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Lost / Stolen Passport and Visa

If your passport and / or visa has been lost or stolen, you will need to obtain a replacement of the relevant document(s). The procedure for obtaining the replacement document depends on where you are at the time that the relevant document(s) are lost / stolen, and whether your UK visa was in a form of a vignette (i.e. sticker inside your passport) or a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) card. The following information should help you identify what you need to do in the event of a lost or stolen passport and / or visa.


Lost / Stolen inside the UK

  • Passport

You need to report this to the police and apply for a replacement passport. Contact your country's Embassy or High Commission in the country where you are now for information on how to do this. You may need to wait some time before you have your new passport.

  • Visa vignette (i.e. visa sticker inside your passport)
    You will need to apply for a replacement visa to be placed in your passport. Once you have obtained your passport, you will need to complete the Transfer of Conditions (TOC) form and apply for the replacement visa.
  • Visa BRP (visa on a credit card sized biometric card)

You must notify the UKBA in the first instance by emailing BRPLost@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk. You will then need to apply for a replacement BRP by completing the BRP(RC) form, within 3 months of that notification. This costs £38.

Lost / Stolen outside the UK (e.g. your home country / a third country)

  • Passport

You need to report this to the police and apply for a replacement passport. Contact your country's Embassy or High Commission in the country where you are now for information on how to do this. You may need to wait some time before you have your new passport.

  • Visa vignette (i.e. visa sticker inside your passport)
    You will need to make a normal Tier 4 application in order to replace it. You must pay the full application fee of £298. No CAS is required.
    If you are using the online form, you will need to select the following options in the online form: Type of visa: Study > Purpose of visa: PBS Tier 4 student > Type of application: Tier 4 (General) student.
  • Visa BRP (visa on a credit card sized biometric card)

You must notify the UKBA in the first instance by emailing BRPLost@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk . A BRP card cannot be issued from outside the UK. You must apply for a single entry visa that you can use once to re-enter the UK. This costs £72. When you return to the UK, you need to apply for a new full BRP within one month. This application costs £38.
If you are using the online form, you will need to select the following options in the online form: Type of visa: Other > Purpose of visa: Other > Type of application: Replacement BRP

Returning to your home country for a replacement visa

If you had your passport and / or visa stolen outside the UK, as soon as you have obtained an emergency travel document from your country's Embassy, you always have the option of returning to your home country. You will then need to follow the instructions above, and apply for a replacement visa. Please ensure that you inform your School or the Visa Team if you are planning to return to your home country to obtain the replacement visa. This may be a good option if you have permission to be on holiday from your course during this time, and/or you do not have enough funds (money) to remain where you are.

Informing your School and the Visa Team

Please ensure that if you have lost your UK visa, you should ideally inform the University (your School) and the Visa Team by e-mail (visa@ncl.ac.uk). This is to enable us to assist you with the situation and for your School to be able to provide further instructions if you have to miss part of your course while obtaining a replacement visa.