application Centre (VAC) to prove your identity.

If you have been issued with a 90-day vignette, you will need to use this 90-day vignette in order to travel to and enter the UK. You must not enter the UK earlier than the first date of your 90-day vignette.

In addition to obtaining a 90-day vignette, we understand you will be required to create a UKVI account in order to access and view your eVisa.

The following information outlines the steps to take if there is a problem with your 90-day vignette. What you need to do will depend on whether you are inside or outside the UK.

 

Your vignette is only likely to be lost or stolen if you have lost your passport too – because your vignette is glued into your passport. Information specifically about what to do if your 90-day vignette is lost or stolen, is unclear. However, it seems likely you will need to obtain evidence of your lost/stolen passport, eg police report of loss or theft. You will then need to obtain a new passport. Only then will you be able to remedy the issue with regards to your vignette.

Information about applying for a new vignette from outside of the UK is still contained within the Home Office guidance for staff Entry Clearance Basics ECB17 (at ECB17.3). However, following the roll-out of the eVisa system in 2024-2025, we are awaiting clarity from UKVI on this process. Information on gov.uk in Transfer your visa from your passport or replace your visa states “If you’re outside the UK you can choose to transfer your visa to a new passport online (it costs £154). You’ll need to prove your identity at a visa application centre to complete your application.”

Your 90-day vignette will be placed in your passport. If you lose your passport (and 90-day vignette), or have it stolen, you will have to report the loss or theft to the police. You will then also need to apply for a new passport.

If none of your personal details have changed, you will be required to update your UKVI account with the details of your new passport using the Update your UK Visas and Immigration account details service.

Whether or not you should then  apply to replace the 90-day vignette in your new passport  is unclear. With the roll-out of eVisas, we are awaiting clarity from UKVI about this process.

If the error could prevent you from entering the UK (e.g. your name, nationality, or 'valid from' date) you can Contact UKVI for help to request the error be amended in order to travel to the UK. Please note, you will be charged or asked to make payment to use this service. Alternatively as soon as you become aware of the error, you may wish to contact the Visa Application Centre (VAC) where you made your application in order to have your vignette amended. It is also recommended to seek advice from your institution.

If you weren’t able to correct the error with your 90-day vignette whilst outside the UK, check if your eVisa also contains the same error. If your eVisa contains the same error, you will need to Report an error with your eVisa.

There is no requirement to transfer evidence of your permission to your new passport, in order to travel to the UK, if you still have your previous passport containing the vignette. You will be required however to link your new passport to your UKVI account in order to travel to the UK.

Transfer your visa from your passport or replace your visa states: “You can use the valid visa in your expired passport when you’re travelling to and from the UK. You’ll need to travel with your expired and your new passport.”

Alternatively, it states “If you’re outside the UK you can choose to transfer your visa to a new passport online (it costs £154). You’ll need to prove your identity at a visa application centre to complete your application.”

There is no requirement to transfer evidence of your permission to your new passport, in order to travel to the UK, if you still have your previous passport containing the vignette. You will be required however to link your new passport to your UKVI account in order to travel to the UK.

With the roll-out of eVisas, what you must do if you replace a passport that contains a 90-day vignette once you are in the UK is not clear. However, Transfer your visa from your passport or replace your visa states: “You can choose to replace your visa with an eVisa”. However, it is not clear of this action is necessary for those people who will already have been instructed to set up an eVisa as part of their immigration application process. We await further clarity from UKVI on this process.


Biometric Residence Permit (BRP)

Last updated December 20, 2024

The following information outlines the steps you will need to take if there is a problem with your BRP. Information for BRP holders is still available in its page on Biometric Residence Permits.

The main message from UKVI now is that, if you have a BRP, you should set up a UKVI account and get access to your eVisa. See our information eVisas for advice on how to do this.



Gov.uk has information on If your BRP is lost or stolen.

You are no longer able to obtain a replacement BRP. You must however report the circumstances online. Failure to do so can result in a £1,000 fine. You must obtain any evidence of the loss or theft (such as a police report) if relevant. The Home Office will contact you within one working day of making the report.

In order to travel to the UK without a BRP card, and also in order to prove your immigration status in the UK, you will need to create a UKVI account to access your eVisa. Your UKVI account must be up to date, and your current passport must be linked to your UKVI account. Please see UKCISA's eVisas page for information about how to set up a UKVI account.

If you are unable to set up access to your eVisa, or are having difficulties updating your UKVI account, it seems likely you will need to obtain a replacement BRP visa. The replacement BRP visa will allow you to travel to, and enter, the UK only once and will cost £154. Once in the UK, affected individuals should continue to try to pursue remedying any issues with their eVisa and UKVI account. Please see the UKCISA's eVisas page for information about this.

Gov.uk has information on If your BRP is lost or stolen.

Whilst you are no longer able to replace your BRP in these circumstances, it is mandatory that you report the circumstances online. Failure to do so can result in a £1,000 fine, and also the risk of being made to leave the UK. You must obtain any evidence of the loss or theft (such as a police report) if relevant. The Home Office will contact you within one working day of making the report.

In order to prove your immigration status in the UK without a BRP card, you will need to create a UKVI account in order to access your eVisa. Please see the eVisas page for further details of how to create a UKVI account and access your eVisa.

See UKCISA's eVisas page for information about what you can and should do, if wishing to travel once you have set up your eVisa or whilst you are still trying to set-up your eVisa.

If you discover that there is an error with your BRP, Report a problem with your BRP advises that you will need to set up a UKVI account and get access to your eVisa, instead of remedying any errors with your BRP. If, once you have created your UKVI account, you notice that there is also an error with your eVisa you will need to Report an error eVisa.

If the error is in relation to the length of your permission or the conditions of your permission, gov.uk information at Ask for an administrative review | If you're in the UK states you can ask for an administrative review in order to correct the error. You must apply for an administrative review within 14 days of receipt of your BRP, and there is a fee of £80 in order to submit the application. UKVI will refund the fee if it agrees that an error was made.

If the error does not concern the length of leave, or conditions of your leave, you must Report a problem with your BRP within 10 days of receiving it.

You can no longer replace your BRP, because BRP production has now stopped.

If you have a new passport, but none of your personal details have changed, see gov.uk info on how to Update your UKVI account details with the details of your new passport.

With the roll-out of eVisas in 2024-2025, it is not clear what process to follow if any of your personal details have changed and you are either outside or inside the UK.


Visitor permission obtained on entry to the UK

Last updated December 20, 2024

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.


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