This information is for students who have applied for a Student visa from overseas for a course of 6 months or more.
Student visas will no longer be issued as a vignette (sticker) in your passport. Instead you will be issued with a 30 or 90 day entry permit in your passport which will enable you to enter the UK. In addition, you will receive a Home Office decision letter outlining the conditions of your immigration leave and your visa expiry date. This letter would have been sent to the address and email you included on your visa application. Please bring this letter and email to the UK and keep it in a safe place throughout your studies here in the UK.
Your visa will be issued in the form of a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP). The BRP is similar in size to a credit card with a chip and includes your photo, immigration status and any conditions of your leave in the UK.
Prove your status without a BRP
Delivery to The University
We recommend you choose this option.
- We gave you an Alternative Collection Location code (ACL) 2HE462 along with your CAS.
- Enter the code in the Alternative Location box as you apply for your visa online, click Find and when our address appears, click Confirm
- Your BRP will be delivered to the University around the time you travel to the UK. There is no guarantee it will arrive before you do.
- We will email you when your BRP is available for collection.
Even if you have received notification from the courier TNT that your BRP has been delivered to the University that doesn’t mean you can collect it straight away. It takes time to process a BRP before we can make it available for collection.
When your BRP card is ready you will be sent an email advising you how to collect it. Please do not email asking if your BRP is ready to collect as this only slows down the processing.
Delivery to a local Post Office
Alternatively, if you do not enter our ACL code, your BRP will be delivered to a local Post Office.
The nearest local Post Office for BRP collection is in Hatfield town centre.
36 Town Centre, Hatfield, AL10 0LD
You must make your own arrangements to collect your BRP from the Post Office.
What to bring with you
When you collect your BRP, you will need to show:
- Your original Passport (not a copy)
- The Home Office decision letter you received telling you your visa application was successful
You may be asked for your UK address and phone number so make sure you know what these are.
Change the delivery location
Once you have completed your online visa application you will not be able to change the delivery location from The University to the local Post Office or from the local Post Office to The University.
If your BRP is to be delivered to a Post Office, you may be able to arrange for it to be transferred to a Post Office branch closer to where you live but the Post Office will charge you for this service.
Collect your BRP
Students arriving in January 2023 to start a new course (collection from the University)
If you have requested to collect your BRP from the University, you do not need to present it at your registration booking slot.
The University will email you to advise you on how to collect your BRP. Do not book an appointment unless instructed to do so.
If your BRP has arrived and has been processed prior to your arrival, then it will be available when you attend your course registration session. You must make sure you bring your passport and Home Office decision letter with you otherwise your registration could be delayed.
If your BRP arrives after you have registered, then you will need to make an appointment to collect it. Instructions on how to book an appointment will be sent to you via email once your BRP is ready to collect.
Students arriving in January to start a new course (collection from the Post Office)
You must make your own arrangements to collect your BRP from the Post Office.
You should collect your BRP before you register. If you are unable to do this then please ensure that you bring your passport and Home Office decision letter with you when you register otherwise your registration could be delayed.
Existing Students
If you have requested to collect your BRP from the University then you will be sent an email with instructions on how to book an appointment to collect it.
Dependants
If you have dependants accompanying you and have chosen to collect their BRPs from the university, please complete this form (one submission per dependant). When we have received their BRP, we will contact you with details on when and how you may collect it.
You (as the student) are responsible for collecting your dependants BRP, though they may accompany you if they wish. You must bring their original passport (not a copy) and their Home Office decision letter in order for the document to be issued.
Dependant BRPs can arrive at different times to the main applicant.
Under 18
If you are under 18 and collecting your BRP from the Post Office then someone over the age of 18 must come with you when you collect your card. This must be either:
- Your parent who is also collecting a BRP at the same time; or
- Your legal guardian who is also collecting a BRP at the same time; or
- A responsible adult. You must register a responsible adult first.
If you have asked for your BRP to be delivered to the University then you will be able to collect it on your own.
Problem with your BRP
If there is a mistake on your 30 or 90 day entry permit you should contact the Visa Application Centre before you travel to the UK.
If there is a problem collecting your BRP or you notice an error on your BRP card, contact Student Immigration Team (Advice) using the details below.
Lost or stolen BRP
If your BRP card is lost or stolen you must report the loss or theft to the Police and obtain a crime reference number. You will then need to report this to the Home Office so it can be cancelled and apply for a replacement BRP if you have more than 3 months left on your visa. Please see our Lost or stolen BRP card page for more information.
Biometric Residence Permit FAQs