Applying for a Replacement BRP visa

This page explains how you should apply for a Replacement BRP visa if you are outside the UK and your UK biometric residence permit has been lost, stolen or damaged because someone has tampered with it.

(If you are inside the UK and your UK biometric residence permit has been lost, stolen or damaged because someone has tampered with it, please see the Permit-holders' responsibilities page.)

If you are outside the UK, you must immediately email BRPLost@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk so that we can cancel your biometric residence 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;
  • your contact details; and
  • when, where and how the permit was lost, stolen or damaged.
  • when you plan to return to the UK.

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

You must also report the loss or theft to the police, and get a police report and crime reference number, as soon as possible.

You must then apply for a Replacement BRP visa, which you can use once to return to the UK. The visa does not replace your lost or stolen biometric residence permit.

When you arrive back in the UK, you will need to apply for a new biometric residence permit - see the Permit-holders' responsibilities page for more information.

How to apply for the visa

Depending on where you live, you may be able to make your visa application online or by printing out and completing application form VAF9. You can find out which method(s) you can use under 'More information' below.

You can download application form VAF9 and guidance notes from the right side of this page.

If you apply online, select 'Others' under the question 'Purpose of application'. In section 7 of the application, state that you are 'applying for a Replacement BRP visa because you have lost or had your BRP stolen'.

As part of your application, you must provide your passport and a police report as evidence that your permit has been reported missing, stolen or tampered with.

Please use our country finder to find out:

  • how to apply in your country
  • the application fee in your local currency for a Replacement BRP visa
  • the location of our visa application centres
  • how long we generally take to process visa applications
  • how your documents will be returned to you

When you arrive back in the UK, you will need to apply for a new biometric residence permit within 1 month of your arrival - see the Permit-holders' responsibilities page.

More information

  • Should you apply online or complete an application form on paper?

    If you are applying for a visa from the following countries, you should apply using our online application system, Visa4UK:

    • Afghanistan
    • Albania
    • Algeria
    • Andorra
    • Angola
    • Anguilla
    • Antigua and Barbuda
    • Argentina
    • Armenia
    • Australia
    • Austria
    • Azerbaijan
    • Bahamas
    • Bahrain 
    • Barbados
    • Belarus
    • Belgium
    • Belize
    • Bermuda
    • Bolivia
    • Bosnia and Herzegovina
    • Botswana
    • Brazil
    • British Virgin Islands
    • Brunei
    • Bulgaria
    • Burkina Faso
    • Burma
    • Burundi
    • Cambodia
    • Cameroon
    • Canada
    • Cape Verde
    • Cayman Islands
    • Central African Republic
    • Chad
    • Chile
    • China
    • Colombia
    • Comoros
    • Congo
    • Costa Rica
    • Croatia
    • Cyprus
    • Czech Republic
    • Democratic Republic of the Congo
    • Denmark
    • Djibouti
    • Dominica
    • Dominican Republic
    • East Timor
    • Ecuador
    • Egypt
    • Equatorial Guinea
    • Eritrea
    • Estonia
    • Ethiopia
    • Faroes
    • Fiji
    • Finland
    • France
    • French Guiana
    • Gabon
    • Gambia
    • Georgia
    • Germany
    • Ghana
    • Gibraltar
    • Greece
    • Greenland
    • Grenada
    • Guatemala
    • Guinea
    • Guinea Bissau
    • Guyana
    • Haiti
    • Hong Kong
    • Hungary
    • Iceland
    • India
    • Indonesia
    • Iran
    • Iraq
    • Ireland
    • Israel
    • Italy
    • Ivory Coast
    • Jamaica
    • Japan
    • Jordan
    • Kazakhstan
    • Kenya
    • Kiribati
    • Kosovo
    • Kyrgyzstan
    • Kuwait
    • Laos
    • Latvia
    • Lebanon
    • Lesotho
    • Liberia
    • Lithuania
    • Luxembourg 
    • Macau
    • Macedonia
    • Madagascar
    • Malaysia
    • Mali
    • Malta
    • Marshall Islands
    • Mauritania
    • Mauritius
    • Mexico
    • Micronesia
    • Moldova
    • Monaco
    • Mongolia
    • Montenegro
    • Montserrat
    • Morocco
    • Nauru
    • Netherlands
    • New Zealand
    • Nicaragua
    • Niger
    • Nigeria
    • Norway
    • Oman 
    • Pakistan
    • Palestinian Authority
    • Palau
    • Panama 
    • Papua New Guinea
    • Paraguay
    • Peru
    • Philippines
    • Poland
    • Portugal
    • Qatar 
    • Romania
    • Russian Federation
    • Rwanda
    • Samoa and Western Samoa
    • San Marino
    • Sao Tome and Principe
    • Saudi Arabia
    • Senegal
    • Serbia
    • Seychelles
    • Sierra Leone
    • Singapore
    • Slovakia
    • Slovenia 
    • Solomon Islands
    • Somalia
    • South Africa
    • South Korea
    • Spain
    • St Kitts and Nevis
    • St Vincent and Grenadine
    • St Lucia
    • Sudan
    • Suriname
    • Swaziland
    • Sweden
    • Switzerland
    • Syria
    • Taiwan
    • Tajikstan
    • Thailand
    • Togo 
    • Tonga
    • Trinidad and Tobago
    • Tunisia
    • Turkey
    • Turks and Caicos
    • Tuvalu
    • Uganda 
    • Ukraine
    • UAE
    • USA
    • Uruguay
    • Uzbekistan 
    • Vanuatu
    • Vatican City
    • Venezuela
    • Vietnam
    • Western Sahara
    • Zambia

    If you are applying for a visa from the following countries, you should apply by printing out an application form and completing it by hand: 

    • Cuba
    • Malawi
    • North Korea  
    • Turkmenistan 
    • Zimbabwe

    If you are applying for a visa from the following countries, you can choose whether to apply using our online application system or by printing off the application form and completing it by hand:

    • Bangladesh
    • Maldives
    • Mozambique
    • Namibia
    • Nepal
    • Sri Lanka