Biometric Residence Cards and Biometric Residence Permits

Biometric Residence Cards and Biometric Residence Permits have an expiry date no later than the 31st December 2024, whether or not the grant of permission to remain extends beyond this date.

The government’s intention had been to ensure that holders of such permits would have transitioned to the replacement e visa’s scheme by this date.

Given the delay in the implementation of the e-visa’s scheme, Biometric Residence Cards and Biometric Residence Permits have had their validity extended to the 31st March 2025, and instructions have been given to carriers to accept the same.

The validity of the document is not the same as the grant of permission, and where permission expires before the 31st March 2025, renewal of permission must be obtained before the end of the current visa.

The Home Office urges all holders of Biometric Residence Cards and Permits to create a UKVISA e-visas account before the 31st December by accessing the following webpage: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/online-immigration-status-evisa

Where a UKVI account has yet to be created the Home Office advises travellers to: -

• To travel with their existing Biometric Residence Card/ Permit; and
• The email/ letter confirming grant of existing permission to remain.

If there are difficulties, then the Home Office have set up a dedicated helpline:

• From 9am GMT on the 31st December 2024, the passenger support helpline can be contacted on 0800 876 6921.
• Calls to this number are free of charge. If you cannot contact UK 0800 numbers, you can contact 0203 337 0927, which may incur charges. The passenger support helpline will be available 24/7 for people who are travelling imminently. UKVI contact centre staff operating this service will not be able to resolve technical issues or contact carriers.

The Home Office also suggest that an individual may obtain a share code to show to carriers before travelling once a UKVI Account has been created: https://www.gov.uk/view-prove-immigration-status

Although the immediate benefit of the same appears otiose, given that the purpose of the e-visa’s scheme is to engender seamless passage, carriers may insist on the additional bureaucratic creep.