If you are applying for a visa for 6 months or longer you must apply for a biometric residence permit (unless you already have one) if you are currently in the UK and you want to:

• extend your temporary permission to stay to a total of 6 months or more;
• apply for permission to settle in the UK (known as 'indefinite leave to remain');
• transfer your permission to stay from an old passport or similar document using form TOC or NTL; or
• apply for a Convention travel document (1951 refugee or 1954 stateless person) or a certificate of travel.

If you applied in a category that did not require you to enrol your biometric information and your application is granted on or after 1 December 2012 you must apply for a biometric residence permit. We will write to you and explain how to apply for a permit.

If you make your application to extend your stay in the UK by post or online, we will send you a biometric notification letter after we have received your application. You should then enrol your biometric information at one of the post offices offering this service across the UK. For more information, see the Enrolling your biometric information - postal applications section.

If you make your application in person at one of our public enquiry offices or using our super premium service, you will enrol your biometric information on the same day. For more information, see the Public enquiry offices and Super premium service sections.

Enrolling your biometric information is a quick and clean process. We photograph your face digitally, then you put your fingers on a glass screen to be scanned. There is no ink or mess.

The process takes less than 5 minutes.

We are aware of the need to protect applicants' dignity, privacy and modesty. There will be special arrangements for applicants where needed.

Children aged under 6 years old do not need to provide their fingerprints.

Children aged under 16 years old must be accompanied by a 'responsible adult' to reassure them and ensure that they understand the process. A responsible adult is their parent or guardian, or another person aged 18 years or over who takes responsibility for the child.

If you (or any dependants who are applying with you) have a medical or physical condition which may require special arrangements to be made for enrolling your biometric information, you must enclose documentary evidence of the condition when you apply to extend your stay.

Appropriate documentary evidence would be a letter from a treating clinician (such as a practising doctor registered with the General Medical Council). This should give details of your condition, and of any arrangements that may be necessary.

If you are physically unable to provide fingerprints, we will photograph your face digitally and make a record on our database that you cannot provide fingerprints.

You must inform us of the condition when you apply to extend your stay so that we can make a record on our database.

If you apply by post and your application is approved, we will post your permit to you by secure delivery, separately from the decision about your application and the return of your documents.

If you apply at a public enquiry office and your application is approved, we will post your permit to you by secure delivery after your appointment. Permits cannot be issued on the same day as your appointment.

We strongly advise you not to book any non-urgent travel before you have received your permit.

If you do not receive your permit because you were out when it was delivered, see 'What should you do if your biometric residence permit is not delivered?' to find out what you need to do.

When you receive your permit, we advise you to make a photocopy of the front and back of it, in case it is lost or stolen. If you want to make another application in the future, you will need to send your permit to the UK Border Agency, so you may want to retain a copy for your records.

You must check your permit carefully when you receive it, to ensure that all the details on it are correct. If you find a mistake, you must email BRPError@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk within 10 working days of the date when you received the permit, otherwise you may be charged for a replacement and will need to apply for a replacement permit. In your email you should state:

• your full name;
• your date of birth;
• your nationality;
• your passport number;
• your biometric residence permit reference number;
• your case reference number;
• a contact telephone number; and
• what exactly is wrong with the permit.

If you do not provide all this information, there may be a delay in answering your query.

You can also send this information by post to:

Freepost RRYX-GLYU-GXHZ,
Returns Unit,
PO Box 163,
Bristol
BS20 1AB

If you have not received your permit 10 working days after the date on your letter from us extending your permission to stay in the UK, you should email BRPDelivery@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk. In your email you should state:

• your full name;
• your date of birth;
• your nationality;
• your passport number;
• your case reference number;
• the delivery address for the permit; and
• a contact telephone number.

If you do not provide all this information, there may be a delay in answering your query.

You can also send this information by post to:

Freepost RRYX-GLYU-GXHZ,
Returns Unit,
PO Box 163,
Bristol
BS20 1AB

You cannot ask about undelivered permits in person at our public enquiry offices or biometric enrolment centres.

Courier deliveries

Your biometric residence permit will be securely delivered by courier to the address you have provided to us. When it is delivered, you must sign for it and show identification such as your passport or driving licence. If you are not present when the permit is delivered, the courier will leave a calling card containing contact details so you can rearrange delivery. You must contact the courier as soon as possible.

If you do not rearrange delivery, the courier will send you a reminder letter. If you still do not rearrange delivery of your permit, the courier will attempt a second delivery. If you are still not present and the courier cannot deliver your permit to you, the courier will notify us of the failed delivery.

We will then send a reminder letter to you advising you to contact the courier as soon as possible to rearrange delivery. We will hold your permit until you make contact to request delivery, or until it reaches its expiry date. If you do not contact us and your permit reaches its expiry date, it will be cancelled and destroyed. You will then have no permission to stay in the UK, and we will send another letter informing you that, if you intend to remain in the UK, you must make a new application for permission to stay and provide your biometric information.

Your biometric residence permit is evidence of your permission to stay in the UK, and shows the conditions of your stay. It enables you to confirm your identity and confirm your right to study and/or work here, and to access public services.

You must show the permit to your employer or approved education provider before you start to work or study.

You must take your permit with you if you go abroad while you have permission to stay in the UK. You may need to show the permit to an immigration officer at the border when you leave the UK. You will also need to show it as well as your valid national passport or travel document before you begin your return journey, and again when you re-enter the UK. The permit proves that you are allowed to return to the UK, but it cannot be used instead of a passport or travel document.