Replacing a lost visa outside the UK

Step 1 - Report it

Report it to the Home Office using their online form.

Once you have reported your visa as lost or stolen, it will be cancelled. You cannot undo this cancellation, even if you find your visa. You should make sure you have looked for your visa before you report it to the Home Office.

If you have lost your passport, you must obtain a new passport before you apply for a single-entry visa. You will need to contact your local embassy to get an emergency passport, or a new passport issued before you travel.

You must not try to travel with a photocopy of your passport and/or BRP. The Border Force officers can refuse entry to the UK without an original passport and/or BRP.

Step 2 - Contact us

If you need help with the process, you can contact us. We can explain how to obtain a temporary replacement visa to help you travel back to the UK. 

Step 3 - Apply for a single-entry visa overseas

You cannot apply for a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) Replacement overseas, you must apply for a single-entry visa and then apply for a replacement BRP card once you arrive back the UK.

Obtaining a single-entry visa normally takes between 2-3 weeks, depending on the service you choose.

It is important to check whether there are visa centres open in the country that you are in, that offer a service to apply for single entry visa. Check to see where your nearest visa centre is.

Visit the Home Office website to apply for a temporary (single) entry visa, which is also known as a ‘replacement BRP visa’.

When making your application, for 'category of application', select 'A replacement biometric residence permit (BRP) visa'.

You should not travel to the UK until you have obtained a single-entry visa.

Step 4 - Apply for a replacement BRP once in the UK

Your single-entry visa will allow you to travel to the UK, but when you arrive, you will then need to apply for a replacement Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) within one month of your return.

Once you are back in the UK, please follow steps 3 and 4 of 'visa lost inside the UK' instructions to apply for a replacement BRP.