home office croydon travel document

• EXPLORE Random Article

How to Apply for Travel Documents in the UK

Last Updated: February 22, 2022 References

This article was co-authored by Jennifer Mueller, JD . Jennifer Mueller is an in-house legal expert at wikiHow. Jennifer reviews, fact-checks, and evaluates wikiHow's legal content to ensure thoroughness and accuracy. She received her JD from Indiana University Maurer School of Law in 2006. There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 5,162 times.

If you live in the UK but aren't a British citizen and can't get a passport from your home country, you might be able to get travel documents from the British Home Office if you need to travel outside the country. Generally, you're only eligible for travel documents if you're staying in the UK as a refugee or stateless person, or if you're settled in the UK permanently (what the Home Office calls "indefinite leave to remain"). You can apply for travel documents online through the Home Office, but you have to mail the completed application along with supporting documentation. If you don't have a biometric residence permit (BRP), you'll need to apply for one of those when you apply for your travel document. [1] X Trustworthy Source Official UK government website Official website for the public sector of the UK government Go to source

Choosing the Right Travel Document

• This travel document is typically valid for up to 10 years, depending on the validity of your biometric residence permit (BRP). You can travel to any country except your country of origin.

• Stateless travel documents are usually valid for 10 years, although they might be issued with a shorter validity depending on your situation. You can typically travel to any and all countries.
• You're only considered stateless if you are not recognized as a citizen of any country. Some refugees are stateless, but not all. If you're not sure if you've been officially recognized as stateless, you probably haven't. Fewer than 100 people in the UK have been recognized as stateless since the official determination procedure was started in 2014. [4] X Research source

• To get this documentation, apply for a passport using your home country's usual process. When your application is denied, save the original letter you get back from your home country.
• You also need to show why the denial was unreasonable. The Home Office considers a denial reasonable if, for example, you have a criminal record in your home country or did not provide enough evidence to confirm your identity.
• If you are granted a COT, it will typically have 5 years of validity. You can travel to any country with this document except for your country of origin.

• While you do need to provide documentation to confirm your identity, you don't need to apply for a BRP to use this type of travel document.
• This document is issued to any non-British citizen in the UK who doesn't have a passport and wants to leave the country. It can only be used for one journey out of the country and is valid for a year, although it's generally intended to be used immediately. [7] X Research source
• One-way travel documents are typically issued for travel to a specified country. If you have to travel through one country to get to your destination country, that country will also be listed on your document.

Filling out Your Application

• After you provide your location, you'll be asked to select which type of travel document you want to apply for. If you're not sure, click on the question so see who qualifies for each type.

Tip: If you don't feel comfortable using a computer or do not have internet access, you can get help over the phone by calling 03333 445 675. This phone line is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

• If you're applying for a one-way travel document, your document will only be valid for travel to the country you specified. However, all other travel documents are typically valid for travel to any country, except your country of origin or the country from which you sought asylum.
• If you're applying for a COT, you'll also need to discuss your process of applying for a passport from your country of origin and the reason your application for a passport was denied.

Tip: If members of your family are also applying for travel documents at the same time, you each have to apply online and pay your fees separately.

• The online application will ask you if you have a BRP. If you do, simply answer "yes." If you answer "no," the BRP application will come up for you to fill out.
• You will have to provide a digital photo and digital fingerprints along with your signature for your BRP. You can get these done at any government service and support center or post office branch. As of January 2020, the fee is £19.20 for biometrics. [11] X Trustworthy Source Official UK government website Official website for the public sector of the UK government Go to source

Warning: If you already have a BRP but need to amend or replace it, you must do this before you apply for your travel document. You can't use the application included with the travel document application.

• Refugee and stateless person's travel documents are £75 for adults, £49 for children under 15, and £0 if you were born before September 1, 1929.
• One-way travel documents are £75 for all adults (regardless of age) and £49 for children under 15.
• A COT is £280 for all adults (regardless of age) and £141 for children under 15.

Submitting Your Application

• If you're applying for a travel document as a refugee or stateless person, you'll need the British court order or certificate that shows you've been officially recognized as a refugee or stateless person, as well as your BRP.
• If you're applying for a COT, you need documents that prove that you applied for a passport from your home country and that application was unreasonably denied. This might include a letter from your home country's immigration authority or a copy of your passport application. A COT typically requires the most documentation.

Tip: Make a photocopy of your BRP to send with your application — do not send your original BRP. All other documents must be originals.

• There are many translation companies in the UK that offer professional translation services. You can find these companies with a quick internet search. You might also use the search engine provided by the Institute of Translation and Interpreting, a professional association of translators. Go to https://www.iti.org.uk/component/itisearch/?view=translators to find a translator who is a member of the association.

• Your signature will be scanned and digitally included on your travel documents.
• After you've signed your declaration page, make a photocopy of your entire application so you have it for your records.

• Scan the document and email it to [email protected] or fax it to 020 8196 0109.
• You still must include the paper originals of any documents you fax or email in your package that you send to the Home Office.

