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Your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP)

Durham City Centre

Collect your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) 

If you applied for a visa before travelling to the UK and are expecting to collect a BRP* when you arrive, you’ll have chosen to collect your BRP either at the University or the Post Office nearest to it. Your visa decision letter will also confirm where and when to collect your BRP if this applies to you.

If you applied in the UK and are expecting to receive a BRP, you’ll have chosen to have your BRP delivered either to your UK home address or a different correspondence address.

Collecting your BRP at the University 

If you have chosen to collect your BRP from the University’s Student Immigration Service, you will be emailed when your BRP is ready for collection and instructions how to do so. 

Please bring the following with you to the appointment:

  • your passport
  • student ID number (see your offer letter or CAS)

Your BRP will remain available to collect at the Student Immigration Service until you arrive.

 Please note: 

  • You should check your visa application for confirmation of where to collect your BRP if you are not sure
  • It could take up to 3 weeks (or longer) from the date you received your UK Entry visa for your BRP to be delivered to the University ready for collection.

Collecting your BRP from the Post Office 

If you chose to collect your BRP from the Post Office, it’ll only be available at the Post Office you selected when you submitted your visa application. This is normally Durham Post Office in the centre of Durham (within WHSmith, Market Square, Durham, DH1 3NJ), a ten-minute walk from the University.

You can collect it from the Post Office Monday - Friday, between 9.00 am & 4.30 pm only. 

You should collect it within 10 days of arrival in the UK or before your UK Entry visa expires, whichever is later. Your BRP will only be held for this period.  

If you have chosen a different Post Office, you can collect it from there or go to Durham Post Office and ask them to re-direct it to them. You’ll need to take your passport and visa decision letter and pay a fee. They will then arrange for your BRP to be sent to Durham Post Office within 10 working days.

It’s not possible to have it re-directed to the University. 

Once you’ve collected your BRP, you can complete the Right to Study Check online.

Nominating someone to collect your BRP on your behalf 

If you’re unable to collect your BRP from the Post Office yourself (for example you are under 18 or have a disability which prevents you from collecting it) you can nominate someone to collect your BRP on your behalf. This must be confirmed before they collect your BRP for you.  

*eVisa 

If you've been granted an eVisa you will have received an email from UKVI with details of your immigration permission and you will not receive a BRP or any physical documentation. What is an eVisa?

 

Durham University makes every effort to ensure that the information published on this page is accurate. However, the University cannot guarantee the information may not be altered owing to circumstances beyond the University’s reasonable control. Such circumstances include (but are not limited to) change in Government policy, or change of law. Any changes will be incorporated into the University’s website as early as possible.