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UK Visas and Immigration guidance on how staff manage migrants’ biometric information and the case working process.
Updates to this page
Published 20 November 2013
Last updated 2430 MarchJanuary 2025
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Replaced Biometric reuse document with a new version.
27 December 2024
Biometric enrolment: policy guidance has been updated to confirm that greyscale facial images cannot be accepted and latest BRP decommissioning updates.
31 October 2024
Both 'Biometric information: introduction' and 'Biometric information: enrolment' documents updated to reflect that BRPs and BRCs will no longer be issued.
26 September 2024
Updated the biometric reuse guidance to reflect the closure of the BRP and BRC replacement service.
22 August 2024
Updated 'Unable to travel to a Visa Application Centre to enrol biometrics guidance'. A full list of changes can be found in the guide.
3 May 2024
Guidance on "Unable to travel to a Visa Application Centre to enrol biometrics (overseas applications)" has been updated to remove the subjectivity test in the unsafe journeys criterion.
14 February 2024
Updated Biometric reuse guidance to make it clear that we are unable to offer biometric reuse for individuals who are overseas. Also updated Unable to travel to a Visa Application Centre to enrol biometrics guidance to make it clear when individuals should request to be excused from attending a Visa Application Centre and where they meet the criterion.
12 February 2024
Guidance on enrolment updated to explain our approach where individuals are prevented from leaving or entering a country or territory by the controlling authorities.
26 October 2023
Updated Biometric information: enrolment guidance to set out the process for supplying biometrics in ETA applications.
13 October 2023
The enrolment guidance has been updated to set out who is authorised to agree to reuse biometrics or excuse them in the long term reasons section.
11 September 2023
'Retention and usage of biometric information': removed reference to eGates.
23 June 2023
Guidance on biometric enrolment and biometric reuse updated.
5 May 2023
Added accessible version of 'Unable to travel to a Visa Application Centre to enrol biometrics (overseas applications)'.
4 May 2023
Added the document 'Unable to travel to a Visa Application Centre to enrol biometrics (overseas applications)'.
27 January 2023
Accessible versions added.
18 November 2022
'Biometric information: enrolment' updated: addition of process for non-EEA nationals who are detained in prison or in an immigration removal centre in the UK and make an application to the EU Settlement Scheme.
6 September 2022
Updates to 'Retention and usage of biometric information guidance' around the use and retention rules that apply depending on whether fingerprints are enrolled or re-used from 1 July 2021 or before that date.
19 July 2022
Updated biometric reuse and biometric information: enrolment guidance documents.
19 May 2022
Updated 'Biometric reuse' guidance.
12 April 2022
Updated Biometric Residence Permits for overseas applicants: alternatives to customer collection at Post Office guide.
6 April 2022
Updated 'Biometric information: introduction' with regards to biometric residence permits and how they are used with our online services and at the border.
24 February 2022
Introduction document updated, including information about when biometrics must be enrolled and the information about the use of eGates
10 February 2022
Updated 'Biometric Information: introduction' guidance. Added new guidance: 'Retention and usage of biometric information' and 'Biometric reuse'.
9 July 2021
Added information about biometric enrolment at Post Offices ending on 31 July 2021 to details section.
19 November 2019
Updated biometric information - introduction guidance.
9 October 2019
Updated to add 'Biometric Residence Permits for overseas applicants: alternatives to customer collection at Post Office'