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Welcome to Queen's Student
Immigration Support Service

Biometric Residence Permit (BRP)

*Important Information - Please Read*

If you have selected Queen's University as your BRP card collection location, please be assured that we will be in touch once your BRP card has been processed and is ready for collection. You will receive an email from the ISS Compliance Team inviting you to book an appointment to collect your BRP card.

Please Note:
1. The collection of BRP cards is by appointment only
2. We cannot issue your BRP card to you until your Immigration Document Check (IDC) has been completed
3. Please remember to bring your passport with you to your BRP collection appointment
4. Please ensure that the required documentation has been uploaded to your student record on Qsis in advance of your appointment or we will not be able to issue your BRP card to you on the day
5. If you have selected the Post Office as your collection location, you do not need an appointment and can go directly to the address provided on your visa decision letter once you arrive in the UK
6. If you are picking your BRP card up from the Post Office, please remember upload a picture of the front and back of this to your student record once collected

What is a BRP?

A Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) is proof of the holder’s right to stay, work or study in the UK. It can also be used as a form of identification e.g. to open a bank account in the UK. A BRP is the same size as a bank card and is issued by the UKVI. It is a very important document. Please be sure to look after it and keep it in a safe place.

You will get a BRP if you:

You do not have to apply separately for a BRP. You will automatically get one if your visa or immigration application is approved, or you’re replacing an older document.

What does a BRP card look like?
Front of the card

1. Holder's Digital Image
2. Holder’s Name
3. Visa Expiry Date
4. Place and Date of Issue of Visa
5. Type of Permit
6. Conditions of Stay & Sponsor Licence Number
7. BRP Number
8. Holder’s Signature

Back of the card

 9.  Biometric Chip
10. Holder’s gender
11. Holder’s date and place of birth
12. Holder’s Nationality
13. Further Conditions of Stay and may include Holder’s National Insurance Number
14. Machine readable zone (MRZ) – this allows information printed on the card to be read by machine

How do I get my BRP?
  • Collecting your BRP card at Queen's University Belfast

    To collect your BRP from Queen’s University, during your online visa application form please choose the ‘Alternative location’ option and enter the code 2HE572. Your dependants can also use this code in their application. We would highly recommend you choose Queen’s University Belfast as collection point if you are aged under 18.

    The Immigration Compliance Team will contact you by email once your BRP has been delivered to the Immigration Support Service Office and advise you on how to book an appointment so you can collect your BRP. Collection of BRP cards is by appointment only, so please do not come to the office without an appointment.

    Please note we are unable to connect a Dependant BRP to the Main Applicant BRP. This means we will not be able to contact you about your dependants. When you book an appointment, please enter your dependants details in the relevant section of the online booking form.

    You must attend the appointment in person and arrive on time and you must bring your original Passport and your visa decision letter.

  • Collecting your BRP card from the Post Office in Belfast

    Alternatively, you can collect your BRP from the Post Office in Belfast on arrival.

    To collect your BRP at the Bridge Street, Belfast City Post Office, select ‘Sponsor Address Postcode’ on the online visa application form and enter BT7 1NN. You will be provided with options and can select Bridge Street, Belfast City Post Office.

    If you want to choose another Post Office location in the UK, you can enter your residential address and postcode.

    Bridge Street, Belfast City Post Office Details:
    Address: 12-16 Bridge Street, Belfast City, Belfast, County Antrim, BT1 1LT.

    For further details including opening hours, accessibility details and map please see the Post Office website

    Alternatively, you can contact Bridge Street Post office on 0345 611 2970.

  • Entry Clearance BRPs

    Queen's University Belfast

    Our Immigration Compliance Team will contact you by email once your BRP has been delivered to the Immigration Support Service Office and advise you on how to book an appointment so you can collect your BRP. Collection of BRP cards is by appointment only so please do not come to the office without an appointment.

