A BRP and eVisa are two ways of proving UK immigration status. A biometric residence permit is a physical card showing leave to remain, while an eVisa is the digital record of that status held in a UK Visas and Immigration online account.
In one line: A BRP and eVisa both evidence immigration status, with the eVisa being the digital replacement for the older physical card.
How a BRP and eVisa works
Biometric residence permits were issued to many non-EU nationals as proof of their visa, name, photo and conditions. The Home Office has moved to eVisas, so most BRPs are no longer issued and the bulk of cards carried an expiry date of 31 December 2024.
An eVisa is accessed through a UKVI account, where the holder generates a share code to prove their status to employers, landlords or carriers. For example, a worker showing right to work in 2026 typically logs in, creates a share code, and gives it to the employer to view online.
Switching from a BRP to an eVisa does not change the underlying leave a person holds. The status itself stays the same; only the method of proving it moves from card to digital record.
BRP vs eVisa
A BRP is a tangible card that could be lost or stolen and carried an expiry date printed on it. An eVisa is an online record that cannot be physically misplaced and updates as status changes.
Both prove the same kinds of leave, such as a Skilled Worker visa or settled status, but checks against an eVisa rely on share codes and the online service rather than inspecting a card.
Primary source: Home Office: Get access to your eVisa (GOV.UK)