• Send your documents to: Travel Documents Section UK Visas and Immigration Lunar House 40 Wellesley Road Croydon CR9 2BY
• After verifying the information in your application, the Home Office returns documents that don't need to be kept with your application. If you want these documents returned to you by Special Delivery, include a prepaid Special Delivery envelope with your package.
• If you realize after you've sent your package that you left out a document, don't send it separately. Instead, wait to hear back from the Home Office. They will send you a letter to request any documents that are missing from your application package.

• It typically takes 3 to 4 months for the Home Office to process an application for a travel document. [19] X Research source

• If you're writing a physical letter, mail it to: Travel Documents Section UK Visas and Immigration Lunar House 40 Wellesley Road Croydon CR9 2BY
• You can also send an email to [email protected].

Expert Q&A

• Before you travel, check with the embassy or consulate of the country you want to visit and make sure your travel documents will be accepted at the border. You also may need a visa. [21] X Trustworthy Source Official UK government website Official website for the public sector of the UK government Go to source Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0
• The guidance notes, available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/apply-for-a-home-office-travel-document-form-td112-brp , provide more information about the process of applying for travel documents. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• Don't book travel until you've received your travel document in case there are any delays or issues with the approval of your application. [22] X Research source Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• Don't apply for a travel document if you have less than 6 months' leave to remain in the UK. Your travel document will only be valid to the extent of your leave to remain in the UK and most countries won't accept travel documents with less than 6 months' validity. [23] X Research source Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

You Might Also Like

• ↑ https://www.gov.uk/apply-home-office-travel-document
• ↑ https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/752814/TD112_BRP_Guidance_Notes_11_2018.pdf
• ↑ https://files.institutesi.org/ISI_statistics_analysis_2018.pdf
• ↑ https://www.gov.uk/apply-home-office-travel-document/how-to-apply
• ↑ https://www.gov.uk/biometric-residence-permits/personal-data
• ↑ https://visas-immigration.service.gov.uk/product/travel-document
• ↑ https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/488177/Home_Office_travel_documents_guidance_v6.0EXT_clean.pdf

About this article

Did this article help you?

• About wikiHow
• Terms of Use
• Privacy Policy
• Do Not Sell or Share My Info
• Not Selling Info

• Terms and Conditions
• Privacy Policy
• Cookie policy
• Cancellation and Refund Policy

How do I contact the Home Office?

Many people need to get in contact with the Home Office for enquiries about visa applications, to  track a visa status , or find out further information about an immigration case. Although it can be difficult to contact UKVI, there are phone, email, post, and online contact details. This page is an ultimate resource of all contact details for the Home Office.

What are the contact details for the UK Home Office?

To  get in touch with the Home Office , you can use one of the below methods:

• Phone inside or outside the UK
• Email inside or outside the UK
• Send a letter via post
• Use an online communication portal
• Use a social media platform

Please note that some charges may apply, depending on the method of contact.

Additionally, the contact details are different depending on where you are located and the nature of your query.

There are many ways that you can get in touch with the customer service team at the Home Office UK, including via email, phone, or social media.

You can contact UK immigration (also known as UK Visas and Immigration) with your query using one of the below methods.

UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) oversees applications for foreign nationals who wish to visit, work, study, or settle in the UK. This agency was previously part of the UK Border Agency (UKBA) which was shut down in 2013.

This page outlines every available current method of contacting the Home Office.

How to get in contact with the Home Office inside the UK

General enquiries phone number : +44 (0) 300 790 6268

If you cannot call 0300 numbers : +44 (0) 203 875 4669

Opening hours : 09:00 – 16:45 (Monday to Thursday), 09:00 – 16:30 (Friday)

EU citizen/ settlement application queries phone number : +44 (0) 300 123 7379

Opening hours : 08:00 – 20:00 (Monday to Friday), 09:30 – 16:30 (Saturday and Sunday)

Asylum queries phone number : +44 (0) 80 8801 0503

Opening hours : 08:30 – 17:00 (Monday to Friday)

Email address :  [email protected]

Sponsor and educator queries phone number : +44 (0) 300 123 4699

Opening hours : 11:00 – 15:00 (Monday to Thursday)

Employer email address :  [email protected]

Educational institution email address :  [email protected]

Home Office Coronavirus helpline phone number : +44 (0) 800 678 1767

Opening hours : 09:00 – 17:00 (Monday to Friday)

Coronavirus helpline email address :  [email protected]

Please note that coronavirus guidance changes very frequently and to stay updated on government advice (including on travel restrictions and opening hours of public bodies), it is recommended to check the   UK government coronavirus advice page   regularly.

Call the Home Office outside the UK

General enquiries phone number : +44 (0) 20 3080 0010

If you are unable to dial UK 03000 numbers : +44 (0) 203 875 4669

Opening hours : 08:00 – 20:00 (Monday to Friday), 09:30 – 16:30 (Saturday and Sunday) (UK local time)

You can use these contact details if you need help with one of the following:

• Applying for a visa to come to the UK
• Updates on the progress of your application
• Technical issues with your application
• A mistake you made with your application
• Issues accessing your account
• Issues making a payment to UKVI

Send an enquiry to UK Visas and Immigration outside the UK

To email UKVI from outside the UK, you will be required to pay £2.74 via credit or debit card. This cost includes the initial email and any follow-up emails.

