Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for what reason Biometric Residence Permits cards expire prior to a holder's right to remain in the UK ends; and what assessment she has made of potential additional administrative costs relating to cards expiring in that way.

The maximum validity period of a biometric residence permit (BRP) is 10 years, even if the status holder has indefinite leave. This is to ensure the holder updates their facial image at least once every 10 years, in line with UK passports and UK photo driving licences.

Our aim is to fully transition to eVisas by the end of 2024 and for this reason we are no longer issuing BRPs with an expiry date after 2024, even when the person’s permission will expire after that date.

Once we cease issuing BRPs and existing ones have expired and been removed from circulation, there will be no further BRPs issued, and they will have no extant use. Therefore, the administrative costs associated with issuing and maintaining BRP cards will reduce over time.