TL;DR: The UK Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) remains the primary physical proof of immigration permission for many Skilled Worker visa holders, but the Home Office is transitioning to a fully digital eVisa system. BRPs issued before the switchover carry an expiry date of 31 December 2024 on the card itself, even where the visa permission extends beyond that date.
What Is a Biometric Residence Permit for Skilled Workers?
For the majority of non-EEA nationals granted permission to live, work, or study in the United Kingdom for longer than six months, the biometric residence permit has served as the definitive physical document evidencing that immigration status. Issued by the Home Office’s UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) directorate, a BRP is a credit-card-sized document embedded with a chip containing the holder’s fingerprints, photograph, and core immigration data.
For Skilled Worker visa holders specifically, the biometric residence permit records the individual’s permission to work in the UK, the conditions of that permission (such as which occupation and sponsor are tied to the visa), and the duration of leave granted. It functions as both a proof-of-right-to-work document for employers and an identity document for a wide range of official purposes, including opening bank accounts and registering with public services.
Under the UK immigration framework, a Skilled Worker BRP is typically issued once the applicant’s visa vignette (the sticker placed in the passport at a visa application centre abroad) expires — usually within 30 days of arrival in the UK. At that point, the BRP becomes the sole documentary proof of the holder’s continuing permission to remain and work.
How Is a BRP Issued and Collected by New Skilled Worker Entrants?
The process of obtaining a biometric residence permit begins at the visa application stage. When a Skilled Worker visa applicant submits their application — whether from overseas or by switching status inside the UK — they provide biometric information (fingerprints and a digital photograph) at a visa application centre or a UKVCAS (UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services) service point.
Collection from a UK Post Office
For applicants applying from outside the UK, the completed BRP is not sent to an overseas address. Instead, during the online application process, applicants must nominate a Post Office branch in the UK where the document will be held for collection on arrival. According to official UKVI guidance, applicants have a ten-day window from their stated date of arrival to collect the BRP from the chosen Post Office.
Key rule: Skilled Worker visa holders arriving in the UK must collect their BRP from the nominated Post Office within ten days of their arrival date, as stated on their visa vignette.
If collection does not occur within this window, or if the applicant nominated the wrong Post Office branch, UKVI must be contacted promptly to arrange redelivery or redirection. Failure to collect may trigger complications with proof-of-right-to-work verification.
In-Country Applicants Switching to Skilled Worker
For applicants already in the UK who switch into the Skilled Worker route, the BRP is typically delivered by secure courier to the UK address provided during the application. Applicants in this category should ensure the delivery address is accurate and that someone is available to receive the document, as missed deliveries require a separate redelivery request.
The eVisa Transition: What Does It Mean for BRP Holders?
One of the most significant developments in UK immigration administration in recent years is the shift away from physical documentation — including the biometric residence permit — towards a fully digital immigration status record known as the eVisa.
The Home Office has been progressively migrating all immigration statuses to the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) online service. Under this system, an individual’s immigration permission is stored digitally and accessed via a UKVI online account, rather than evidenced by a physical card.
The 31 December 2024 BRP Expiry Date
A widely reported source of confusion concerns the expiry date printed on BRPs. Many BRPs issued to Skilled Worker visa holders whose permission extends beyond the end of 2024 carry a card expiry date of 31 December 2024. This date does not mean the holder’s visa or leave to remain expires on that date.
Official clarification: According to the Home Office, the 31 December 2024 date was printed on BRPs as part of the planned transition to eVisa. The cardholder’s actual immigration permission remains valid until the date shown on their UKVI online account — not the card expiry date.
Skilledvisa.uk reported extensively on this distinction as the transition deadline approached. The core point is that the physical BRP card’s expiry date and the holder’s leave expiry date are two separate things during this transitional period.
Setting Up a UKVI Online Account
As part of the eVisa rollout, all existing BRP holders — including those on the Skilled Worker route — were encouraged to create a UKVI online account to access their digital immigration status. This online account allows holders to view their conditions of leave, generate a share code for employers to verify right-to-work status, and update personal details such as a change of address or passport number.
Once an individual has a UKVI account, the eVisa stored within it becomes the primary evidence of their immigration permission, superseding the physical BRP for most official purposes.
Reporting a Lost or Stolen BRP: Process and Requirements
Despite the eVisa transition, the physical biometric residence permit remains an important document, and its loss or theft must be handled carefully and promptly.
Reporting to the Home Office
If a BRP is lost or stolen within the UK, the holder must report it to the Home Office online within three days of discovering the loss. This is a mandatory requirement under the conditions of leave attached to most visa categories, including the Skilled Worker route.
