What has changed
Updated Home Office guidance published on 8 June 2026 extends the period during which expired BRPs can continue to be used for certain transitional purposes.
Previous guidance allowed use of an expired BRP for up to 18 months after the expiry date printed on the card. The revised guidance now states: “All BRPs are now expired. You can use it for 24 months after the expiry date printed on your card or until 31 December 2026, whichever comes first.”
The extension provides additional time for individuals who have not yet completed that transition or who continue to experience difficulties accessing their digital immigration record.
What has not changed
The latest update does not alter the underlying position for people with Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR).
A BRP was evidence of immigration status rather than the status itself. An expired BRP does not normally affect an existing grant of ILR.
Nor does the extension change the Home Office’s wider move towards digital immigration status. Individuals are expected to prove their status through an eVisa and UKVI account, including when demonstrating permission to work, rent or travel.
The Home Office also continues to require an eVisa for travel to the UK where a BRP or BRC expired on or after 31 December 2024. Anyone travelling internationally should ensure that their eVisa is accessible and linked to their current passport or travel document before departure.
eVisas Remain Primary Proof of Status
The extension does not alter the Home Office’s wider move towards digital immigration status.
For most people, an eVisa is now the primary method of proving immigration status, demonstrating entitlement to work and rent in the UK and evidencing permission to travel.
The Home Office continues to state that individuals whose BRP or BRC expired on or after 31 December 2024 will need an eVisa to demonstrate permission to travel to the UK.
Anyone travelling internationally should ensure that their eVisa is accessible through their UKVI account and that their current passport or travel document is correctly linked to that account.
DMS Perspective
The Home Office has not provided a detailed explanation for the extension, but the change suggests that significant numbers of people may still be transitioning from physical immigration documents to digital status records. Extending the concession reduces the risk of individuals encountering practical difficulties while completing that process.
The most important point for many individuals is that an expired BRP and valid ILR are not mutually exclusive. The stumbling block is usually proving settled status rather than establishing entitlement to it. The latest extension reduces immediate pressure on some former BRP holders, but it does not alter the Home Office’s expectation that immigration status will increasingly be evidenced through eVisas and UKVI accounts. Individuals who have not yet accessed their digital status should treat the concession as additional time to complete the transition rather than a substitute for it.
Need Assistance?
If you are unsure how the latest BRP and eVisa changes affect your circumstances, DavidsonMorris can help. Our immigration specialists advise on ILR status, eVisa access issues, NTL applications, Returning Resident applications and citizenship matters. We can assess your position, identify the most appropriate route and help resolve difficulties proving ILR before they affect travel, employment or future applications. Contact us to arrange a fixed-fee telephone consultation with one of our immigration advisers.
Read the updated guidance here >
