Lost passports, visas and BRPs

Please follow these steps in the event that you lose your passport, visa or BRP.

In UK: lost/stolen passport

Step 1: Inform the police

Inform the police that your passport has been lost/stolen. They will give you a crime reference number and/or a police report. Make sure you store this somewhere safe as you will usually need this for your replacement passport application.

Step 2: Contact your country’s embassy in the UK

Explain what has happened and to ask how to replace your passport. You may be required to take the application to the embassy to submit it in person (please note that some embassies are in London).  It is important that you apply to replace your passport immediately as the process can take several weeks. Please refer to your embassy for guidance on their specific procedures and on how long it may take.

Step 3: Update the university and UKVI

All students are required to inform the Immigration Compliance team at the university of any change in their passport details. Therefore, you must upload a copy of your new passport ID details page using the Helpdesk form called Visa/Passport Updates once you receive it.

You must also inform UKVI that you have received a new passport by providing your new passport details to them using the Migrant Change of Circumstances form if you have a BRP, or a visa sticker for the full length of your visa.  Or, update your passport details on your online UKVI account if you hold a digital visa status.

In UK: lost/stolen BRP or visa sticker for full length of leave

Lost BRP

Step 1: Inform the police

Contact the police to inform them that your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) has been lost/stolen. They will give you a crime reference number and/or a police report. Make sure you store this somewhere safe as you will need this for your replacement BRP application.

 

Step 2: Report loss/theft to UKVI & replace your BRP card

If your lost or stolen BRP was valid for 3 months or more, you should report the BRP as lost/stolen to UKVI then use the online application form to apply for a replacement BRP card. You must do this within 3 months of the theft or loss of your BRP, otherwise you may have to pay a financial penalty of up to £1,000 or UKVI may shorten your permission to stay.  

If your lost or stolen BRP was valid for less than 3 months, please follow the guidance at the UKVI website to find out if you need to apply for a replacement or just report the loss/theft of your BRP, depending on your circumstances.

Enter the address you live at in the UK on the application form.  The new BRP will be sent to you at your UK address via Royal Mail (you should not write a university address).

You may wish to use a priority visa application service if offered the opportunity to do so on screen when you apply to get the replacement BRP quicker.

Submit any documents UKVI ask for (e.g. proof of UK address and consent document):

  • Proof of UK address - this could be a copy of your tenancy agreement, or a letter form the GP you have registered with in Glasgow that states your address)
  • Consent document: Complete Part One with your details

Remember to also give your biometric details at a UKVCAS centre as part of your BRP replacement application.

 

Step 3: Update the university

All students are required to inform the Immigration Compliance team at the university of any change in their visa details. Therefore, you must upload a copy of your new BRP using the Helpdesk form called Visa/Passport Updates once you receive it.

 

Lost visa sticker in passport (for full length of leave)

Step 1: Inform the police

Contact the police to inform them that your passport containing your visa has been lost/stolen. They will give you a crime reference number and/or a police report. Make sure you store this somewhere safe as you will need this for your replacement passport and visa application.

Step 2: Contact your country’s embassy in the UK (passport)

Explain what has happened and to ask how to replace your passport. You may be required to take the application to the embassy to submit it in person (please note that some embassies are in London).  It is important that you apply to replace your passport immediately as the process can take several weeks. Please refer to your embassy for guidance on their specific procedures and on how long it may take.

 

Step 3: Replace your visa sticker (for full length of leave)

You will need to apply to have your visa replaced once you have a new passport where your visa sticker was for your full length of leave.  You will receive a BRP for your visa replacement. 

Apply for transfer of conditions, using the online form and see the UKVI information on replacing your visa sticker with a BRP. You will be required to provide your biometrics (fingerprints and photograph) as part of this application.  

Enter the address you live at in the UK on the application form.  The new BRP will be sent to you at your UK address via Royal Mail (you should not write a university address).

If there are 8 weeks or less left on your lost/stolen visa, please contact us at International Student Support for further advice.

 

Step 4: Update the university and UKVI

All students are required to inform the Immigration Compliance team at the university of any change in their visa or passport details. Therefore, you must upload a copy of your new passport and new visa / BRP using the Helpdesk form called Visa/Passport Updates once you receive it.

You must also inform UKVI that you have received a new passport by providing your new passport details to them using the Migrant Change of Circumstances form if you have a BRP, or a visa sticker for the full length of your visa.  Or, update your passport details on your online UKVI account if you hold a digital visa status. 

Outside UK: lost/stolen passport

Step 1: Inform the local police

You should contact the police in the area where your passport was lost/stolen to inform them that your passport has been lost/stolen. They should give you a crime reference number and/or a police report. Make sure you store these somewhere safe as you will need them.

