BRPs are changing face
Biometric Residence Permits (BRPs) are now set to display the holder’s National Insurance number.
About the size of a credit card, BRPs have been issued to visa applicants applying in the UK since their introduction in 2012. The Home Office now intends that BRPs will eventually completely replace the traditional in-passport visa stamps as migrants’ sole evidence of their immigration status.
The appearance of BRPs, however, is already changing. As of last month, those applying for leave under the following categories will now have their National Insurance (NI) number included on their BRP:
- Tier 2 (General);
- Tier 2 (Sportsperson); and
- Tier 2 (Minister of Religion).
Another change will be that any applicants applying for leave to remain in the UK will no longer be told whether or not they need to register with the police via their BRP. They will instead be informed separately via the visa approval letter which they will need to take with them if registering with the police.
We hope that the addition of a migrant’s NI number on their BRP will aid employers in accessing employee tax and insurance details.
If you have any questions about these recent changes, please do not hesitate to contact Smith Stone Walters.
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