The UK Home Office has extended the deadline for migrants holding expired Biometric Residence Permits (BRPs) and Biometric Residence Cards (BRCs) to shift to the country's digital eVisa system. According to immigration law firm Fragomen, which monitors UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) guidance, holders of expired BRPs and BRCs can continue using their physical documents to create or link their UKVI accounts until December 31, 2026. From January 1 next year, expired physical immigration cards will not be accepted for setting up or proving immigration status online. This marks the third extension of a deadline that was originally set for December 31, 2024, with the Home Office having not announced any further extension beyond the current deadline. The extension provides thousands of skilled workers, family visa holders, and overseas students residing in the UK more time to adjust to the government's digital immigration platform.
Updated Home Office guidance published on June 8, 2026 extends the period during which expired BRPs can be used for certain on-shore purposes, such as right-to-work and right-to-rent checks, from 18 months to 24 months after the expiry date printed on the card. The revised guidance states: "All BRPs are now expired. You can use it for 24 months after the expiry date printed on your card or until 31 December 2026, whichever comes first." For the hundreds of thousands of Indians in the UK on Skilled Worker visas, family visas, or with Indefinite Leave to Remain, this extension offers practical relief. However, expired BRPs cannot be used for international travel, as airlines check immigration status digitally before boarding. To travel, migrants need a functioning UKVI account with their current passport correctly linked.
According to UKVI guidance, migrants are required to create a UKVI account and link their existing immigration status to access their eVisa. As reported by Fragomen, migrants who complete this process will be able to view their immigration status online and share it with employers, landlords and other organisations through a share code. The digital system is designed to replace physical immigration documents and allow migrants to prove their right to live, work or study in the UK through an online record. For those who already have a UKVI account, they should log in and confirm that their current passport is linked and that their contact details are up to date. The eVisa process is free and takes place at the official government website, requiring your BRP card, current Indian passport, and access to an email address.
The deadline extension is significant for foreign nationals living in the UK, as the country has a large migrant population, including Skilled Worker visa holders, students and dependants. According to Fragomen, the additional time will help migrants who are still holding expired physical cards complete the transition without immediate disruption. Immigration status checks are required for employment, housing and other official processes, and a delay in linking status with a UKVI account could create difficulties when organisations ask for digital proof of immigration permission. The UK's shift to a fully digital immigration system formally completed on February 25, 2026, when the Home Office stopped issuing physical visa stickers and BRPs for all new applicants. However, the government has prolonged transition times on multiple occasions, indicating that many citizens are still getting used to the new procedure.
Fragomen advised migrants still using old physical documents to ensure they create a UKVI account, link their existing immigration status, check that their passport and personal details are updated, and use the digital status system when proving their immigration rights. Those facing problems with the process should seek assistance from an OISC-registered immigration adviser, as recommended in UK immigration guidance. The eVisa process is free and takes place at the official government website, requiring your BRP card, current Indian passport, and access to an email address. The stumbling block for most people is not the status itself but proving it, and that is now a digital process. Updating passport details in the account is crucial, as the eVisa is tied to the specific passport number on record, and travelling on a renewed Indian passport without first updating your UKVI account can result in denied boarding.
