Immigration and visas

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At BU we want to give our international students all the support they need to meet their immigration conditions.

We don't want you to have any problems with your visa, so we have put together the following important information in this section to help you.

This section will help you with your Student visa extensions and advise you about working restrictions and travelling within the EU during your studies.

The AskBU Advisers have received basic immigration training and can answer all your general immigration questions. If you need complex immigration advice the Immigration Compliance and Advice Team are fully immigration trained advisers and the only team at BU who have the required training to offer immigration advice. You can contact a member of our Immigration Compliance and Advice Team through AskBU.

If the AskBU team is not available, you can use the OISC Adviser Finder on the right of this page to find a trained immigration adviser.

Biometric Residence Permits

If you are applying for a Student visa which will last more than six months, your permission to remain in the UK will be issued in two parts:

You will receive a 90-day entry clearance visa that will allow you to enter the UK.
Once you are in the UK, you will be issued with Biometric Residence Permit (BRP), which will cover your full duration of studies.

You do not have to apply separately for a BRP. You’ll get one automatically if your visa or immigration application is approved, or you’re replacing an older document.

We have answered some of the most common queries below. If you still have questions, please contact the Immigration Compliance and Advice Team.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a BRP?

A Biometric Residence Permit or BRP is a document issued by the Home Office to students (and their partners and children) as evidence of their immigration permission (also known as leave to enter or remain): this is your full study visa.

It is the size of a credit card and will include:

your name, date and place of birth
how long it is valid for
your fingerprints and a photo of your face (this is your biometric information)
your immigration status (i.e. a student at Bournemouth University) and any conditions of your stay
whether you can access public funds, for example benefits and health services

I’ve lost my BRP – what do I do?

Will I get a BRP?

If you are applying for a Student visa from outside the UK for a course which lasts more than six months, you will be issued with a BRP.

You collect your BRP on arrival in the UK. So that you can travel to the UK to collect your BRP, you will be given an entry clearance vignette (sticker) in your passport which will start no more than 30 days before your course start date as given on your CAS.

I would like to collect my BRP from Bournemouth University – how do I do this?

I’ve asked to collect my BRP from Bournemouth University – where do I need to get it from?

January 2022 starters: From Monday 10 January, we will be contacting all students whose BRP has arrived at BU to advise you when you can collect it. You do not need to contact us and you should wait to receive our email. Although your Home Office letter says you should collect your BRP within 10 days of arriving, you will not be adversely affected if you collect it later so please do not worry.

If BU is not your BRP collection point, you should go to your nominated collection point directly to see if your BRP has arrived.

Please note that you need to complete any Covid-19 isolation period before collecting your BRP.

I’ve asked to collect my BRP from a Post Office – where do I need to get it from?

When do I need to collect my BRP?

January 2022 starters: From Monday 10 January, we will be contacting all students whose BRP has arrived at BU to advise you when you can collect it. You do not need to contact us and you should wait to receive our email. Although your Home Office letter says you should collect your BRP within 10 days of arriving, you will not be adversely affected if you collect it later so please do not worry.

If BU is not your BRP collection point, you should go to your nominated collection point directly to see if your BRP has arrived.

Please note that you need to complete any Covid-19 isolation period before collecting your BRP.

Collection from the Post Office

If you are collecting your BRP from the Post Office, the letter you receive with your 90-day visa should tell you when your BRP will be ready for collection from the Post Office.

What will I need to bring with me to collect my BRP?

Whether you are collecting your BRP from Bournemouth University or the Post Office, it is essential that you bring the following with you:

your passport – with
your visa decision letter.

Collection from the Post Office by someone under 18

If you are under 18 years old and are collecting your BRP from the Post Office, you will also need to be accompanied by a member of Bournemouth University staff.

To arrange for someone to come and collect your BRP with you please contact the Immigration Compliance and Advice Team.

When will I need to show my BRP?

Your BRP can be used as a form of identification in the UK but you are not required to routinely carry it with you and you will not be asked to show it in the street. However, you will need it whenever you need to prove your immigration status in the UK: such as opening a UK bank account, registering with a doctor or renting a property. You must ensure you carry it with you, along with your passport, when you travel in and out of the UK. Please treat your BRP as you would your passport. Keep it safe and secure and try not to lose it!