Lost passports and Biometric Residence Permits

Your should keep your passport and Biometric Residence Permit safe while you're studying and living in the UK and also when travelling outside of the UK. These important documents can be inconvenient and expensive to replace.

If you intend to travel outside the UK during the vacation periods before resuming study, we recommend that you follow the advice below.

Travel advice - before you leave the UK

  • Find out the contact details of your national embassy before you travel in case you need to access them in an emergency.
  • Take photocopies of your current passport and visa, leave one copy of each in your accommodation room in Leeds and take one copy of each with you when you travel.
  • Take a photograph of your current passport and visa with your mobile phone and keep the record stored.
  • Send the photograph of your current passport and visa to your e-mail address so you have an electronic record.
  • Tell your friends and family members where you will be travelling to and where you will be staying outside of the UK.
  • Take few valuable possessions with you.
  • Take out comprehensive travel insurance before your vacation.
  • Contact your bank before you leave to let them know of your travel plans to reduce any problem of using your debit/credit card outside the UK.
  • Put your contact details inside your luggage.
  • Read the UK Border Force travel checklist before you leave the UK.
  • If you have a BRP card that expires on 31/12/2024, check whether you need to get access to an eVisa as you may need this to re-enter the UK.
  • If you have an eVisa and your passport or personal details have changed, you should update your UKVI account with your new details or to link your new passport

Travel advice - whist you are outside the UK

  • Stay with your friends whilst you are travelling.
  • Never leave your bags unattended.
  • If your current visa is in the form of a BRP card, leave your BRP in a safe at your accommodation.
  • If you need to carry your passport, keep it safe at all times.
  • Be vigilant at all times about your belongings, especially when you arrive at your first destination.
  • We recommend that you read the UKCISA travel advice which gives useful tips and advice to stay safe when travelling.

Passports lost outside the UK

If your passport is lost or stolen while you're outside of the UK you'll need to complete the following steps:

  • Report the loss or theft of your passport to the local police as soon as possible and ask them for a reference number.
  • Apply for a replacement passport at the nearest embassy for your country.
  • If your UK visa was in the form a vignette (i.e. you don't have a BRP card) in your lost passport, take your new passport to the nearest UK embassy and apply for a Student visa . The cost of this application is £335. You won't need a CAS for this application.
  • Please follow the UKCISA guidance prior to applying for your replacement visa.
  • Don't book flights or attempt to travel until you have your new passport and new visa.

Biometric Residence Permits lost outside the UK

If your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) is lost or stolen while you're outside the UK, you'll need to complete the following steps:

  • Report the loss or theft of your BRP to UKVI by completing the online form on the UKVI website.
  • If you have an eVisa or are able to set up access to an eVisa, you will be able to use this to travel back to the UK.
  • If you do not have an eVisa or are unable to get access to one from outside the UK, you will need to apply for and receive a ‘replacement BRP visa’ before you can travel back to the UK. 
  • Find more information about what to do if you lose your passport or BRP while your are outside the UK on UKCISA’s website.

The UK Government has ended the production of new BRP cards as part of the transition to a digital immigration system. This means it is no longer possible to apply for a replacement BRP. 

If both your passport and BRP are lost outside the UK you must report the loss of both to the local police. Then you should first apply for a replacement passport at your national Embassy. After receiving the passport, you should then follow the above lost BRP guidelines.

Passports lost in the UK

If your passport is lost or stolen in the UK you'll need to complete the following steps:

  • Report the loss or theft of your passport to the police as soon as possible and ask them for a reference number.
  • Apply to your embassy in the UK for a replacement passport. Here, you can find full details of all foreign embassies in the UK. If your country doesn’t have an embassy in the UK, you'll need to contact the nearest embassy to the UK.
  • If your UK visa was in the form a vignette (i.e. you don't have a BRP card) in your lost passport, you will need to apply online to be issued with a BRP. The standard application fee is £161.
  • Please follow the UKCISA guidance prior to applying for your replacement visa.

Biometric Residence Permits lost in the UK

If your BRP is lost, stolen or damaged while you are in the UK, you'll need to complete the following steps:

 

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