You can expect to receive a response within five working days. Please be aware that the staff in the contact centre organisations are not involved in the decision of your application.

Contact UKVI with your query via online portal .

Contact the Home Office/ UKVI in a language other than English

Phone number : +44 (0) 300 790 6268

Opening hours :

• Arabic (05:00 – 13:00, Sunday to Thursday, UK local time)
• Cantonese (01:00 – 09:00, Monday to Friday, UK local time)
• French (09:00 – 17:00, Monday to Friday, UK local time)
• Hindi (04:00 – 12:00, Monday to Friday, UK local time)
• Mandarin (01:00 – 09:00, Monday to Friday, UK local time)
• Russian (06:00 – 14:00, Monday to Friday, UK local time)
• Spanish (13:00 – 01:00, Monday to Friday, UK local time)

Take the first step. Request a Fact Finding + Expert Consultation

How to get in contact with the Home Office for online help

If you have any of the below problems and you want to get in touch with the Home Office from inside the UK, you should email the online support team at:  [email protected]

• Problems with your online application
• Changing details you submitted in your online application
• Problems entering your sponsor licence number online
• Technical support with error messages on your online application
• Accessing your UKVI account

To get help with your application from the Home Office support team, you should:

• Write an email including your name and the nature of your immigration query/ application
• Include a detailed description of the problem
• Include screenshots of the issue(s) if possible
• Email  [email protected]
• You can usually expect a reply to your report within one working day

UK Home Office social media accounts

It is also possible to access information and contact details for the Home Office via their online platforms, including the following:

• Home Office Facebook page
• Home Office Twitter account
• Home Office Instagram account
• Home Office YouTube channel
• Home Office LinkedIn page
• Home Office Media blog

Please note that not all accounts are monitored for communication purposes. If you want to contact the UK Home Office, it is advised to use some of the above contact methods.

What is the Home Office address?

The main UK Home Office is located at the following address:

2 Marsham Street,

United Kingdom

There are also a number of Service and Support Centres (SSCs) located around Britain for the purposes of serving individuals with visa or immigration applications. The SSCs are located in the followng locations:

• Her Majesty’s Passport Office,
• Law Society House,
• 90-106 Victoria Street,
• General Buildings,
• 1 st  Floor,
• 31-33 Newport Road,
• Lunar House,
• 40 Wellesley Road,
• Festival Court 1,
• 200 Brand Street,

The Capital Building,

• 6 Union Street,
• Liverpool, L3 9PP

Peterborough

• Aragon Court,
• Northminster Road,
• Peterborough,
• Vulcan House
• Riverside Entrance,
• 6 Millsands,
• Dominion Court,
• 41 Station Rod,
• Birmingham,

How much does it cost to speak to someone at the Home Office?

The Home Office charges a different fee depending on where you are and whether you want to phone or email your query.

Cost of contacting the Home Office outside the UK

• International Contact Centre – Email service (per query) : £2.74
• International Contact Centre – Telephone helpline (per minute) : £0.69

Cost of contacting the Home Office inside the UK

• Phone numbers beginning with 030 : Landlines (per minute): up to £0.10
• Phone numbers beginning with 030 : Mobile phones (per minute): £0.3 – £0.40
• Phone numbers beginning with 02 : Landlines (per minute): £0.16
• Phone numbers beginning with 02 : Mobile phones (per minute): £0.3 – £0.65
• Phone numbers beginning with 0800/ 0808 : Freephone service (no cost)
• Email service in the UK  – No charge

What is the Home Office contact number for BRP?

There is no direct line to the Home Office for a BRP application, but the process of contacting their outsourced company is outlined below:

If you intend to come to the UK for period of longer than six months, you may be required to hold a  Biometric Residence Permit  (BRP) as proof of your immigration status.

You must collect your BRP within ten days of arriving in the UK (if you applied outside the UK). However, this timeline may be impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

If you applied inside the UK, your BRP will be delivered by a  courier service (TNT).  If you need to contact BRP delivery team, you can call the below number:

• TNT (Courier Service delivering the BRP) : +44 (0) 345 608 0630

It is recommended to contact TNT about your BRP if it has not arrived within ten days of receiving your decision letter, or if you wish to track or rearrange the delivery of the permit.

You should only contact the Home Office about your BRP if the following applies:

• You have already contacted TNT and they were unable to help
• You cannot track your delivery with a consignment number

Use the  BRP service page to speak to the Home Office  if the above situations apply to your case.

If you applied outside the UK and you intend to collect your BRP at a post office, you can use the  post office general enquiries page  if you need to speak with a customer service representative.

What is the contact number for a British citizenship application?

The email address for British naturalisation, registration, and citizenship applications is  [email protected] .

Once you have submitted an application for British citizenship to UKVI, you can expect to wait for between three and four months for a decision.

When you submit your citizenship application, you may be asked to submit your biometric information and supporting documents via the  UK Visa and Citizenship Application Service  (UKVCAS) website.

You should not contact UKVCAS about your citizenship application. You can contact UKVI using the general contact number inside the UK or outside the UK.

