LOST MY BRP AND NEED TO TRAVEL URGENTLY

[l_flower]

Hi!

I'm an Ecuadorian living in the UK who lost the BRP card and I already planned to travel to Spain with my husband (a British citizen) for holidays in 4 weeks. I'm aware that I don't need the BRP to leave the UK but I will need it for my return to enter to the UK. Is there another way that I can travel without the BRP card but only with my passport?

By the way, I've reported the loss with the Home Office but I haven't submitted the application yet for the replacement of a new BRP because I'm waiting for my passport with the Schengen visa.

I'll appreciate any advice for this matter!

Thank you!

[Casa]

It's highly unlikely that the airline will permit you to travel without the right visa as Spanish border control will not permit you entry into Spain.

What nationality do you hold?

[l_flower]

Thanks Casa for your reply!

As I mentioned, my nationality is Ecuadorian and I'm in the process of getting a Schengen visa to enter to Spain. My main concern is if I can only use my passport to leave the UK and to re-enter again or could I use another evidence instead of the BRP card?

[zimba]

As a non-EU migrant, you cannot enter the UK without a valid BRP. I suggest to get a replacement BRP as soon as possible.
You can do this in a premium service centre, so better to book an appointment now.

[vinny]

Didn't you enclose your BRP with your passport, when you applied for the Schengen visa?

[zimba]

Didn't you enclose your BRP with your passport, when you applied for the Schengen visa?

If you apply for Schengen visa through VFS service centres, they take a photocopy and give back the original BRP

[vinny]

Thanks, zimba88.

[vinny]

zimba88's advice is probably best.

[seasky]

As a non-EU migrant, you cannot enter the UK without a valid BRP. I suggest to get a replacement BRP as soon as possible.
You can do this in a premium service centre, so better to book an appointment now.

If you are from a non-visa country (Ecuador is not) you will be able to get on the aircraft and get to UK. Rarely an airline will ask where is your return ticket (you can always purchase a fully refundable one)

Likely the IO will need to do a few more checks and then tell you not to forget it next time (do not try to enter as a tourist, just declare right away you don't have your BRP)

Non 'non-visa' country the issue is the airline has no proof you have a visa to UK and will not board you. You can leave UK easily without it though.

If it is an issue you expect it to come in mail next few days (not OP) you can have someone courier it to you abroad


(obviously all this is when you have to urgently travel)

[Casa]

As a non-EU migrant, you cannot enter the UK without a valid BRP. I suggest to get a replacement BRP as soon as possible.
You can do this in a premium service centre, so better to book an appointment now.

If you are from a non-visa country (Ecuador is not) you will be able to get on the aircraft and get to UK. Rarely an airline will ask where is your return ticket (you can always purchase a fully refundable one)

Likely the IO will need to do a few more checks and then tell you not to forget it next time (do not try to enter as a tourist, just declare right away you don't have your BRP)

Non 'non-visa' country the issue is the airline has no proof you have a visa to UK and will not board you. You can leave UK easily without it though.

If it is an issue you expect it to come in mail next few days (not OP) you can have someone courier it to you abroad


(obviously all this is when you have to urgently travel)

You've completely misunderstood the meaning of a 'non-visa' national.

Non visa national = No visa required on entering the UK
Visa national (in this case Ecuador) requires a pre-issued visa in order to enter the UK

This is why the OP may not be permitted by the airline to return to the UK.

[zimba]

If you are from a non-visa country (Ecuador is not) you will be able to get on the aircraft and get to UK. Rarely an airline will ask where is your return ticket (you can always purchase a fully refundable one)
Likely the IO will need to do a few more checks and then tell you not to forget it next time (do not try to enter as a tourist, just declare right away you don't have your BRP)

Incorrect. These days no airline will board you for a flight to the UK without a valid visa unless you are a Non-visa national
You will be refused entry and deported as a national of Ecuador if you have no valid entry clearance or valid BRP on arrival to the UK.
Even if you are a Non-visa national the IO can still refuse you entry if not satisfied with your purpose of visit.

[seasky]

As a non-EU migrant, you cannot enter the UK without a valid BRP. I suggest to get a replacement BRP as soon as possible.
You can do this in a premium service centre, so better to book an appointment now.

If you are from a non-visa country (Ecuador is not) you will be able to get on the aircraft and get to UK. Rarely an airline will ask where is your return ticket (you can always purchase a fully refundable one)

Likely the IO will need to do a few more checks and then tell you not to forget it next time (do not try to enter as a tourist, just declare right away you don't have your BRP)

Non 'non-visa' country the issue is the airline has no proof you have a visa to UK and will not board you. You can leave UK easily without it though.

