- The Home Office extended expired BRP and BRC use to 24 months after expiry or December thirty-first, twenty twenty-six.
- The change affects only identification for the Life in the UK Test, not citizenship or settlement deadlines.
- eVisa holders should use a UKVI share code instead of relying on an expired physical card.
The Home Office changed identification rules for the Life in the UK Test on June 8, 2026, limiting use of an expired Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) or BRC to 24 months after the card’s printed expiry date or December 31, 2026, whichever comes first. The change replaced an earlier 18-month allowance.
The date is not a universal deadline. It does not require every applicant to pass the test, apply for British citizenship or obtain indefinite leave to remain by the end of 2026.
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It concerns an identification document. That distinction can prevent both an unnecessary rush and a failed appointment.
Applicants with an eVisa generally have another route. They can use their digital immigration record and a UKVI share code instead of relying on an expired physical card.
The earlier of two dates controls an expired card
The concession can end before the year-end date. An applicant whose residence card expired on May 15, 2024, reaches the 24-month point on May 15, 2026. That earlier date controls the card’s use.
A document showing an expiry date of December 31, 2024, reaches its 24-month point on December 31, 2026. In that case, both limits arrive together.
The printed date on the card therefore matters. Many physical cards showed December 31, 2024, even when the holder’s underlying immigration permission continued beyond that date.
All BRPs have now expired and have been replaced by eVisas. The Home Office has nevertheless allowed some expired cards to serve limited temporary purposes, including identification connected with the test.
An expired card does not by itself show that immigration permission has ended. Someone may retain indefinite leave to remain or another continuing permission after the physical document expires. The underlying status should be checked through the relevant UKVI and eVisa system.
Digital status is now the normal identification route
The government’s test service directs eVisa holders to sign in to their UK Visas and Immigration account, view their status and obtain the appropriate share code. That code is used during booking.
Other accepted documents must be valid, show a photograph resembling the applicant and match the name entered for the appointment.
| Identification route | Requirement |
|---|---|
| eVisa | Use the appropriate UKVI share code |
| Passport | Use a valid passport with a photograph that looks like the applicant |
| European identity card | Use a valid card from the EU, Switzerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Norway |
| Photo travel document | Use a valid document other than an emergency travel document |
| Expired BRP or BRC | The document must remain within the temporary 24-month or end-of-2026 concession |
The name on the booking must exactly match the name on the identification. Candidates must bring the same identification to the test centre.
A physical document must be the original, not a photocopy or screenshot. The centre also takes the candidate’s photograph to confirm identity. Anyone without the required identification can be prevented from sitting the test and may lose the fee.
The test remains a separate settlement and citizenship requirement
The examination costs £50. Candidates must book online at least three days in advance through the official government service, which has more than 30 test centres around the UK.
There are 24 questions, with 45 minutes to complete them. The subject matter covers British traditions and customs and follows the official preparation material. A candidate needs a score of 75% or higher to pass.
A failure does not permanently block a settlement or citizenship application. There is no limit on attempts, but every new booking costs £50.
Three attempts would cost £150 if the first two failed and the third succeeded. Candidates who treat the test as a trial run can therefore pay for each unsuccessful booking as well as the successful one.
Passing the examination is only one part of an application. Other requirements can include age, qualifying residence, physical presence in the UK, immigration status, an accepted language, good character and applicable residence and absence rules.
A previous pass can remove the need for another booking
A successful result generally remains usable. The government says someone who has already passed does not need to sit the examination again, including a person who passed while seeking settlement and later applies for citizenship.
An applicant who passed in 2023 while preparing an ILR application, obtained ILR and became eligible to naturalise in 2026 would normally rely on that earlier result. Several years passing does not by itself create a new testing requirement.
The same applies to Maria. She passed in 2022 during her ILR application and later planned to naturalise in 2026. Her expired BRP does not normally require her to arrange another appointment.
Candidates who pass receive a unique reference number for their settlement or citizenship application. People who took the examination before December 17, 2019, may instead have a letter containing a test reference ID. Guidance also provides procedures for people who no longer have the original confirmation letter.
Current exemptions cover applicants who are under 18, aged 65 or over, have already passed, or have a qualifying long-term physical or mental condition. A medical exemption requires supporting evidence.
Living in the UK for a long period does not, by itself, create an exemption.
Settled status holders may still need the test before naturalisation
Obtaining settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme did not require every holder to satisfy the Knowledge of Language and Life in the UK requirements. Some people who later seek British citizenship must therefore meet those requirements before applying.
The test does not itself confer settlement or citizenship. Naturalisation guidance also covers residence, physical presence, immigration status, language and good character.
An applicant who applies without meeting a required condition risks refusal and losing the application fee. The test result alone does not set the naturalisation date.
Applicants should calculate their own document deadline
Rahul has indefinite leave to remain and a BRP showing December 31, 2024. He plans to apply for citizenship in 2027 but has never taken the test. He does not have to become a citizen before the physical-document concession ends, and he does not automatically have to pass before then.
If he can access his eVisa and obtain a share code, he can use that digital route when booking. His plan for a citizenship application in mid-2027 depends on his actual eligibility, not solely on the temporary use of an old card.
Applicants who have already passed should locate their earlier test reference. Those who have not should establish whether they need the examination or qualify for an exemption.
Anyone relying on an expired BRP or BRC should compare 24 months from the printed expiry date with the end-of-2026 cutoff. The earlier point governs that particular document.
People unable to access an eVisa should address the problem rather than assume the expired card will remain available indefinitely. The Home Office says applicants without an accepted identity document can contact it for assistance.
Bookings should be made through the official GOV.UK service, which the government identifies as the only official government booking service. Third-party sites may sell preparation materials or other services, but applicants should avoid promises of guaranteed results or attempts to manipulate the examination.