You can use your UKVCAS account to do the following:

• Book an appointment to enrol your biometric information
• Submit your supporting documents to be verified
• Purchase additional visa application services

If you need help with booking an appointment, uploading documents, requesting an access code, or information about a service, you can contact UKVCAS directly.

• UKVCAS telephone helpline inside and out the UK : +44 (0) 844 8920 232
• Opening hours : 09:00 – 17:30 (Monday to Friday)
• Cost : £0.04 per minute plus your phone provider’s charges

What is the Home Office travel document contact number?

You may need to apply to the Home Office for a travel document if you have leave to remain in the UK for less than six months. Currently, there is no Home Office contact number for a travel document application.

However, to apply for the travel document, you must do the following:

• Complete the  travel document online application form
• Send your supporting documents by post

During the application, you will be given a document checklist and a postal address to send your application.

If you need to travel urgently on the basis of compassionate reasons (e.g., illness, death, or urgent medical reasons), you can email the Home Office at the following email address:

• Home Office travel document enquiries:  [email protected]
• Put ‘New Application Enquiry – Urgent Compassionate Care’ and your name as the subject line

How can IAS help me?

IAS is a highly regarded immigration law firm with a proven track record of successfully helping our clients with their goals.

We listen to the needs of all clients and make expert recommendations based on current immigration laws and rules. We work tirelessly on your behalf to help you with your case, no matter how complex.

You can expect to work one-on-one with an experienced immigration lawyer who will do the following:

• Assess your eligibility for your chosen immigration route
• Advise on your suitability for the route
• Make recommendations for you or family members to help you acheive your goals
• Provide you with a bespoke document checklist of supporting documents
• Complete your application in full to the highest standards
• Liaise with the Home Office on your behalf while your application is pending
• Advise you on next steps when a decision has been reached.

Your lawyer will speak to the Home Office on your behalf, meaning that you don’t have to worry about contacting UKVI. Working with an immigration lawyer does not guarantee a successful decision, but it can significantly reduce the work involved in an immigration application.

To get started, speak to a member of our friendly and professional client care team today. Your qualified and accredited immigration lawyer can advise you on the best route based on your circumstances to get started as quickly as possible.

Call us today on  0333 305 9272  or use the online contact form to request a callback. We look forward to helping you with your case.

Table of Contents

Need help with an immigration issue? Book a one-to-one advice session with one of our legal caseworkers.

We can complete your visa application on your behalf, taking the stress and hassle out of the process.

Need to submit an application quickly? We can help you complete and send it off in as little as 24 hours.

Ensure you have the greatest chance of a successful appeal with our legal support and guidance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you email ukvi.

In general, it is very difficult to directly contact UKVI via email. However, there are some routes you can take, and you can email UKVI at the following addresses.

Ultimate list of available Home Office email addresses:

• General enquiries :  [email protected]
• Technical support with your online application :  [email protected]
• Coronavirus immigration helpline :  [email protected]
• Complaints :  [email protected]
• Employers of foreign nationals :  [email protected]
• Education institution sponsoring foreign students :  [email protected]
• Travel document enquiries:   [email protected]
• British citizenship enquiries:  [email protected]

Note that staff in the contact centre cannot give you immigration advice, and may not give you information on the progress of your application. They may be able to give you the contact details of the department you have applied to.

It can be very difficult to get a response from the Home Office or UKVI about your application.

If you choose to work with an immigration lawyer, they can assist you with UK visas and applications by liaising directly with the Home Office on your behalf.

How can I contact the London Home Office?

The contact details for the London Home Office are listed below:

Phone number : +44 (0) 207 0354 848

Email address :  [email protected]

Postal address :

Direct Communications Unit,

How can I contact the Liverpool Home Office?

You can send a letter communication directly to the Liverpool head office if your query is non-urgent. Alternatively, use the phone or email methods below.

Phone number:  +44 (0) 333 3445 675

UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI),

New Hall Place,

6 Union Street

How do I contact the Home Office to complain?

The quickest way to complain to the Home Office is to email your complaint to  [email protected]  or submit a complaint on the  online complaints form .

Include the following information in your email:

• All your personal contact details (name, address, phone number, email address, reference number (where relevant)
• Full details of the nature of your complaint (include dates, times, locations, individuals, etc)
• Names of staff involved
• Details of witnesses (where relevant)
• Copies of relevant supporting documents (where relevant)
• Home Office reference details (where relevant)

There are many reasons why you may need to contact the Home Office with a complaint.

You can read more about the complaints process on the  Home Office complaints page .

You can contact the complaints team if the following applies:

• You want to submit a complaint about the service you received
• You want to complain about the professional conduct you experienced
• The incident in question happened within the last three months

If you are unhappy with a decision issued by the Home Office, you may have recourse to some of the below options:

• Apply for an adminstrative review
• Reuqest a judicial review 
• Appeal a Home Office decision
• Submit a pre-action protocol for judicial review

Additionally, you can contact related departments if you wish to submit complaints to the following:

• UK Border Force
• Disclosure and Barring Service
• HM Passport Office
• Home Office

You can expect a response to your complaint within 20 working days. If your case requires additional time to investigate, you will be informed of this.