If it is an issue you expect it to come in mail next few days (not OP) you can have someone courier it to you abroad


(obviously all this is when you have to urgently travel)

You've completely misunderstood the meaning of a 'non-visa' national.

Non visa national = No visa required on entering the UK
Visa national (in this case Ecuador) requires a pre-issued visa in order to enter the UK

This is why the OP may not be permitted by the airline to return to the UK.

I am pretty sure I got it exactly right, though one never knows and will happily admit if I am mistaken.

To get into the UK you need two things*.

a. get to the border control. Airlines will not let you get to border control (i.e. let you on the plane) if you do not have a visa/BRP and are not a non-visa national

b. pass border control. They should let you in possibly without BRP if they can look you up on the computer and see you usually have a BRP (and give a slap on hand for not actually having it with you)


Your confusion may arise from what you said "Non visa national = No visa required on entering the UK" that is only partially correct. I as an American (and hence a non-visa national), still need a visa (or BRP) as I am not coming for short period tourism/business.

As an Ecuadorian you will not get on the plane without BRP/Visa

*There is a work around. Get to Paris or Brussels Eurostar where IO is -before- getting on the plane.

[seasky]

If you are from a non-visa country (Ecuador is not) you will be able to get on the aircraft and get to UK. Rarely an airline will ask where is your return ticket (you can always purchase a fully refundable one)
Likely the IO will need to do a few more checks and then tell you not to forget it next time (do not try to enter as a tourist, just declare right away you don't have your BRP)

Incorrect. These days no airline will board you for a flight to the UK without a valid visa unless you are a Non-visa national
You will be refused entry and deported as a national of Ecuador if you have no valid entry clearance or valid BRP on arrival to the UK.
Even if you are a Non-visa national the IO can still refuse you entry if not satisfied with your purpose of visit.

Re-read what I wrote (it is correct) I said if you are from a non-visa country (e.g. USA), you will get on the aircraft. I fly into UK 1-2 times a month and they see my USA passport and that is it (only once in 5 years has an airline asked to see BRP, BA desk in Kuala Lumpur)

I was explaining all options for OP (Ecuador) and those resident in UK from non-visa countries (e.g. USA)

[seasky]

As a non-EU migrant, you cannot enter the UK without a valid BRP.

That is only sometimes correct, if you are American (you are non-EU) and the IO can let you in without BRP after validating on computer (or back office), I have done this numerous times. Have never been deported...

Even if you are Ecuadorian you can get into UK without BRP if the IO at Eurostar Paris/Lille/Brussels looks you up and let's you in (it won't work at say LHR as the airline won't let you get to LHR in the first place...).

Eurostar the UK border is physically in France(or Belgium) I cannot personally attest to the latter due to the fact I have USA passport

[zimba]

That is only sometimes correct, if you are American (you are non-EU) and the IO can let you in without BRP after validating on computer (or back office), I have done this numerous times. Have never been deported...

I never suggested a non-visa national will be refused boarding or entry.
The OP is national of Ecuador which is a visa national and cannot arrive in the UK. Even if magically that happens, you will be stopped and deported at the border.

Even if you are Ecuadorian you can get into UK without BRP if the IO at Eurostar Paris/Lille/Brussels looks you up and let's you in (it won't work at say LHR as the airline won't let you get to LHR in the first place...).
Eurostar the UK border is physically in France(or Belgium) I cannot personally attest to the latter due to the fact I have USA passport

The entire point of UK border being stationed in France is to STOP such a scenario.
You need to pass UK immigration control (outside the UK) before boarding Euro star. For a national of Ecuador (a visa national) it is not possible to pass the UK immigration and board without a valid visa or BRP.

[seasky]

I never suggested a non-visa national will be refused boarding or entry.
The OP is national of Ecuador which is a visa national and cannot arrive in the UK. Even if magically that happens, you will be stopped and deported at the border.

As a UK resident there is no difference between me an American and Ecuadorian we both need visa/BRP at Border. There is a difference for the airlines only. I was not deported, numerous times without BRP (which is a piece of plastic, not the right itself). TBC I did not 'slip in' I declared the situation in full and they checked me on pc/back office.

The entire point of UK border being stationed in France is to STOP such a scenario.
You need to pass UK immigration control (outside the UK) before boarding Euro star. For a national of Ecuador (a visa national) it is not possible to pass the UK immigration and board without a valid visa or BRP.

Again wrong. They could have border at SPX, and have Eurostar staff check you before boarding just like airlines. The reaso they have it in France is it so much efficient to get it out of the way before boarding (on a one to one route like Eurostar)

The IO in France could look you up (if they wish....) and let u in.

