Can I Travel With an Expired BRP? Complete 2026 Guide
Table of Contents
- The Quick Answer
- BRP Expiry Timeline: What Happened
- The Grace Period (Now Ended)
- What You Need to Do Right Now
- Step 1: Create Your UKVI Account
- Step 2: Link Your Passport to Your eVisa
- What Airlines Check Instead of BRP
- At UK Border Control Without a BRP
- Emergency Situations
- The Critical Deadline: 30 June 2026
- Frequently Asked Questions
The Quick Answer
If you are searching "can I travel with an expired BRP" in 2026, the practical travel answer is: do not rely on the expired card. Your destination and your carrier will usually need your valid passport, any destination visa required for your nationality, and proof that you can return to the UK if asked.
GOV.UK says all BRPs have expired and have been replaced by eVisas. It also says an expired BRP may still be used for limited UKVI account purposes until the earlier of 24 months after the printed expiry date or 31 December 2026. That limited use does not make an expired BRP a destination visa.
Official sources: Check GOV.UK biometric residence permits and GOV.UK eVisa/share code guidance before travelling.
If you have not yet set up your eVisa, you need to do so immediately. This guide explains the full timeline of what happened, what you need to do, and how to travel safely in 2026 without a physical BRP.
BRP Expiry Timeline: What Happened
Understanding the timeline helps explain why your BRP is no longer valid, even if the date printed on the card says otherwise.
Before 31 December 2024
BRP cards were valid physical documents. You carried them in your passport and showed them at borders, to employers, and to landlords. Each card had an individual expiry date that could range from a few months to several years into the future.
31 December 2024 — All BRPs Expired
The Home Office declared that every BRP card in circulation expired on this date, regardless of the individual expiry date printed on the card. A card showing "expires 2030" became invalid on 31 December 2024, just like one showing "expires 2025". This was a blanket expiry across the entire system.
1 January — 1 June 2025: Grace Period
The government provided a five-month grace period during which expired BRP cards were still accepted for travel and identity verification. This gave people time to transition to the new eVisa system. During this period, you could still board flights and pass through UK border control with your expired BRP.
1 June 2025 — Grace Period Ended
From this date, travellers needed to rely on their eVisa and passport rather than the expired card for normal status checks. GOV.UK later confirmed that expired BRPs may still have limited UKVI account-use value during 2026, but this does not make them destination entry permission.
4 August 2026 — Today
The UK operates a fully digital immigration system. All immigration permissions are stored electronically as eVisas. Physical BRP cards have been replaced by eVisas. GOV.UK still allows limited expired-BRP use for UKVI account access or extension applications during 2026, but your eVisa is the normal way to prove immigration status.
The Grace Period (Now Ended)
The grace period was a transitional arrangement that ran from 1 January to 1 June 2025. During these five months:
- Expired BRP cards were accepted at UK borders alongside your passport
- Airlines accepted expired BRPs for boarding verification
- Employers could still use expired BRPs for right-to-work checks (with follow-up requirements)
- Landlords could accept expired BRPs temporarily for right-to-rent checks
The practical travel position has changed. Do not treat an expired BRP as your travel permission. Keep your eVisa accessible, link your current passport, and generate a share code before travel if you may need to prove UK status.
If you missed the grace period and still have not set up your eVisa, you are not in legal trouble — your underlying immigration permission has not changed. Your visa or leave to remain is still valid. However, you have no way to prove that permission without an eVisa, which creates serious practical problems for travel, work, and daily life.
What You Need to Do Right Now
If you still have an expired BRP and have not transitioned to the eVisa system, here is your action plan. Do not delay — there is a hard deadline approaching on 30 June 2026.
There are two essential steps you must complete:
- Create your UKVI online account to access your digital immigration status
- Link your current passport to your eVisa so that airlines and border officers can verify your status
Both steps are free and can be completed online. Detailed instructions for each follow below.
Step 1: Create Your UKVI Account
Your UKVI (UK Visas and Immigration) account is the gateway to your eVisa. Here is how to set it up:
Visit the Official Government Page
Go to gov.uk/get-access-evisa. This is the only legitimate starting point. Do not use third-party websites or services that charge fees to set up your eVisa — the process is free through the government.
