The UK government has extended the eVisa grace period for those relying on physical Biometric Residence Permits (BRPs) and EUSS Biometric Residence Cards (BRCs) to prove their UK immigration status.
Under the new rules, BRP and BRC holders can continue to use these expired physical documents for travel, employment and identification purposes until 1 June 2025, provided they hold valid, lawful status in the UK at the time they are relying on the expired document.
The decision follows the initial eVisa grace period from 31 December 2024 to 31 March 2025, and comes in response to ongoing delays in the rollout of the digital eVisa system.
eVisa grace period extended to 1 June 2025
eVisas are replacing physical BRPs and EUSS BRCs as proof of the holder’s UK immigration status. Under the eVisa implementation plan, the documents were scheduled to expire on 31 December 2024, even for those whose permission extended beyond this date. Physical BRPs and BRCs are also no longer being produced or issued. However, delays in the eVisa system roll out, coupled with issues faced by document holders, such as difficulties gaining re-entry to the UK under the initial extension, have prompted the Home Office to further extend the grace period until 1 June 2025.
The Home Office is strongly urging BRP and BRC holders who have not already done so, to take action now by setting up their UKVI account and accessing their eVisa well before the extended deadline. This will help individuals identify and resolve any potential issues with their digital status.
Common transition issues we are aware of include incorrect visa type being recorded on the eVisa, misspellings of names or missing immigration conditions. These errors could cause significant problems in the future when relying on the eVisa for travel, employment or public services. As such, taking action now will help avoid unnecessary complications once the transition to digital-only status is complete from 2 June 2025.
Impact on BRP & EUSS BRC holders
For BRP and BRC holders, this extension provides much-needed breathing space, allowing them to continue to prove their immigration status even if their BRP or BRC has an expiry date of 31 December 2024. It also prevents disruption to travel, as the UK Border Force and carriers have been instructed to accept expired BRPs and BRCs as valid for re-entry to the UK until 1 June 2025.
However, individuals are still strongly encouraged to create or check their UKVI account to access their eVisa, which will become the primary method for proving immigration status from 2 June 2025.
Impact on UK employers
UK employers will need to take account of the update when conducting right to work checks, ensuring their internal right to work policies and guidance are updated accordingly to avoid unnecessary confusion or potential compliance issues. In practical terms, this would usually involve using the Home Office Employer Checking Service, the outcome of which reflects an individual’s current immigration status, rather than relying solely on the expiry date printed on a BRP or BRC.
Need assistance?
With the ongoing move towards digital immigration status verification, BRP and EUSS BRC holders and employers have to stay attune to the latest regulations. Rather unhelpfully, these remain subject to continued change. If you are concerned about the impact of these changes on your organisation’s right to work compliance, or are unsure about the impact on your ability to prove your UK status, speak to our UK immigration specialists.
Author
Founder and Managing Director Anne Morris is a fully qualified solicitor and trusted adviser to large corporates through to SMEs, providing strategic immigration and global mobility advice to support employers with UK operations to meet their workforce needs through corporate immigration.
She is a recognised by Legal 500 and Chambers as a legal expert and delivers Board-level advice on business migration and compliance risk management as well as overseeing the firm’s development of new client propositions and delivery of cost and time efficient processing of applications.
Anne is an active public speaker, immigration commentator, and immigration policy contributor and regularly hosts training sessions for employers and HR professionals
