Losing your passport while studying abroad can be frightening.

It becomes even more stressful when you start wondering:

“What happens to my UK visa?”
“What about my BRP?”
“Can I still travel?”
“How do I get a new passport?”

For Indian students studying in the UK, there is some important news that makes the situation different from a few years ago: physical BRPs have been replaced by eVisas. As of 2026, UK immigration status is generally held digitally, although you may still have an old BRP card that can be useful for identifying your immigration record.

So, what should you do if you have a lost passport or an old BRP goes missing?

Let’s break it down.

First: What Happens to Your BRP?

If by “BRP” you mean the physical biometric residence permit issued for your Student visa, there is an important change.

You cannot apply for a replacement BRP anymore. The UK has moved to the eVisa system, which stores your immigration status digitally.

Your immigration journey now looks like this:

Old system
Passport + BRP
       ↓
New system
Passport + eVisa
       ↓
UKVI account
       ↓
Digital immigration status

An eVisa cannot be physically lost or stolen in the same way as a card, although you still need access to your UKVI account and must keep your passport details up to date.

What Should You Do If You Have a Lost Passport?

Your passport is the document you need to deal with first.

For Indian students in the UK, the High Commission of India, London says that applications for replacement passports following loss, theft or damage are submitted through VFS Global after completing the relevant online application.

Your basic action plan

1. Report the loss or theft

If your passport was stolen, report the theft to the police. The Indian High Commission’s lost/stolen passport guidance also requires a police report for a lost passport application.

2. Apply for a replacement Indian passport

Complete the passport application and submit the required documents through the designated VFS process.

3. Keep copies of your old passport

If you have photographs or photocopies of the personal-details, address and visa pages, keep them ready. The High Commission asks for copies of relevant passport and visa/eVisa documentation for replacement applications.

4. Update your UKVI account

Once you receive your new passport, update the passport details linked to your UKVI account and eVisa.

What Documents May You Need?

The exact requirements can vary, so check the current High Commission/VFS instructions before submitting your application.

For a lost or stolen Indian passport, the High Commission of India in London currently lists items including:

What If You Lose Your Passport While Travelling?

This is where the situation can become more complicated.

Your eVisa is digital, but your passport is still your travel document. UK government guidance says you should make sure your UKVI account contains your current passport details before travelling, and your eVisa information should match the details given to your carrier. Incorrect information can cause delays or even prevent a carrier from allowing travel.

So, don’t assume:

“My eVisa is online, so I can travel without my passport.”

You still need a valid passport or travel document.

What If You Lose Your BRP But Still Have Your Passport?

This is less serious from an immigration-status perspective than losing your passport because your UK status should now be recorded digitally.

If you already have an eVisa, sign into your UKVI account and check that your immigration status is visible and correct. You should also keep your expired BRP if you still have it, because GOV.UK says it may help with future applications.

There is no new BRP replacement service.

In simple terms

Lost BRP
   ↓
Have eVisa?
   ↓
YES → Check UKVI account
   ↓
Keep eVisa details accessible
   ↓
Update passport details when necessary

What If You Lose Both Your Passport and BRP?

Don’t panic.

Your situation is more complicated, but your UK immigration status is not simply “gone” because a physical document has disappeared.

Follow this order:

LOST PASSPORT

↓

Police report / loss documentation

↓

Contact Indian High Commission / VFS

↓

Apply for replacement passport

↓

Access your UKVI account/eVisa

↓

Update UKVI with new passport details

↓

Check your status before travelling

The UK government specifically advises keeping passport or travel-document information in your UKVI account up to date.

How Much Does a Replacement Indian Passport Cost?

Fees change, so students should check the latest High Commission information before applying.

As of the High Commission of India’s 1 July 2026 fee schedule, replacement of a lost, damaged or stolen ordinary 36-page Indian passport costs £185, while the listed Tatkaal fee is £278. A 60-page replacement is listed at £222, or £315 under Tatkaal.

The High Commission also lists an Emergency Certificate at £12 for eligible Indian nationals who need one-way travel to India when a valid passport is unavailable and a new passport cannot be issued immediately.

How to Prevent a Lost Passport Emergency

Prevention is much easier than replacement.

Keep these securely stored:

✅ Scan of your passport

✅ Copy of your UK visa/eVisa information

✅ UKVI customer number, GWF or UAN where available

✅ University student ID

✅ Police report details, if an incident occurs

✅ Emergency contact information

Smart backup system

Physical documents
       +
Cloud backup
       +
Phone backup
       +
Trusted emergency contact
       =
Better prepared

Don’t keep every copy in the same bag as your passport.

Lost Passport Checklist for Indian Students

If your passport disappears, remember:

☐ Check whether you misplaced it before reporting it

☐ Report theft/loss as appropriate

☐ Contact the Indian High Commission/VFS for replacement

☐ Gather passport and UK immigration copies

☐ Check your UKVI account

☐ Update your new passport details after replacement

☐ Check your eVisa before travelling

☐ Contact your university’s international student team if you need help

Final Thoughts

A lost passport can feel like a disaster when you’re studying in another country, but knowing the correct process can make the situation much easier to manage.

The biggest thing to remember in 2026 is that BRPs have been replaced by eVisas, so losing an old physical BRP does not mean losing your digital immigration status.

For Indian students, the priority is to deal with the lost passport, follow the Indian High Commission/VFS replacement process and then make sure the new passport is correctly linked to your UKVI account.

Keep digital copies of important documents before you travel, and you’ll be much better prepared if something goes wrong.

This guide is focused on Indian students in the UK and reflects official guidance available in September 2026. Passport, visa and immigration procedures can change, so always check the current GOV.UK and High Commission of India guidance before taking action.

Read our previous blog here!