Tier 2 Sponsorship
WORKING IN THE UK: ENROLLING YOUR TIER 2 BIOMETRICS (IN THE UK)
This section explains what biometric information is, and how you can enrol your biometric information when applying for Tier 2 (General) sponsorship from inside the UK.
General - As part of your application under UKVI Tier 2 (General), you must obtain a biometric residence permit. Your fingerprints and facial image (known as 'biometric information') will be stored on this permit, so you must enrol this information with us. Your biometric UK residence permit will be evidence of your permission to stay in the UK, and will show any conditions of your stay. You will be able to use it to confirm your identity and your right to study and work here, and to access public services.
More information:
What is biometric information?
Your biometric information (sometimes called 'biometrics') is the set of unique physical characteristics that can be used to identify you. When you apply for permission for a visa or permission to remain in the UK, we will scan your fingers and thumbs (10 digits) and photograph your face digitally.
What do we do with your biometric information?
Your biometric information will be stored on a central government database in the UK, and will be checked against UK government records. It will be handled in line with the UK's strict data protection laws.
How do you enrol your biometric information and apply for a biometric residence permit in the UK?
If you make your application to extend your stay in the UK by post or online, we will send you a biometric notification letter after we have received your application. You should then enrol your biometric information at one of the post offices offering this service across the UK. If you make your application in person at one of our public enquiry offices or using our super premium service, you will enrol your biometric information on the same day.
What happens when you enrol your biometric information?
Enrolling your biometric information is a quick and clean process. We photograph your face digitally, then you put your fingers on a glass screen to be scanned. There is no ink or mess. The process takes less than 5 minutes. We are aware of the need to protect applicants' dignity, privacy and modesty. There will be special arrangements for applicants where needed. Children aged under 6 years old do not need to provide their fingerprints. Children aged under 16 years old must be accompanied by a 'responsible adult' to reassure them and ensure that they understand the process. A responsible adult is their parent or guardian, or another person aged 18 years or over who takes responsibility for the child.
What should you do if you have a medical or physical condition that may require special arrangements?
If you (or any dependants who are applying with you) have a medical or physical condition which may require special arrangements to be made for enrolling your biometric information, you must enclose documentary evidence of the condition when you apply to extend your stay. Appropriate documentary evidence would be a letter from a treating clinician (such as a practising doctor registered with the General Medical Council). This should give details of your condition, and of any arrangements that may be necessary.
What should you do if you have no fingers or hands?
If you are physically unable to provide fingerprints, we will photograph your face digitally and make a record on our database that you cannot provide fingerprints. You will not be able to use the biometric enrolment service at a post office branch. You must inform us of the condition when you apply to extend your stay so that arrangements to capture your biometrics can be made. You must follow the instructions in the biometric notification letter which will be sent to you once we have received your application to extend your stay.
Who cannot enrol at a post office branch?
Anyone aged 6 or over who is unable to provide a minimum of 5 fingerprints (excluding little fingers) may be unable to enrol at a post office branch. We will provide you with instructions on how to proceed in your biometric notification letter (this will be sent to you once we have received your application to extend your stay). Applicants aged under 6 are only required to provide a digital photograph and do not need to provide fingerprints.
When will you get your UK biometric residence permit?
If you apply by post, we will post your permit to you by secure delivery, separately from the decision about your application and the return of your documents. If you apply at a public enquiry office, we will post your permit to you by secure delivery after your appointment. Permits cannot be issued on the same day as your appointment. We advise you not to book any non-urgent travel before you have received your permit.
What must you do when you receive your UK biometric residence permit?
When you receive your permit, we advise you to make a photocopy of the front and back of it, in case it is lost or stolen. If you want to make another application in the future, you will need to send your UK permit to the UK Border Agency, so you may want to retain a copy for your records. You must check your permit carefully when you receive it, to ensure that all the details on it are correct. If you find a mistake, you must email us within 10 working days of the date when you received the permit, otherwise you may be charged for a replacement and will need to apply again. In your email you should state: your full name; your date of birth; your nationality; your passport number; your biometric residence permit reference number; your case reference number; a contact telephone number; and what exactly is wrong with the permit. If you do not provide all this information, there may be a delay in answering your query. You can also send this information by post.
What should you do if your biometric residence permit is not delivered?
