The Home Office has quietly granted migrants extra breathing space in the transition to fully-digital immigration status. An update confirmed on 16 June 2026 extends the period during which holders of expired Biometric Residence Permits (BRPs) and Biometric Residence Cards (BRCs) can keep using those documents to access most online immigration services. BRP holders may now continue to rely on an out-of-date card until 31 December 2026, while BRC holders covered by the EU Settlement Scheme have had their grace period stretched to 31 December 2030. The previous deadline would have rendered both cards unusable for e-Visa interactions by the end of June, yet persistent technical glitches and capacity constraints inside the new UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) platform have forced officials to back-track. The extension does not apply to right-to-work or right-to-rent checks, where employers and landlords must already use a migrant’s online share code. Immigration advisers warn HR teams to update internal guidance immediately: presenting an expired card to evidence status at work, tenancy or benefits interviews will still trigger compliance issues. For global-mobility managers the announcement removes an urgent administrative cliff-edge that threatened to leave assignees without proof of lawful stay while their digital records were finalised. Companies should nevertheless accelerate creation of UKVI accounts for all sponsored employees, ensure passport data are up-to-date and schedule internal audits well ahead of the revised deadlines so there is no repeat scramble in 2027.
Source: The Economic Times
