Your biometric residence permit: work, rent, travel rights
Your biometric residence permit (BRP) used to be the go-to proof of your UK rights. Today, your digital eVisa is the source of truth. This guide shows exactly what your BRP does and does not prove now, how to pass right to work and right to rent checks fast, and how to travel stress-free.
We cover step-by-step share code checks, landlord and employer scripts, eVisa setup, travel realities, and common pitfalls. If ILR or citizenship is on your horizon, you will also find practical prep tips and a proven study app.
What your BRP does—and does not—prove
Your BRP is a physical card that once evidenced identity, immigration status, and conditions, such as the right to work or study. The UK has now moved to digital status (eVisa), and most physical BRPs have expired.
What it still helps with: confirming your identity, past grant details, and as a helper to set up or access your UKVI account/eVisa. You may still use BRP details to generate online share codes and to create your UKVI account.
What it does not do: it is not the single source of your current rights. Your live status is held digitally in your eVisa. From 2 June 2025, expired BRPs cannot be used to travel to the UK; carriers and Border Force check your digital permission instead.
The Home Office has explained that many BRPs were deliberately issued with short expiry dates to support the transition to digital status and system upgrades, which caused widespread confusion over whether people’s rights had actually ended. Your eVisa is the authoritative record of your immigration status and conditions.
Citations: see the Home Office’s eVisa rollout update and guidance on BRPs and eVisas on GOV.UK, and independent commentary on BRP expiry dates and the digital transition.
Right to work with a BRP/eVisa
The fastest way to prove your right to work is to generate a share code from your UKVI account and let the employer run the official online check on GOV.UK. This gives them a statutory excuse against civil penalties when done correctly.
Generate a share code and share it securely
Use this quick process to prove your right to work:
Go to the GOV.UK View and Prove your immigration status service and sign in with your email and verification method linked to your UKVI account.
Select Prove your right to work and confirm your identity document (passport or BRP details as requested).
Choose Get a share code. A 9-character, time-limited code will be generated.
Give your employer: the share code and your date of birth. Do not send passwords or full account screenshots.
Ask the employer to check your status at the official online checker and verify your photo matches you in person (video or face-to-face).
Security tips:
Share codes expire. If a code times out, just generate a new one.
Send the code via a secure channel (e.g., email or applicant portal). Avoid public chat apps.
Never share your UKVI account password or one-time passcodes.
What employers see and how to fix errors
The employer’s online report shows your photo, name, type of permission, whether you have a right to work, any restrictions (e.g., limited hours), and if a follow-up check is needed by a certain date.
If details do not match (for example, your name on the report differs from your passport):
Update your UKVI account with your latest passport details and personal information, then regenerate a share code.
If your application is pending or under review, ask the employer about a manual follow-up check route and provide any Home Office correspondence that confirms your ongoing right to work.
Ensure your employer runs the check on the official GOV.UK service, not via photos or photocopies.
Students and sponsored workers: special notes
Students: During term time, you may have limits on weekly hours and type of work. The online right to work result will state these conditions. Keep a copy for your records and share your academic term dates if asked.
Skilled Worker and other sponsored routes: You must work in the role and employer named on your sponsorship, except where supplementary work is permitted under the immigration rules (for example, limited hours in the same occupation code). If anything changes, check your sponsor duties and conditions first.
Follow-up checks: If your permission is time-limited, employers must re-check your status by the date shown in the online report. Set calendar reminders to avoid disruption.
Right to rent with a BRP/eVisa
In England, landlords or agents must run a right to rent check. The simplest route is the online share code—the same UKVI service used for employment checks, but choose the right to rent option.
Generate a tenant share code
Sign in to your UKVI account and choose Prove your right to rent.
Generate a share code and provide it with your date of birth to your landlord/agent.
Ask them to run the check on the GOV.UK online service while you are present (video or in person) so they can compare your live appearance to the photo.
Practical tips:
Keep a personal note of the check date and the result reference.
If systems are down on move-in day, a quick screenshot of your status page can help the conversation—but the landlord must complete the official online check to meet their legal duty.
Time-limited permissions and follow-up checks
If your online result shows a time-limited right to rent, your landlord will be given a re-check date. Ask them to record it in the tenancy file and set reminders on both sides to avoid last-minute issues when renewing.
Travel and re-entry using your BRP
Plan travel on the basis of your eVisa and valid passport. Airlines are liable for carrying passengers without permission, so they rely on digital status checks. From 2 June 2025, you cannot use an expired biometric residence permit to travel to the UK.
Carry the passport linked in your UKVI account and ensure its details are up to date.
Before flying, sign in to your UKVI account to confirm your eVisa shows the correct details and validity.
Keep a printout or PDF of your View and Prove status page and itinerary. It is not a travel document but can speed up airline conversations if systems are slow.
For a deeper dive into the UK’s move to digital status, travel rules, and proof tips, see our UK eVisa Guide: Timeline, Travel Rules, and Proof Tips.
When your card expires before your leave ends
Many BRPs were printed with earlier expiry dates than the underlying immigration permission to support the move to eVisas. If your BRP shows an earlier date, it does not necessarily mean your permission has ended—your eVisa governs. Keep your expired BRP safe as you may need its details to create your UKVI account, get share codes, or apply for further leave.
Transits and Schengen trips
Your BRP is not a travel document. For international trips, your passport and destination country visa policy control entry. Some nationals will need a Schengen visa for EU travel; transit rules also vary by airline and airport. Always check the destination’s official guidance and your airline’s transit requirements before booking.