    Before you book your appointment, please complete your Immigration Document Check (part of your online registration) and upload all of the necessary documents. The Immigration Document Check section of our website provides information on the documentation that you are required to upload. This includes but is not limited to copy of your passport, visa decision letter, vignette with an entry stamp confirming the date of your arrival in the UK, and a boarding pass. If there are any documents missing from this check, the Immigration Compliance Team will contact you directly. Please note, we cannot release your BRP card until this check has been undertaken.

    Post Office Collection

    If you have selected to collect your BRP from the Post Office, please refer to your visa decision letter and/or visa checklist for details of the Post Office you selected. Please bring your original Passport and your visa decision letter with you when collecting your BRP.

    Queen's University Staff BRPs

    Staff and academic visitors will need to collect their BRP from the Post Office.

    If you did not select the Post Office option during your visa application, and instead you entered the QUB Alternative Collection Location code please contact us at isscompliance@qub.ac.uk for assistance.

  • Leave to Remain BRPs

    If you applied for your visa in the UK, our Immigration Support Service team will likely have assisted you in making your Leave to Remain visa application and requested that you indicate that you would like your BRP to be delivered to your UK address.

    As soon as you receive your BRP, please email a clear copy of the front and back of it to isscompliance@qub.ac.uk

  • Replacement BRPs

    All replacement BRPs should be delivered to the BRP holder at their UK address.

    If you lose your BRP while you are travelling inside the UK or outside the UK, the information on our website should help you identify the next steps that you need to take.

    As soon as you receive your BRP, please email a clear copy of the front and back of it to isscompliance@qub.ac.uk

  • Error Corrected BRPs

    Error corrected BRPs will be delivered to the BRP holder at their UK address if self-reported. If we have made the error report on your behalf they will be delivered directly to the University.

    Please contact us if you have found your BRP to have an error and we will assist you by reporting this on your behalf. 

    As soon as you receive your BRP, please email a clear copy of the front and back of it to isscompliance@qub.ac.uk

BRPs with an expiry date of 31 December 2024

If your BRP card expires on 31 December 2024 but your course finishes at a later date this is not an error and you do not need to report this to UKVI.

Despite your BRP card citing this end date your immigration permission should allow you to stay longer. For confirmation of the dates of your immigration permission, please check your visa decision email (if you applied for your visa in the UK) or your visa decision letter (if you applied for your visa outside the UK). The dates of your immigration permission should cover the full duration of your course + 4 months (2 months if your course duration is less than 12 months).

All BRP's currently valid until 31 December 2024 will not need a BRP from 1 January 2025. You will be able to prove your immigration status online after this date. 

Please refer to the eVisas section of our Immigration Document Check page for more information.

Frequently Asked Questions
  • Should I carry my BRP at all times?

    You are not required to carry your BRP at all times, but you must show it at the border along with your passport when travelling outside of and when returning to the UK. It is expensive and inconvenient to replace it, therefore we recommend you keep it safe with your passport.

  • My Entry Clearance Vignette will expire before I arrive in the UK - what should I do?

    If your entry clearance vignette has been issued with the correct validity but your travel plans have changed, you will need to apply for a replacement entry clearance vignette. Our colleagues at immigration@qub.ac.uk can advise on this if you have any questions.

    If the entry permit has been issued with an incorrect validity, you will be able to get this corrected. Please see further details on the UKVI website.

  • Why does my visa decision letter instruct me to collect my BRP from the Post Office and not the University?

    If your visa decision letter instructs you to collect your BRP from the Post Office and not the University, this means you did not select the alternative collection location on your visa application form by using the University ACL code (2HE572). You will need to collect your visa from the Post Office. Your visa decision letter will confirm the Post Office branch where you chose to collect your BRP. You can find information on the location on the Post Office website.

  • Can I change where to collect my BRP?

    Change from Post Office to Queen’s University (or vice-versa)

    Unfortunately this change cannot be made. 

    Change of Post Office Branch

    You can choose to pick up your BRP from a different Post Office branch. You’ll need to arrange this at the branch and pay a fee. Check that the Post Office branch you want to use offers a ‘BRP collection service’.