If you have not received your UK residence permit 10 working days after the date on your letter from us extending your permission to stay in the UK, you should email us. In your email you should state: your full name; your date of birth; your nationality; your passport number; your case reference number; the delivery address for the permit; and a contact telephone number. If you do not provide all this information, there may be a delay in answering your query. You can also send this information by post. You cannot ask about undelivered permits in person at our public enquiry offices or biometric enrolment centres.
Courier deliveries:
Your biometric residence permit will be securely delivered by courier to the address you have provided to us. When it is delivered, you must sign for it and show identification such as your passport or driving licence. If you are not present when the permit is delivered, the courier will leave a calling card containing contact details so you can rearrange delivery. You must contact the courier as soon as possible. If you do not rearrange delivery, the courier will send you a reminder letter. If you still do not rearrange delivery of your permit, the courier will attempt a second delivery. If you are still not present and the courier cannot deliver your permit to you, the courier will notify us of the failed delivery. We will then send a reminder letter to you advising you to contact the courier as soon as possible to rearrange delivery. We will hold your UK permit until you make contact to request delivery, or until it reaches its expiry date. If you do not contact us and your UK permit reaches its expiry date, it will be cancelled and destroyed. You will then have no permission to stay in the UK, and we will send another letter informing you that, if you intend to remain in the UK, you must make a new application for permission to stay and provide your biometric information.
How should you use your biometric UK residence permit? Your biometric residence permit is evidence of your permission to stay in the UK, and shows the conditions of your stay. It enables you to confirm your identity and your right to study and/or work here, and to access public services. You must show the permit to your employer or approved education provider before you start to work or study. You must take your permit with you if you go abroad while you have permission to stay in the UK. You may need to show the permit to a UK immigration officer at the border when you leave the UK. You will also need to show it as well as your valid national passport or travel document before you begin your return journey, and again when you re-enter the UK. The permit proves that you are allowed to return to the UK, but it cannot be used instead of a passport or travel document.
What should you do if your UK biometric residence permit is lost or stolen?
If your biometric residence permit is lost or stolen, inside or outside the UK, you must report the loss or theft to us as soon as possible by email stating: your full name; your date of birth; your nationality; your passport number; your biometric residence permit reference number; your case reference number; your contact details; and when, where and how the permit was lost or stolen. If you do not provide all this information, there may be a delay in answering your query. You must also report the loss or theft to the police, and get a police report and crime reference number, as soon as possible.
If your biometric residence permit is lost or stolen when you are in the UK, you must apply for another permit within 3 months of reporting the loss or theft of your original permit, using form BRP(RC). If your permit is lost or stolen when you are outside the UK, you must apply for a Replacement BRP UK visa in order to re-enter the UK. You must then apply for a new biometric residence permit within 1 month of re-entering the UK, using form BRP(RC). If you do not apply for a replacement permit, you may have to pay a financial penalty of up to £1,000, or we may shorten your permission to stay.
How can you change your personal details on your biometric UK residence permit?
You must tell us as soon as you can if: you change your name (for example, because of marriage or by deed poll); you change your gender, legally or permanently; you change your nationality; or your facial appearance changes significantly. If you change any personal details listed above or any details shown on your biometric residence permit, you must apply for a new permit within 3 months using UKVI application form BRP(RC). If you do not do this, you may have to pay a financial penalty of up to £1,000 or we may shorten your permission to stay.
What should you do if you change your address, your circumstances or your education provider?
If you change your address before you have received your biometric UK residence permit, you must tell us immediately by telephone. If you change your address at any time after you have received your biometric residence permit, and you think you are likely to be at the new address for at least 6 months, you should tell us by sending a fax or by post. You must tell us immediately by telephone if: you change your circumstances so you no longer qualify to stay under the UK Immigration Rules that were in place when we gave you permission to stay in the UK; or you are a student and you change your course and/or education provider (sponsor).
What should you do if the information on your biometric residence permit for the UK is incorrect, someone has been using your permit, or it is damaged?
You must tell us immediately by post or email if you know or suspect that: the information held on your UK permit is untrue, misleading or incomplete; someone has used your permit with or without your permission; or your permit has been damaged or tampered with. In your email you should state: your full name; your date of birth; your nationality; your passport number; your biometric residence permit reference number; your case reference number; a contact telephone number; and what exactly has happened to the permit. If you do not provide all this information, there may be a delay in answering your query.