People relying on the EU Settlement Scheme should note a date tucked inside the Home Office's autumn rule changes: from 9 December 2026, an expired biometric residence permit (BRP) will no longer count as proof of identity for scheme purposes. The change comes from the Statement of Changes to the Immigration Rules HC 584, laid before Parliament on 3 September 2026, which sets out a series of staged changes through the autumn, including the 9 December BRP provision.

What changes on 9 December

The scheme has been moving from physical cards to digital status for some time. All BRPs have now expired and been replaced by eVisas, and an expired card has already stopped being evidence of permission to travel or to prove a right to work or rent. The 9 December change removes one of its remaining uses: as identity evidence in an EU Settlement Scheme application. Legal summaries of HC 584 confirm the 9 December date.

What to check before the deadline

The general point for anyone affected is to make sure their digital record, not an old card, is in order: a UKVI account linked to their current passport, with personal details matching the documents they travel on. An eVisa is a record of permission; it does not by itself grant or extend that permission, and a mismatch between a passport and a UKVI account can cause boarding problems or border delays. This is general information only, not personal immigration advice, and anyone unsure about their own case should check the official GOV.UK pages or speak to a regulated adviser. Rules change, so always confirm the position on the official page before acting.

Sources: GOV.UK: Statement of Changes HC 584 and LexisNexis.