Step 2Contact your country’s embassy

Explain what has happened and to ask how to replace your passport. You must not try to travel with a photocopy of your passport. The Border Force Officers will not permit you entry to the UK without an original passport.

Step 3: Update the university and UKVI

All students are required to inform the Immigration Compliance team at the university of any change in their passport details. Therefore, you must upload a copy of your new passport ID details page using the Helpdesk form called Visa/Passport Updates once you receive it.

You must also inform UKVI that you have received a new passport by providing your new passport details to them using the Migrant Change of Circumstances form if you have a BRP, or a visa sticker for the full length of your visa.  Or, update your passport details on your online UKVI account if you hold a digital visa status.

Outside UK: lost/stolen BRP or visa sticker (for full visa)

Lost BRP

Step 1: Inform the local police

You should contact the police in the area you are staying to inform them that your BRP has been lost/stolen. They should give you a crime reference number and/or a police report – make sure you store these somewhere safe as you will need them.

Step 2: Inform UKVI

You must also report the loss or theft of a BRP to UK Visas & Immigration soon as possible. You should do this by entering the details online using the UKVI webpage to report a lost or stolen BRP

Step 3: Inform your School Office / Graduate School at UoG:

Let your School Office / Graduate School know what has happened and when you expect you will be able to return to the UK to resume your studies.  It is important that Student Visa holders continue to meet the attendance and engagement requirements for your course at UoG, and avoid any absences that would result in your School Office or Graduate School reporting the end of sponsorship to the Immigration Compliance Team (which would affect your Student Visa sponsorship). 
 
Step 4: Apply for a temporary single-entry visa  

You must apply for a temporary single-entry visa after you have reported your BRP as lost/stolen to UKVI.  This will be a sticker placed in your passport.  You will need to apply at the local Visa Application Centre in the country which you are in.

For 'category of application', select 'A replacement biometric residence permit (BRP) visa'.

You do not need to provide a CAS for this application but a providing a Certifying Letter confirming that you are still studying would be helpful. 

To avoid missing or taking a prolonged absence from studies that could affect your Student Visa sponsorship, you should consider using a priority visa application service where available to receive the visa sticker as soon as possible.

You must not try to travel with a photocopy of your BRP. The Border Force Officers will not permit you entry to the UK without an original visa.

Step 5: Once you have returned to the UK, apply to replace your BRP

You must apply to replace your BRP card. The UKVI website states that you must apply for a replacement BRP within 3 months of reporting it lost or stolen (unless you have a good reason, for example you were unable to return to the UK in that time).

Step 6: Update the University

All students are required to inform the Immigration Compliance team at the university of any change in their visa details. Therefore, you must upload a copy of your new visa / BRP using the Helpdesk form called Visa/Passport Updates once you receive it. 

 

 

Lost visa sticker in passport (visa sticker for full length of leave)

Step 1: Inform the local police

You should contact the police in the area you are staying to inform them that your visa sticker in your passport has been lost/stolen. They should give you a crime reference number and/or a police report. Make sure you store these somewhere safe as you will need them.

Step 2: Contact your country’s embassy (passport)

Explain what has happened and to ask how to replace your passport. They can advise if you can be issued a new passport or an emergency travel document - the embassy can advise how long it will take to apply.  It is important that you apply to replace your passport as soon as possible as the process can take several weeks.  If you are issued with an emergency travel document and can enter the UK on this, you also need to apply for a passport as soon as possible once back in the UK.

Step 3: Inform your School Office / Graduate School at UoG:

Let your School Office / Graduate School know what has happened and when you expect you will be able to return to the UK to resume your studies.  It is important that Student Visa holders continue to meet the attendance and engagement requirements for your course at UoG, and avoid any absences that would result in your School Office or Graduate School reporting the end of sponsorship to the Immigration Compliance Team (which would affect your Student Visa sponsorship). 

Step 4: Apply for a replacement visa sticker 

Once you have the new passport, follow the instructions here to apply for a replacement visa sticker to return to the UK

At 'Confirm your visa type', select 'BRP Vignette transfer'.  At 'Category of application', select 'To transfer or replace your visa (vignette)'

To avoid missing or taking a prolonged absence from studies that could affect your Student Visa sponsorship, you should consider using a priority visa application service where available to receive the new visa sticker as soon as possible.

Prepare a Certifying Letter confirming that you are still a registered student at UoG for the application. 

Step 5: Update the University and UKVI

All students are required to inform the Immigration Compliance team at the university of any change in their passport and visa details. Therefore, you must upload a copy of your new passport and new visa / BRP using the Helpdesk form called Visa/Passport Updates once you receive it. 

You must also inform UKVI that you have received a new passport by providing your new passport details to them using the Migrant Change of Circumstances form if you have a visa sticker for the full length of your visa.  Or, update your passport details on your online UKVI account if you hold a digital visa status.