Related Posts

Why Did Migrants Come to the UK in 2023? Insights and Statistics

Most recent data from the UK government provides clear and stark insights into the immigration trends for the year 2023.

Visa Solutions for Short-Term International Project: What Employers Need to Know

How To Convert Dependent Visa To Work Permit In UK

If you are looking for more independence working and residing in the UK long-term, it is important to have a coherent understanding of the eligibility requirements to switch to a work permit as well as the process of how to do so.

Canada vs UK Citizenship

Deciding between Canada vs UK citizenship is not easy. Both countries offer incredible benefits to citizens, including permanent residency, attractive job prospects, and excellent educational opportunities.

Hiring Globally Guide: What HR Must Know

Italy Announces New Digital Nomad Visa in 2024

Join Us for Our monthly Webinar Series on Migration Opportunities

Uk government makes radical changes to family and work visa requirements – what you can do.

Happy New Year from IAS

Get in touch with our team.

Learn about our professional services and find out how we can help.

Get in Touch

Immigration Advice Service Ashwood House, Ellen Street Oldham, OL9 6QR

We have over 20 offices across the UK, find a branch near you.

Request a call back from our immigration experts

One method of extending a visa within the UK is to visit a Public Enquiry Office (PEO). The largest of the Public Enquiry Offices is in a building called Lunar House in Croydon (south-west of London). Other PEOs are located at Birmingham , Liverpool and Glasgow . For telephone numbers, addresses and other details, see: http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/contact/applyinginperson . This page describes how to get to Lunar House in Croydon and what to expect when you are there. It does not give any advice about making a visa application: if you need such advice you need to consult someone who is authorised to give this kind of guidance (for more information, see: Prepare/Visa ).

Croydon has an appointments only system. To make an appointment, please call 0870 606 7766 Note that you can only apply at a Public Enquiry Office if there is less than 4 weeks before the expiry date of your visa . Make sure that you understand what you will need to take with you. You should bring your completed application form (this is available online: for details, see Prepare/Visa ), your passport, bank statements proving that you have enough money to live here, and any other documents which you need (these are listed on the application form). If you are a student you may need to bring a letter from your school showing that you have a good record of past attendance, and a letter showing that you have been accepted on a course of study. You will need to be able to pay the fees (check what methods of payment are accepted). If you are visiting Croydon because you made a postal application but need to get your passport back urgently, make sure that you bring a note of the reference number given to you by the Post Office when you sent it (assuming that you sent it by recorded delivery). Back to top

If you are living in London and you want to arrive very early in Croydon, you may consider taking a night bus to one of the railway stations from which there are night trains to East Croydon (see the Train section). Alternatively, you can take a night bus service to Croydon. The N68 leaves from Tottenham Court Road (stopping at Holborn, Aldwych, Waterloo and Elephant & Castle), or the N159 leaves from Marble Arch (stopping at Oxford Circus, Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square, Westminster, Lambeth North and Brixton). It may be easiest to get off at West Croydon bus station , but you can also get off at the next stop on Wellesley Road. The journey usually takes about 60 minutes. If you are travelling during the day, there is no direct bus service from central London. The best route is probably to take a bus first to Brixton underground station (for example, taking the number 2 from Victoria , or number 3 from Oxford Circus ): this will take about 30 minutes. At Brixton, change to a number 109 to West Croydon bus station (or the next stop, Whitgift Centre ): this part of the journey will take about another 50 minutes. Buy a one-day bus pass if you do not already have a bus pass. Going by bus during the daytime is cheap, but it is much slower than taking the train. See the Walking section for details of how to get to Lunar House from the West Croydon or Whitgift Centre bus stops. For links you can use to check bus routes and timetables and for other information about London buses, see: Travel/Transport/London/Buses . Back to top

You may choose to stay overnight in Wimbledon before coming to Croydon, or you may find it convenient to start your journey by travelling to Wimbledon by underground (the District line) or by train (from Waterloo). The most convenient way to travel to Croydon from Wimbledon is to take the tram service number 1 (operated by Tramlink ) from Wimbledon towards Elmers End. Get off either at West Croydon or at the next stop, Wellesley Road . If you arrive by train at East Croydon station and do not wish to walk to Lunar House (a 10 minute walk), you can also take a short tram ride. Cross carefully to the other side of the road in front of the station: you can take either tram service number 2 (towards Beckenham Junction) or number 3 (towards New Addington). Get off about 5 minutes later at West Croydon , or at the next stop Wellesley Road . See the Walking section for details of how to walk from East Croydon, West Croydon or Wellesley Road tram stops to Lunar House. For more information about how to use Tramlink, see: Travel/Transport/London/Buses .

While you are walking to Lunar House, look for signs like the one below. The Home Office is the government department which deals with visa applications from people who are already in the UK. Look both ways when you cross a road: trams may travel in either direction. Use the subways to cross Wellesley Road (in British English subways are passages which allow people to walk underneath roads). This is a busy road: people have been killed while trying to cross it directly.