Create or Sign In to Your Account
You will need either a UK Government Gateway account or a GOV.UK One Login. If you applied for your visa online or used the EU Settlement Scheme, you may already have one. If not, the system will guide you through creating one. You need a valid email address and a mobile phone number for verification.
Verify Your Identity
You will need to prove you are who you claim to be. The primary method is using the UK Immigration: ID Check app on a smartphone with NFC capability. The app scans the chip in your passport or BRP card and takes a facial recognition selfie. If you cannot use the app, you can visit a UKVCAS centre in person.
Access Your Digital Status
Once verified, your account will display your immigration status — your visa type, conditions, and validity dates. This is your eVisa. You can view it at any time by signing in at gov.uk/view-prove-immigration-status.
Step 2: Link Your Passport to Your eVisa
Your eVisa is only useful if it is linked to your current, valid passport. This is the document that airlines scan and border officers check. If your eVisa is linked to an old or expired passport, the system cannot match your identity and your immigration status will not be verifiable.
When You Need to Update Your Passport Link
- You renewed your passport since your last immigration application
- You got a replacement passport after losing the original
- You changed your name and received a new passport
- Your passport expired and you obtained a new one from your home country
How to Link Your New Passport
- Go to gov.uk/update-uk-visas-immigration-account-details
- Sign in to your UKVI account
- Select the option to update your travel document
- Scan your new passport using the UK Immigration: ID Check app
- Complete the facial recognition check
- Wait for confirmation (usually 1 to 10 working days)
For a detailed walkthrough with screenshots and troubleshooting, see our dedicated guide: How to Link Your Passport to UK eVisa (Step-by-Step).
What Airlines Check Instead of BRP
One of the biggest concerns for travellers with expired BRPs is what happens at the airport check-in desk. In the past, airline staff would check your BRP card alongside your passport. That process has changed significantly.
The Advanced Passenger Information (API) System
Most airlines now verify your UK immigration status through the Advanced Passenger Information (API) system. When you check in (online or at the airport), your passport details are cross-referenced against the UK immigration database. If your eVisa is properly linked to your passport, your status is verified automatically.
Share Codes
Some airlines, particularly those less familiar with the UK eVisa system, may ask you to provide a share code. This is a 9-character code you generate through your UKVI account at gov.uk/view-prove-immigration-status. The airline can then verify your status online using this code and your date of birth.
What to Prepare Before Flying
- Ensure your eVisa is linked to your current passport — this is the most important step
- Generate a fresh share code 24 to 48 hours before your flight
- Print a copy of your eVisa status page showing your immigration details
- Download the UK Immigration: ID Check app for offline access to your status
- Carry your old BRP card (optional — it is not valid but can serve as supplementary identification in unusual circumstances)
If an Airline Asks for Your BRP
If check-in staff ask to see your BRP, calmly explain that BRP cards were retired by the UK government in December 2024 and have been replaced by the eVisa system. Offer your share code and show your digital status on your phone or a printout. Most airlines have been briefed on this change, but staff awareness can vary, particularly at smaller airports or with airlines that operate fewer UK routes.
At UK Border Control Without a BRP
Returning to the UK without a physical BRP is entirely normal in 2026. UK Border Force has fully transitioned to digital verification.
E-Gates (Automated)
If you hold a biometric passport and have Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, or certain other visa types, you may be eligible to use the automated e-gates. The e-gate scans your passport and checks your immigration status electronically. No physical document is needed.
Manual Border Control
If you go through a staffed border control desk, the officer will scan your passport and see your immigration status on their system. You do not need to present a BRP card. Having a share code or printout of your eVisa status is recommended as backup but is usually not required at UK borders.
Leaving the UK
UK departure does not involve immigration checks in the same way as arrival. You will go through airport security with your boarding pass and passport. Your eVisa status is not typically checked at departure, but the airline will have verified it during check-in.
Foreign Border Control
When arriving at your destination country, border officers there will check your passport and any visa required for their country. Your UK eVisa is irrelevant to foreign immigration — it only proves your status in the UK. Make sure you have the correct visa or entry permissions for whatever country you are visiting.
Emergency Situations
If you find yourself in a difficult situation related to your expired BRP and travel, here are the most common scenarios and what to do.
