BRP Card vs eVisa: What International Students Need to Know in 2026
If you arrived in the UK before 2025 and had a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) card, it expired on 31 December 2024. In 2026, your immigration status lives entirely online — an eVisa linked to your UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account. Here is exactly what this means, what you need to do, and how to prove your status.
BRP cards are no longer valid
All Biometric Residence Permits (BRP cards) expired on 31 December 2024. If you still have a physical BRP card, it is not proof of your current immigration status. Your status is now held digitally in the Home Office system and accessed through your UKVI account.
BRP cards expired
31 Dec 2024
No longer valid
Your status is now
Digital
Stored on UKVI system
Prove status via
Share Code
Online, instant
What is a UK eVisa?
An eVisa is a digital record of your UK immigration permission. It is stored in the UK Home Office system and linked to your passport. There is no physical card or sticker — your status is entirely online.
Every international student and visa holder in the UK now has an eVisa. You access it through a UKVI (UK Visas and Immigration) account on Gov.UK.
Your eVisa records your visa type, start date, expiry date, and any conditions (such as the 20-hour work limit on a Student visa)
It is automatically updated when your visa is extended or you switch to a new route
It is tied to your passport — if you get a new passport, you must update your UKVI account
BRP card vs eVisa — side by side
FeatureBRP Card (old)eVisa (now)
FormatPhysical plastic cardDigital record only
Where storedIn your walletUKVI account (online)
How to prove statusShow the cardGenerate a share code
Valid in 2026?❌ No — expired Dec 2024✅ Yes — current system
Update when visa extended?New card posted to youUpdated automatically online
Lost or stolen?Must report to Home OfficeNothing to lose — it's digital
New passport?BRP stays validMust update UKVI account
How to access your UKVI account and view your eVisa
You will need your passport and the email address you used when you applied for your visa
Once logged in, you can view your visa conditions, expiry date, and work permissions
You can also generate a share code — a 9-character code that proves your status to employers, landlords, or anyone who needs to verify your right to be in the UK
💡Set up your UKVI account the moment you arrive in the UK — before you need it. Landlords, banks, and employers may ask for proof of status on short notice. Generating a share code takes 2 minutes once you are set up.
How to use share codes to prove your status
A share code is a 9-character reference number that lets someone else check your immigration status on the Home Office system. It replaces showing a physical BRP card.
There are three types of share code, and you must use the right one:
💼 Right to Work
For employers — proves you are allowed to work in the UK and shows your work conditions (e.g., max 20 hours during term time).
🏠 Right to Rent
For landlords — proves you can legally rent accommodation in England.
🎓 Right to Study
For universities or colleges — proves you have leave to study in the UK.
Share codes expire after 90 days. Generate a fresh one each time someone asks — do not reuse old codes.
Sharing your share code is safe — the person using it can only see your immigration status, nothing else. Never share your UKVI account login credentials.
I have an old BRP card — what should I do?
Your BRP card expired on 31 December 2024. You do not need to return it to the Home Office, but you should be aware:
Your BRP card is no longer accepted as proof of your right to work, rent, or study — even if it shows a future date on the card itself. The 31 December 2024 expiry overrides everything.
Set up your UKVI account immediately if you have not done so. Your digital eVisa is already live — you just need to access it.
Your actual visa (your leave to remain) continues to be valid — only the card is expired. Your right to be in the UK has not changed.
Some landlords and employers may still ask for your BRP card out of habit — they are wrong to do so. Politely direct them to the online share code check at gov.uk/view-right-to-work. This is the legal requirement since January 2025.
Can you travel with an eVisa?
Yes. To travel in and out of the UK, you use your passport. Border Force checks your immigration status electronically — your eVisa is linked to your passport number in the Home Office system.
Carry your passport with you at all times when travelling internationally
If you get a new passport, update your UKVI account immediately with the new passport details — otherwise you may face delays at the border
Before travelling, log in to your UKVI account to confirm your eVisa is showing correctly and has not expired
Airlines may ask for evidence of your right to travel to the UK. You can generate a share code or use the online status checker to show them your permission. Some airlines have direct access to the Home Office system and do not need a code.
Key takeaways for international students in 2026
BRP cards expired on 31 December 2024. They are no longer valid proof of status.
Your immigration status is now digital — an eVisa held in the Home Office system.
Access your eVisa through a UKVI account at gov.uk/view-prove-immigration-status.
Prove your status with a 9-character share code — generate the right type for work, rent, or study.
Share codes expire after 90 days. Generate fresh ones as needed.
If you get a new passport, update your UKVI account immediately.