Lost BRP want to travel and return

[Declan1234]

Hi all

I have recently lost my BRP card as it was in my wallet and that was lost , I have reported it lost and stolen and they have de-activated it , I am still waiting to see if it will be found or pop up somewhere so that I don’t have to pay for another replacement. However I am very worried and concerned because it may take up to 8 weeks to get the replacement and I have started the application processes but have no paid yet as I’m confused on what the best route is to take. I’m due to travel on the 6th of December which isn’t enough time to get the replacement and due back to the U.K. early January. Is it possible for me to get the replacement BRP posted to my home country once delivered to a relative when I will not be in the U.K. at the time and then return to the U.K. with it or should I apply for a single entry visa that I can use once to get back into the U.K. and then apply for a replacement BRP. Just very unsure about how to go about it all

[Zerubbabel]

If you apply for a visitor visa, this will destroy whatever residence status you may have in the UK.

You may apply for replacement and leave in the hope that:

- The Home Office will send a replacement
- A relative will get it
- It will reach you to your holiday destination

However prepare for an extended holiday if the Home Office takes 6 months to send a replacement

[sah10406]

Your deadline for applying for a replacement BRP is 3 months after losing it.

If after your travel you will be back in the UK within that 3 month deadline, you can apply in your home country for a single-use BRP visa to return to the UK. Follow the instructions at

https://www.ukcisa.org.uk/Information-- ... layer-6156 > BRP lost/stolen/damaged outside the UK.

Once you are back in the UK, you can apply for the BRP replacement.

[Declan1234]

Thank you for you’re reply
I have applied for a replacement and still want to go ahead with my travels, after I’ve enrolled with my biometrics at my appointment will it not be possible for me to travel home with supporting information and the BRP which wasn’t found or not and once I get home I apply for for the single entry BRP and by the time I get back my replacement will have arrived hopefully. This will all be within the 3month deadline

[Zerubbabel]

Nobody can prevent you from leaving the UK if you so desire.

However, when you try to come back, I don't know any airline that would let you in with an invitation to a biometric enrollment or similar documents.

You will be then in the situation of either you get hold of your card or you won't come back. If you must come back to the UK by a certain date for a job, a treatment or any other obligation, you have to weight the consequences of missing these against the reasons of your trip.

The decision is yours really but you have to consider that you might never come back.

[Declan1234]

But even if I get a single entry return ? Surely that will get back me into the country

[sah10406]

But even if I get a single entry return ? Surely that will get back me into the country

Yes, that's what it's for. The single-use BRP visa is for someone who needs to re-enter the UK, but whose original BRP is lost or stolen, as advised in the UKCISA link I posted previously.

The single entry BRP seems to be the least stressful option for you, rather than applying for a replacement before you travel. That would rely on (a) the Home Office processing it in enough time to have it delivered to a friend in the UK while you are away, and (b) enough time for your friend to courier it to you overseas before you return to the UK. Those logistics seem liable to go wrong somewhere.

[Declan1234]

So I shouldn’t withdraw the application I have already Karen for my replacement BRP as I have already applied for one and travel home and apply for a single entry whilst overseas then have to come back and repeat the whole process again

[sah10406]

So I shouldn’t withdraw the application I have already Karen for my replacement BRP as I have already applied for one and travel home and apply for a single entry whilst overseas then have to come back and repeat the whole process again

It's up to you. You can let the application continue and hope that the new BRP gets to you in time for your return to the UK, as previously advised, or you can withdraw the replacement application and apply for the single use BRP instead.

I would recommend getting advice on your options from the international student adviser at your university.