You are at the airport and have not set up your eVisa
What to do: If you have smartphone access and an internet connection, try to set up your UKVI account immediately at gov.uk/get-access-evisa. If you can verify your identity and access your status, generate a share code and present it to the airline. However, this process can take time and may not be possible to complete at the airport. In future, always complete this well before travel.
You have been denied boarding
What to do: Ask the airline staff specifically what they need to verify your status. If they need a share code, generate one on your phone. If the issue is that your eVisa is linked to a different passport, this cannot be resolved immediately. Contact UKVI on their helpline for assistance. You may need to reschedule your flight while you update your passport link.
You are abroad and cannot access your UKVI account
What to do: If you set up the UK Immigration: ID Check app before travelling, use it for offline access. If you did not, try accessing gov.uk/view-prove-immigration-status from a web browser. Contact the nearest British Embassy or Consulate if you need urgent assistance proving your UK immigration status while abroad.
Your passport was stolen and your eVisa was linked to it
What to do: Report the theft to local police and your country's nearest embassy or consulate to get an emergency travel document. Contact UKVI to report that your linked passport has been stolen. Once you have a replacement passport, update your eVisa link at gov.uk/update-uk-visas-immigration-account-details. A British Embassy may be able to assist with an emergency return to the UK.
The Critical Deadline: 30 June 2026
There has been confusion about deadlines for former BRP holders. The safest position is to create or recover your UKVI account as soon as possible and not wait until travel is urgent.
GOV.UK now says an expired BRP may be used for limited UKVI account purposes until the earlier of 24 months after the printed expiry date or 31 December 2026.
After the deadline, your immigration status will still exist — you will not lose your visa or leave to remain. However, accessing it and linking it to your passport may require additional steps and could involve significant delays. This is particularly problematic if you need to travel urgently.
The clear advice is: set up your UKVI account and eVisa now, not later. The process takes 15 to 30 minutes for most people when done online. Do not let the deadline catch you unprepared.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I travel with an expired BRP in 2026?
Do not rely on an expired BRP as destination entry permission. GOV.UK says expired BRPs may still be used only for limited UKVI account purposes through 2026. For travel, use your current passport and make sure your eVisa is accessible and linked to that passport.
What happened to BRP cards?
The UK Home Office replaced Biometric Residence Permits with eVisas. GOV.UK says all BRPs have expired and have been replaced by eVisas. Expired BRPs may still have limited UKVI account-use value through 2026, but your eVisa is the way to prove immigration status for other reasons.
What is the BRP grace period and has it ended?
The BRP grace period ran from 1 January 2025 to 1 June 2025. During this period, expired BRP cards were still accepted for travel and identity purposes while people transitioned to the eVisa system. The grace period has now ended. Since 1 June 2025, expired BRPs are not accepted at UK borders, by airlines, employers, or landlords.
How do I replace my expired BRP?
You do not get a physical replacement. Instead, you need to create a UKVI account at gov.uk/get-access-evisa and set up your eVisa (digital immigration status). Your immigration permission is now stored digitally and linked to your passport. This eVisa replaces the physical BRP card permanently.
What do airlines check now instead of BRP?
Airlines verify your immigration status digitally through the Advanced Passenger Information (API) system linked to your passport. Some may ask for a share code generated from your UKVI account. It is recommended to generate a share code before every trip and carry a printout of your eVisa status page as backup.
Can I be denied boarding without a BRP?
You should not be denied boarding solely because you do not have a physical BRP, as BRPs are no longer valid documents. However, you could be denied boarding if your passport is not linked to a valid eVisa, or if the airline cannot verify your immigration status. Always ensure your eVisa is set up and linked to your current passport before travelling.
What if I have not set up my eVisa yet?
If you have not yet created your UKVI account and set up your eVisa, do so immediately at gov.uk/get-access-evisa. Do not attempt to travel internationally until your eVisa is confirmed and linked to your current passport.
Do I need to link my passport to my eVisa?
Yes. Your eVisa must be linked to your current, valid passport. If you have renewed your passport since your last immigration application, you need to update your details at gov.uk/update-uk-visas-immigration-account-details. Without linking your current passport, airlines and border officers cannot verify your immigration status, and you may be unable to travel.