What changed
For years a BRP card was how people proved their right to live, work or rent in the UK. GOV.UK now says: “All BRPs have now expired and have been replaced by eVisas.” An eVisa is a digital record of identity and immigration status, viewed in a UKVI account. Employers and landlords check it with a share code, not by looking at a card.
Why sellers still advertise permits
Adverts for “BRP cards”, “residence permits” and “work permits” keep circulating, aimed at people who are anxious about status. They offer a card by post for a fee. Three things can happen: the money disappears, a forged card arrives that cannot be matched to any record, or the seller keeps the passport scans and photos you sent and uses them elsewhere.
A card, real or fake, is not what a modern check looks at. A landlord or employer who runs the official check will find your status in the Home Office record or will find nothing at all.
What you can do instead
- Sign in to the GOV.UK service to view and prove your immigration status. GOV.UK lists the ways in, including a passport, a national identity card, a biometric residence card or a UKVI customer number. It also lists an expired BRP for some uses; read the current conditions on the GOV.UK BRP page.
- Generate a share code, which lasts 90 days. See eVisas and share codes.
- If your details are wrong in your account, contact UKVI through GOV.UK. Do not pay anyone to “fix” a record.
The law
Using or possessing a document you know or believe to be false is an offence under section 26(1)(d) of the Immigration Act 1971, and seeking leave by deception falls under section 24A. Sources and penalties are on UK law on fake documents; for the agent side of the scam, see fake visa agents.
Frequently asked questions
Do BRP cards still exist?
GOV.UK says all BRPs have now expired and have been replaced by eVisas, the digital record held by the Home Office.
How do I prove my status without a card?
Use the GOV.UK service to view and prove your immigration status and create a share code. The code lasts 90 days.
Can I buy a residence permit?
No. Status is granted by the Home Office. An advert selling a permit is a scam or a forgery.