As I said I am an experienced frequent traveller and sharing my experiences. Sometimes u just have to travel... having BRP is best of course.

And I clearly do know what non-visa national is

[l_flower]

Thank you everyone for all the advices.

Just to clarify how it's been working for me, as a South-American I need a visa to enter to the UK either as a tourist or as a family member. My residence card (BRP) is the only permit or kind of visa that proves my status in the UK while my Ecuadorian passport doesn't.

Having seen all your advices, the most sensible thing for me is to apply for the replacement of my lost BRP within the normal process because I can't afford the premium service at the moment (more that £500), by doing this I have to cancel my trip to Spain and dismiss my Schengen visa.

[seasky]

Thank you everyone for all the advices.

Just to clarify how it's been working for me, as a South-American I need a visa to enter to the UK either as a tourist or as a family member. My residence card (BRP) is the only permit or kind of visa that proves my status in the UK while my Ecuadorian passport doesn't.

Having seen all your advices, the most sensible thing for me is to apply for the replacement of my lost BRP within the normal process because I can't afford the premium service at the moment (more that £500), by doing this I have to cancel my trip to Spain and dismiss my Schengen visa.

I think for a vacation you are prudent. But in case any future readers look this up for important travel (family issue, closing a $100M deal with an investor) there are some work around.

[zimba]

Again wrong. They could have border at SPX, and have Eurostar staff check you before boarding just like airlines. The reaso they have it in France is it so much efficient to get it out of the way before boarding (on a one to one route like Eurostar)

Juxtaposed controls implemented by the infamous Le Touquet treaty were ONLY implemented to prevent migrants (particularly refugees) reaching the UK border which mainly prevents them from applying for asylum here. It intended to prevent migrants from boarding trains/ferries between France and the UK by forcing them to pass through the immigration control of the destination at the origin. This might be not be implemented perfectly all the time, but the treaty was certainly not implemented to increase efficiency or getting things out of way.

It should be clear that there is NO guarantee for people who are non visa national to reach the UK border via Eurostar route without having valid visa or BRP.

[seasky]

Again wrong. They could have border at SPX, and have Eurostar staff check you before boarding just like airlines. The reaso they have it in France is it so much efficient to get it out of the way before boarding (on a one to one route like Eurostar)

Juxtaposed controls implemented by the infamous Le Touquet treaty were ONLY implemented to prevent migrants (particularly refugees) reaching the UK border which mainly prevents them from applying for asylum here. It intended to prevent migrants from boarding trains/ferries between France and the UK by forcing them to pass through the immigration control of the destination at the origin. This might be not be implemented perfectly all the time, but the treaty was certainly not implemented to increase efficiency or getting things out of way.

It should be clear that there is NO guarantee for people who are non visa national to reach the UK border via Eurostar route without having valid visa or BRP.

The treat may have focused on having the legal issues in place for refugees etc but immigration was always -not done at destination-, even for the decade of Eurostar before the treaty. For a while it was done on the train itself.

If it was only about refugees one could get Eurostar to act like an airline, do the checks themselves (I googled this and there is some law that train companies in France can't do that, so a whole treaty to work around a law that france can change? No idea, hard enough to follow UK law

Fully agree that there is no guarantee this will work. But if you get yourself to Eurostar station, with ticket you have a reasonable chance of making your case in front of an IO and it matters little if you are visa or non visa national (needing a BRP).

Again the non-visa national can also get to LHR easily and make the case (and maybe it is a better one as in "you are already in UK, better to spend 10 mins on PC to look this up then filll out a deportation order?"*)

I wonder if airlines have any responsibility for non visa nationals who arrive in UK needing BRP and don't have one? Won would think not, how can they know you need a BRP?

[CR001]

I wonder if airlines have any responsibility for non visa nationals who arrive in UK needing BRP and don't have one? Won would think not, how can they know you need a BRP?

The airline staff know which countries need a pre-approved visa to enter the UK and face huge fines for allowing passengers to fly without proof of such visas, which is why they will likely refuse a passenger if no evidence is forthcoming (in passport or BRP format).

[seasky]

Airlines have access to TIMATIC where they plug in all the data and can see if someone is OK to travel (needs visa, PP validity, needs visa for a transit, needs to show a return ticket etc)

TIMATIC is live and constantly updating the changing visa rules worldwide.

My point was different. An american coming as a tourist needs no visa, coming as a resident needs BRP. Airlines cannot know I need BRP.... (I have only once been asked for my BRP in 100+ travels...)

[CR001]

Not everyone (most members on the forum) is fortunate enough to not need a pre approved visa to travel to the UK, as is the OPs case. Lets stick to the topic and issue the OP has and who has already advised the likely cancellation of their trip to Spain.