Getting a visa to enter the UK: Prepare/Visa Home page (with frames): Home Back to top

Croydon (South London) Service and Support Centre

The in-country UK immigration application system is known as UKVCAS (UK Visa and Citizenship Application System). There are a number of UKVCAS service centres . You can read our overview of the current UK immigration application system here . For enquiries to the Croydon Service and Support Centre, phone the standard Home Office line on: 0300 700 6268.

For some UK visa applications, you will be required to attend an appointment at a Service and Support Centre (SSC). UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) will let you know by email or post if you need to make an appointment at the Croydon Service and Support Centre and will provide instructions for the booking process.

Croydon Service and Support Centre is situated at Lunar House, 40 Wellesley Road, Croydon, CR9 2BY.

Croydon SSC is easily accessible from West Croydon and East Croydon train stations. Walking from either station would take approximately 5 to 10 minutes, or you could use a taxi which should take 5 minutes.

If you wish to drive, please note there is no on street parking nearby. However, there is parking opposite the centre or Ruskin Square car park which is a 6 minute walk away.

WHAT HAPPENS AT A SERVICE AND SUPPORT CENTRE APPOINTMENT?

You must take your appointment confirmation and a form of ID (e.g. passport) to the appointment. Hard copies of your supporting documents only need to be taken to the appointment if they haven't been uploaded beforehand.

At the appointment you will provide biometrics (e.g. photos and fingerprints). The UKVI staff member will check the documents you have submitted and upload them if you were unable to do it online. They will also want to check that your application includes all the information needed. UKVI may keep your passport until your application has been processed but you should get any other documents back at the end of the appointment.

How can we help?

At White Rose Visas we have a thorough understanding of the UKVCAS process and are here to guide you through every step of your application.

We are able to assist in the full preparation of the application, as well as completing the online form on your behalf. Most importantly, we ensure that you have all the necessary documentation for a successful application, including a thorough check of every document to be submitted.

Even if you choose not to use White Rose Visas to prepare your application on your behalf, we still welcome your enquiry . We are happy to provide a free 30 minute consultation, with no obligation to use White Rose Visas' services thereafter.

CONTACT WHITE ROSE VISAS

0114 303 9933

0800 8600 851

Email [email protected]

White Rose Visas

101 Wilkinson Street

United Kingdom

How to apply for a UK Travel Document

• Last Updated: 19 April 2022

IN THIS ARTICLE

A valid passport is usually required for international travel and serves as an important form of official identification that is recognised around the world. However, some people cannot obtain a passport whilst they are living in the United Kingdom for a variety of reasons, such as refugees and stateless people. These individuals may be eligible to apply for a Home Office Travel Document, allowing them to travel outside the UK.

In this guide, we explain what the UK travel document is, who is eligible, and how to apply. We’ll also answer some frequently asked questions from Home Office rravel document applicants.

What is a UK travel document?

A UK Travel Document, also known as a Home Office Travel Document, is an alternative form of identification that provides the ability to cross international borders for travel. Whilst it looks like a UK passport, it does not confer the same rights granted to British nationals. Rather, a UK Home Office Travel Document provides a mechanism to permit travel and serves as identification. Holders of UK Home Office Travel Documents must note that they cannot access visa-free international travel in the same way as British citizens and will be subject to the visa arrangements outlined for nationals of their country of origin.

Why is a UK travel document important?

UK Home Office Travel Documents are important as they provide the ability to travel to individuals currently in the United Kingdom who may otherwise incur difficulties obtaining a national passport. For some people, obtaining a national passport can be impossible due to factors such as war, civil unrest, or persecution in their country of nationality. Obtaining a UK Home Office Travel Document also provides a widely recognised form of identification that will be accepted within the United Kingdom for future immigration applications and in daily life.

Who needs a UK travel document?

You will need a UK Home Office Travel Document if you want to have a form of UK identification and seek to travel internationally. You can only apply for a UK Home Office Travel Document from within the United Kingdom. You cannot be a British citizen and you must not be able to obtain a passport from your country of nationality. One of the following must also be true:

• You have Leave to Remain or Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) in the United Kingdom as a refugee
• You have Leave to Remain or Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) in the United Kingdom as a stateless person
• You have Leave to Remain or Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) in the United Kingdom as an individual with humanitarian protection status
• You have Leave to Remain or Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) in the United Kingdom but cannot obtain a passport from your country of nationality

What are the different types of UK travel documents?

There are four different types of UK Home Office Travel Documents. You will need to apply for the correct type of UK Home Office Travel Document for your circumstances. These include the Refugee Travel Document, Stateless Person’s Travel Document, One-Way Travel Document, and Certificate of Travel.

Refugee Travel Document – This type of UK Home Office Travel Document is intended for people who have been granted refugee status in the United Kingdom as well as people who came to the United Kingdom via Family Reunion to join a family member who has refugee status. Refugees are eligible for UK Home Office Travel Documents as per the 1951 United Nations Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and the 1967 Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees. The Refugee Travel Document is valid for up to 5 years for individuals with Leave to Remain and expires in line with your immigration permission. If you have Indefinite Leave to Remain as a refugee, your Refugee Travel Document is valid for up to 10 years. If you are under the age of 15, your Refugee Travel Document is valid for up to 5 years. You can travel anywhere in the world on a Refugee Travel Document except for your country of nationality and/or any country you’ve sought asylum from. Please note that you will still be liable to apply for visa(s) before travelling internationally as you are not considered a UK national with this document. You will also need to be sure that the countries you travel to accept Refugee Travel Documents as a valid form of identification.