Mandatory reporting deadline: A lost or stolen BRP must be reported to UKVI within three days of the holder becoming aware of the loss.
If the BRP is lost or stolen abroad, the holder must report it to the local police and to the nearest British embassy or consulate. A separate report must also be submitted to the Home Office on return to the UK.
Applying for a Replacement BRP
Once the loss or theft has been reported, the holder must apply for a replacement BRP. This involves:
- Submitting an online application for a replacement via the UKVI portal.
- Paying the relevant replacement fee (currently set at £56 as of the latest published guidance, though applicants should verify the current fee on gov.uk).
- Providing evidence of the police report where theft is involved.
It is important to note that, given the eVisa transition, the Home Office may in some cases direct individuals to rely solely on their UKVI online account rather than issuing a new physical card, depending on when the replacement request is made and the applicant’s immigration circumstances.
Right to Work During the Replacement Period
SkilledWorker visa holders who have lost their BRP and are awaiting a replacement can still demonstrate their right to work using the digital share code generated through their UKVI online account. Employers conducting right-to-work checks are able to verify an employee’s status online using this code, meaning the absence of a physical BRP need not interrupt employment.
Implications for Employers and Sponsors
UK employers sponsoring workers on the Skilled Worker route carry compliance obligations in relation to right-to-work documentation. The eVisa transition has altered how these checks are performed.
Sponsors should be aware that a BRP card displaying an expiry date of 31 December 2024 does not, on its own, confirm whether a worker’s underlying permission remains valid. The correct method for verifying a Skilled Worker’s right to work is the online Employer Checking Service or the employee-generated share code from their UKVI account.
Sponsors who continue to rely solely on physical BRP checks — without cross-referencing the UKVI online system — may inadvertently introduce compliance risks during the transitional period. The Home Office has updated right-to-work guidance to reflect the primacy of the digital check in the post-BRP era.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What does the 31 December 2024 expiry date on a BRP mean for Skilled Worker visa holders? A: The 31 December 2024 date printed on many BRPs is a card expiry date linked to the Home Office’s eVisa transition, not the expiry date of the holder’s actual immigration permission. Skilled Worker visa holders whose leave extends beyond that date retain valid permission — this is confirmed through their UKVI online account, not the physical card.
Q: Where does a new Skilled Worker visa holder collect their BRP? A: New Skilled Worker entrants arriving from overseas collect their BRP from a nominated Post Office branch in the UK. The branch is selected during the online visa application. Collection must take place within ten days of the arrival date stated on the visa vignette.
Q: How does a Skilled Worker visa holder report a lost or stolen BRP? A: The holder must report the loss to the Home Office online within three days of discovering it. If lost abroad, the matter should also be reported to local police and the nearest British embassy or consulate. A replacement BRP application, with the applicable fee, must then be submitted through UKVI.
Q: Can a Skilled Worker still prove their right to work without a physical BRP? A: Yes. Through the UKVI online account, a Skilled Worker visa holder can generate a share code that employers use to verify immigration status via the online Employer Checking Service. This digital route is now the primary method for right-to-work checks following the eVisa transition.
Q: Do Skilled Worker visa holders need to create a UKVI online account? A: The Home Office strongly encourages all BRP holders, including those on the Skilled Worker route, to create a UKVI online account to access their eVisa and manage their immigration status digitally. This account becomes the definitive record of leave as the BRP is phased out.
Key Takeaways
- The biometric residence permit is the principal physical immigration document for Skilled Worker visa holders arriving in the UK on visas of more than six months’ duration.
- New Skilled Worker entrants from overseas must collect their BRP from a pre-nominated Post Office within ten days of arrival; in-country switchers receive theirs by secure courier.
- The 31 December 2024 expiry date on many BRPs reflects the eVisa transition timetable, not the holder’s actual visa expiry — leave validity is confirmed through the UKVI online account.
- A lost or stolen BRP must be reported to the Home Office within three days; replacement requires an online application and payment of the applicable fee.
- Employers and sponsors should use the UKVI online share code system — not the physical BRP alone — to conduct compliant right-to-work checks following the eVisa rollout.
Conclusion
The biometric residence permit has been a cornerstone of UK immigration documentation for non-EEA nationals on routes including the Skilled Worker visa. As the Home Office completes its shift to a fully digital eVisa framework, understanding the BRP’s role — how it is collected, what its card expiry date signifies, and what steps to take if it is lost or stolen — remains essential for Skilled Worker visa holders, their employers, and their sponsors. Official and up-to-date guidance is available at gov.uk/biometric-residence-permits.