Access to services: NHS, banking, driving
Public and private providers increasingly verify eligibility through digital checks. Selected public bodies can access immigration status automatically, and many organizations accept the official UKVI online result as evidence.
NHS registration and charging rules
GP registration is free and should not be refused based on immigration status. Take ID and proof of address if you have it.
If you paid the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS)
New to the system? See our friendly primer: Registering with a GP: Newcomer’s Guide to the NHS.
Opening bank accounts and proving address
Banks must run Know Your Customer (KYC) checks. Expect to show identity and UK address.
Identity: your passport plus eVisa status from the UKVI online service. Some branches may still ask to see your expired BRP as an additional ID.
Address: bank or credit card statements, council tax bill, utility bill, or a tenancy agreement. Online-only banks may accept digital statements or in-app address verification.
Driving licence interactions
When applying for a provisional or exchanging a licence, ensure your name, date of birth, and address match those in your UKVI account.
Update DVLA promptly when you change address. Keep your UKVI account updated first to avoid mismatches.
Common pitfalls that risk jobs, homes, or flights
Relying on an expired BRP instead of your eVisa for work, rent, or travel checks.
Sending a photo of your card rather than a share code—this does not provide employers or landlords with a statutory excuse.
Using the wrong share code type (right to work vs right to rent).
Not updating your new passport details in your UKVI account before travel.
Missing follow-up checks when your permission is time-limited.
Using photos of your card instead of share codes
Employers and landlords must use the official online service to check your status. Photos or scans of your BRP or passport are not sufficient for compliance and put you at risk of unfair rejection or delay.
Not updating a new passport on your UKVI account
If you renew your passport, update your UKVI account and re-link your identity. This prevents airport and online check failures and keeps your share codes aligned with the document you will use to travel and prove your rights.
Going digital: eVisa and online status
The UK is replacing physical immigration documents with eVisas. Digital status reduces fraud and loss, strengthens border security, and lets you control and share your data in real time via a secure GOV.UK service.
Create your UKVI account and link your identity
Go to the UKVI account sign-in page from GOV.UK and choose to create an account.
Enter your email and set up multi-factor authentication (MFA).
Link your identity using your passport or BRP details, as prompted.
Check your personal details and update any changes (name, passport number, address).
Test it: use View and Prove to generate a share code and confirm everything works.
Generate and manage share codes like a pro
Pick the right check: right to work and right to rent use different code types.
Time-limited: codes expire; generate a fresh one for each new employer or landlord.
Minimize data: only share the code and your date of birth. Never share account passwords.
Keep records: save PDFs of employer/landlord results and diary any re-check dates.
Onward journey to ILR or citizenship? Prepare now
Proving your rights smoothly today sets you up for tomorrow’s goals: Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) and, for many, British citizenship. A key requirement for both is passing the Life in the UK Test.
Why early prep saves time, money, and stress
Avoid retests: spaced learning over weeks beats last-minute cramming.
Boost confidence: realistic mocks reduce exam-day nerves.
Stay on track: a smart study plan helps you fit prep around work and family.
Use the Life in the UK Test App
The Life in the UK Test App turns the entire handbook into bite-sized, mobile-first lessons. It includes:
Brit-Bear, a smart assistant that adapts your study plan.
A live readiness score so you know when to book.
650+ exam-style questions with clear explanations.
Hard-mode mock tests that simulate the real exam pressure.
Offline access for learning anywhere.
Try it now: Download on App Store: iOS | Get it on Google Play: Android
Templates and scripts you can use today
Copy, paste, and personalize these emails to help employers and landlords run the correct online checks quickly.
Employer right to work email
Subject: Right to work share code for [Your Name]
Hello [Hiring Manager],
As requested, here are my right to work details from the official GOV.UK service.
Share code: [XXXXX-XXXXX]
Date of birth: [DD/MM/YYYY]
Please use the online checker on GOV.UK to view my current permission and any conditions. Let me know if you need a refreshed code or further information.
Kind regards,
[Your Name]
Landlord/agent right to rent email
Subject: Right to rent share code for tenancy at [Property Address]
Hello [Agent/Landlord Name],
To complete the right to rent check, please use the GOV.UK online service with the details below.
Share code: [XXXXX-XXXXX]
Date of birth: [DD/MM/YYYY]
I am available to verify my identity over video or in person. If the code expires before you check, I will send a new one immediately.
Many thanks,
[Your Name]
FAQs
Does an expired biometric residence permit mean my status has ended?
Not necessarily. The UK moved to digital eVisas, and many BRPs expired early. Your eVisa holds your live status and conditions. Check and prove it online.
Can I start a job by sending a photo of my BRP?
No. Employers must use the official online check with a share code to have a statutory excuse. Photos or scans are not sufficient.
How do I pass a right to rent check fast?
Generate a right to rent share code from your UKVI account, share it with your DOB, and ask the landlord to run the check on the GOV.UK service while you are present.
Can I travel to the UK with only a BRP?
From 2 June 2025, no. You need your eVisa and a valid passport. Keep your UKVI account details up to date and carry a printout of your status page.
Do I need the Life in the UK Test for ILR or citizenship?
Yes, for most applicants. Start early and use structured resources. Consider the Life in the UK Test App for a guided study plan and realistic mocks.
Ready to secure your long-term status? Build momentum now. Download the Life in the UK Test App: iOS | Android