Stateless Person’s Travel Document

This type of UK Home Office Travel Document is intended for individuals who have been recognised by the UK Government as being stateless. Stateless persons are those who lack an officially recognised nationality from any country around the world and therefore are not eligible for the passport of any country. The Stateless Person’s Travel Document is valid for up to 5 years for individuals with Leave to Remain and expires in line with your immigration permission. If you have Indefinite Leave to Remain as a stateless person, your Stateless Person’s Travel Document is valid for up to 10 years. If you are under the age of 15, your Stateless Person’s Travel Document is valid for up to 5 years. You can generally travel anywhere in the world on a Stateless Person’s Travel Document issued by the UK Home Office. Please note that you will still be liable to apply for visa(s) before travelling internationally as you are not considered a UK national with this document. You will also need to be sure that the countries you travel to accept Stateless Person’s Travel Documents as a valid form of identification.

One-Way Travel Document

This type of UK Home Office Travel Document is intended for individuals who are not British, do not have a valid passport from their country of nationality, and seek to leave the United Kingdom permanently. It allows a one-way right of travel out of the United Kingdom to a country of destination. You will not be able to return to the United Kingdom on a One-Way Travel Document, so you will want to apply for a full passport once you leave the UK. The One-Way Travel Document is valid for 12 months from the date of issue. Please note that you will still be liable to apply for visa(s) before travelling internationally as you are not considered a UK national with this document. You will also need to be sure that the countries you travel to accept One-Way Travel Documents as a valid form of identification.

Certificate of Travel

This type of UK Home Office Travel Document is intended for individuals who fall under one of the following situations:

• If you have Leave to Remain or Indefinite Leave to Remain and have been refused a passport by your country of nationality
• If you have humanitarian protection status in the United Kingdom with officially recognised fear of the authorities from your country of nationality
• If you are on a Family Reunion visa in the United Kingdom after joining your family member who has humanitarian protection status in the United Kingdom
• If you were born in the United Kingdom to an individual who has refugee status in the UK but you have not been granted refugee status in your own right
• If you have a critical reason to travel and cannot receive a passport from your country of nationality quickly enough
• If you fall under any of the above situations, you may be eligible for a Certificate of Travel. If you are applying for a Certificate of Travel due to a critical and imminent need to travel, you will need to provide details about why you need to travel soon.

What is the application process like for a UK travel document?

The application process for a UK Travel Document is not complex, but you must ensure that you meet the requirements and eligibility criteria before beginning the online application form. If you do not meet all requirements and eligibility criteria for a UK Home Office Travel Document, your application will be refused. You will need to submit a separate Travel Document application for every individual in your family, if you are applying as a family unit.

First, you will need to select the Travel Document application form on the UK Home Office website. You will need to identify if you are inside or outside the United Kingdom and then select the type of Travel Document for which you seek to apply – One-Way Travel Document, Certificate of Travel, Stateless Person’s Travel Document, or Refugee Travel Document. You will then need to provide an email address to the Home Office and click through the email verification link.

Next, you will provide all required personal details for your Travel Document application such as the following:

• Your email address
• Your phone number
• Your home address
• Your sex and relationship status
• Your country of nationality, date of birth, country of birth, and place of birth
• Information about your current Biometric Residence Permit (BRP)
• Your National Insurance Number (NIN)

You will also need to provide details about any criminal convictions, driving penalties, arrests, charges, cautions warnings, reprimands or other out-of-court penalties, civil court judgments, or civil penalties under UK immigration law that have been issued in the United Kingdom or any other country. You must also provide details if you have ever been involved in war crimes, crimes against humanity, genoide, terrorist activities, terrorist organisations, held terrorist views, or any other activities that would indicate you are not a person of good character. You must truthfully provide this information or face rejection of your application.

You will then provide details about your immigration and travel history, such as the length of time you have lived in the United Kingdom, any Home Office reference numbers you have been issued, past immigration applications in the UK and abroad. You will also need to provide details about places you plan to travel once you receive your new UK Home Office Travel Document, if you have these details.

Finally, you will need to consent to provide supporting documents. You will be required to send two passport-sized photographs in the post with your name and date of birth written on the back of each photograph. You will also need to send any previous Travel Documents to the Home Office before they will issue your new Travel Document. You will then confirm all information on the Travel Document application and pay the relevant application fee. Once you have paid the application fee, your online application form is complete. You should download and print the Document Checklist to send with your supporting documents in the post.

After you have submitted the online Travel Document application form, you will need to collect all supporting documents. At minimum, you will be required to send two passport-sized photographs and your Document Checklist. If you are submitting an application on behalf of a minor, you will need to provide a consent letter declaring that you agree to apply for your child’s Travel Document. You may be asked to provide additional documents depending on your circumstances, such as:

• Your Leave to Remain grant letter
• Any current or expired Home Office Travel Documents
• Any current or expired national passports
• Any current or expired foreign national identity cards

The Document Checklist will identify if you need to send original copies of these documents or if you can send copies of these documents. If any of these documents are not originally in English, Welsh, or Scottish Gaelic, you will need to include a certified translation alongside the original language.

