What to do if you have lost your passport or BRP

If your passport is lost or stolen inside the UK, please do not worry. You can contact us and we will help you in obtaining a new passport.

Alternatively, please follow the following steps:

• You must apply for a new passport at your country’s Embassy. A list of all Foreign Embassies' contact details can be found on the Foreign & Commonwealth Office website;
• In addition to this you should update the UKVI to inform them that you have obtained a new passport, using the MCC form;
• Once you receive your new passport, bring your new passport to the IST office so that we can update your records.

If your student visa was in the form of a yellow sticker in your passport also known as vignette, you need to apply for a Transfer of Conditions (TOC) with the Home Office. As part of this application you will need to provide your biometric information and you will be sent a new BRP to replace your vignette. The current fee in the UK is £161.

Once you receive your BRP, bring it to the IST office so that we can update your records.

If you have a BRP card in the UK, please ensure that you keep it safe and secure as your BRP is your visa and it is the proof of your right to stay, study and work in the UK.

If you lose your BRP in the UK, please do not panic and follow these steps:

• If your BRP is lost or stolen in the UK, it must be reported to the Home Office.

• You must then apply for a replacement BRP within three months of the loss or theft. The current fee for a replacement BRP is £56 if application is made by post OR £556 if application is made in person at any of the Premium Service Centres. 

Failure to apply for a replacement BRP within 3 months of reporting the loss could result in a financial penalty of up to £1000 or curtailment of your leave.

Once you receive your new BRP, please bring it to the IST office so that we can update your records.

Please try and keep important documents like your passport and BRP safe whilst travelling abroad. However in the unlikely event that this goes missing please do not panic! You can contact us and also do the following:

1. Report the loss of your passport to the police and obtain a police report (translated into English);
2. Report the loss of your passport to your country’s embassy to get a replacement passport;                            
3. If your immigration permission (visa) was in a form of a vignette (a yellow sticker) in your passport and you need to return to the UK, then you will need to make an application for a ‘Vignette Transfer’ online. The current fee for this is £154.

3.1. When completing the online form you should select the following:

• Reason for visit: Other
• Visa Type: Others
• Visa Sub Type: Vignette transfer

You do not need to provide a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) number or evidence of funds, qualifications etc... (unless requested by UKVI to show no change of circumstances). However, you will need to submit a letter confirming you are studying at the University of Birmingham, along with a photocopy of your evidence of leave and your police report.

You will need to enrol your biometrics again as part of the application.

You can also check how long applications are taking in the country you are applying in.

You should try and keep important documents like your passport and BRP safe whilst travelling abroad.  However in the unlikely event that this goes missing you need to do the following:

1. Report the loss of your BRP to the police and obtain a police report (translated into English);
2. Report the loss of your BRP online to UKVI using their form;
3. You will need to apply online for a single entry visa which replaces your old BRP. The current fee for this is £154 and can only be used once within a one month period;

When completing the online form you should select the following:

• Reason for visit: Other
• Visa Type: Others
• Visa Sub type: Replacement Biometric Residence Permit.

As part of the application process you need to ensure you provide your passport, police report (translated into English) as evidence that your BRP has been reported as lost or stolen.

Important note: Once you have used the single entry visa to enter the UK, you will need to contact us and inform us.

In addition to this you also need to apply for a BRP Replacement within 1 month of your return to the UK, failure to do this may result in a financial penalty of up to £1000 or curtailment of leave to remain.

Guidance notes on how to complete the form