    Change from another University to Queen’s University

    If you accidentally chose for your BRP to be delivered to the wrong university during your visa application, please contact us at isscompliance@qub.ac.uk to let us know. Unfortunately, your BRP will still be delivered to the other university. Therefore you will need to contact them to request that they return your BRP to the Home Office. We can request your BRP is delivered to you directly after we have completed the relevant checks with you.

  • How do I collect a dependant BRP?

    From Queen’s University

    If you are coming to the UK with your dependants, you will be able to receive their BRPs with your card if you have chosen the Queen’s University collection location. Your dependants must enter the same Queen’s University Alternative Collection Location code (2HE572) during their online visa application.

    From the Post Office

    If you are collecting your dependants’ BRPs at the Post Office you will need to present all their passports and visa decision letters upon collection.

    You must be nominated to collect a child’s (under 18 years old) BRP, even if you’re the child’s parent. The Home Office will tell you within 5 working days if you’re approved to collect the child’s BRP. You do not need to be nominated if you’re also collecting your own BRP and you are named on your child’s vignette sticker.

  • I have lost my visa decision letter, and I don’t know which Post Office to collect my BRP from

    The majority of Queen’s University students will have selected to collect their BRP from the Bridge Street, Belfast City Post Office, as this is the closest option for any Belfast postcode entered during the visa application process.

    If you wish to receive confirmation of which Post Office you selected, you should complete the following online form.

  • I have had a problem collecting my BRP

    If you have experienced a problem collecting your BRP, for example;

    • You have lost your passport or travel document, or could not prove your identity
    • Your BRP was not there (and it is after the estimated collection date on your visa decision letter)
    • Your vignette (sticker) in your passport is not linked to your family
    • Someone attempted to collect your BRP on your behalf, but were unable to
    • You are under 18 and attempted collection without being accompanied by a responsible adult

    You should complete the following online form. The Home Office will email you within 5 working days to tell you what to do next. It’ll take longer if you do not give an email address.

  • I cannot collect my BRP from the Post Office, what should I do?

    You can nominate someone else to collect your BRP if you have a serious illness or disability that prevents you from collecting it.

    The person you nominate must have one of the following:

    • Passport
    • EU national identity card
    • BRP

    You can get someone to make the nomination for you, for example a legal representative, charity, employer, college or university.

    Please contact us at isscompliance@qub.ac.uk if this applies to you.

    You’ll be told within 5 working days if the person you nominate is approved to collect your BRP.

    If you change your mind, you can still collect your BRP yourself or you can nominate a different person. You do not need to cancel the original nomination.

  • What do I do if my passport or BRP has been lost or stolen?

    If you lose your passport and/or BRP card while you are travelling either inside the UK or outside the UK, the following information should help you identify the next steps that you need to take.

  • I have received my BRP and it has an error, what do I do?

    Entry Clearance BRP Error

    Any errors should be reported as soon as possible, please contact us at isscompliance@qub.ac.uk and we will assist you in reporting the error.

    Any corrected BRP will be posted to your home address in the UK, therefore as soon as you receive your BRP, please email us a clear copy of the front and back of it to isscompliance@qub.ac.uk.

    Leave to Remain BRP Error

    If your Leave to Remain BRP has an error, please contact us immediately at isscompliance@qub.ac.uk. It is very important to let us know immediately as some errors e.g. mistakes in the length or conditions of your visa require an administrative review. This must be applied for within 14 days of getting the decision. The Immigration Support Service team will assist you in making any administrative review application required.

    Any corrected BRP will be posted to your home address in the UK, therefore as soon as you receive your BRP, please email us a clear copy of the front and back of it to isscompliance@qub.ac.uk.

    If your BRP expires on 31 December 2024

    If your BRP expires on 31 December 2024, but you have leave to stay for longer, you do not need to do anything and your immigration status will not be affected. UKVI will update their information on how you can update your BRP in early 2024.