Once you have collected all of your documents, you should send them with your Document Checklist within 15 working days to the Home Office at the below address:

Home Office Travel Documents Section Lunar House 40 Wellesley Road Croydon CR9 2BY

How much does it cost to apply for a UK travel document?

The cost of your new UK Home Office Travel Document will depend on the type of Travel Document you require and how old you are. Here are the associated costs for the four types of UK Home Office Travel Documents:

You will need to pay the full Travel Document fee at the end of the online application form. If you do not pay the associated fee for your Travel Document, your application will be considered null and void.

How long does it take to receive a decision on my UK travel document application?

Once you have submitted the online application form for a UK Home Office Travel Document and submitted your two passport-size photographs in the post, you will need to wait for your Travel Document to process. Typically, you could wait 3 months to receive your new Travel Document to arrive. However, due to delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Home Office advises that it could take up to 6 months for your new Travel Document to arrive. As such, the Home Office strongly advises that you should not plan or book any travel arrangements until you have received your new UK Travel Document.

UK travel document FAQs

[wp-faq-schema accordion=1]

Legal disclaimer

The matters contained in this article are intended to be for general information purposes only. This article does not constitute legal advice, nor is it a complete or authoritative statement of the law, and should not be treated as such. Whilst every effort is made to ensure that the information is correct, no warranty, express or implied, is given as to its accuracy and no liability is accepted for any error or omission. Before acting on any of the information contained herein, expert legal advice should be sought.

Gill Laing is a qualified Legal Researcher & Analyst with niche specialisms in Law , Tax , Human Resources , Immigration & Employment Law .

Gill is a Multiple Business Owner and the Managing Director of Prof Services - a Marketing & Content Agency for the Professional Services Sector.

• Gill Laing https://www.xpats.io/author/editor/ Commonwealth Visa & BNO Citizens
• Gill Laing https://www.xpats.io/author/editor/ Ukraine Extension Scheme
• Gill Laing https://www.xpats.io/author/editor/ Guide to Family Visas in the UK
• Gill Laing https://www.xpats.io/author/editor/ Ukraine Permission Extension Scheme

Subscribe to our newsletter

Filled with practical insights, news and trends, you can stay informed and be inspired to take your business forward with energy and confidence.

Xpats.io is a Rokman Media brand © 2024. All rights reserved.

Xpats.io is a registered trademark of Rokman Group Limited and may not be used by third parties without permission.

Website by Prof Services

Privacy Overview

Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.

Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.

• Individual Immigration
• Business Immigration
• European Immigration
• Worldwide Immigration
• New UK Rules
• News & Views
• Sim Client Login

Sim login English 简体中文

Latest News

New data shows early impacts of uk immigration reforms on work and study visas, study in germany with a student visa, european union: schengen visa updates, getting your passport back from the home office.

3 November 2021

When you submit a UK visa or settlement application to the Home Office, chances are you’ll need to provide supporting documentation such as your passport when you apply.

After a decision has been made on your application, the Home Office will return your documents to you. However, if you have sent your documents with your application and you need them back urgently, you may be able to ask for them to be returned.

How you do this depends on whether you submitted your application from inside or outside the UK, and the type of application you have made. In some cases, asking for your documents back may mean you need to cancel your application. You will be told if you have to do this when you make the request.

If you applied outside the UK

If you submitted your visa application from outside the UK, you should contact UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) to request your documents back.

You will not receive a refund if your application has been processed. You will have three months to collect your passport or travel document once you’ve been told it’s ready for collection. If you fail to collect your passport within the given timeframe, it will be returned to the authority that issues it.

If you applied in the UK

If you applied in the UK, you may be able to use the online return of documents form . If you are eligible to use the form, you will usually receive your documents back within 10 working days.

You cannot use the online form if:

• You no longer have permission to stay in the UK
• Your application to stay in the UK has been refused or rejected
• You want to cancel your application to extend your stay in the UK because you now plan to leave
• You have applied for asylum

If your application has been refused and you do not have permission to stay in the UK, you can contact the Voluntary Returns Service if you want to leave voluntarily or if you cannot use the online form. You will get your documents back at the airport.

Support with your UK visa application

If you have any questions about applying for a UK visa or need some assistance with filing your application, Smith Stone Walters is here to help.

To speak to an immigration advisor, please contact us today .

Share story

© 2024 Smith Stone Walters

• Terms and Conditions
• Privacy Notice
• Cookie Notice
• OISC registration number: F200100066

Site by Parallel

Popular Topics

Search the uk rules.

Note : You should still attend an appointment unless you have coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms (or someone you live with has), or you are self-isolating. But, contact the nearest reporting centre if you are unable to go.

What Happens at a Home Office Interview?

There are penalties for failing to attend an appointment. You will also need to take certain documents along with you.

So, remember to take your:

• Immigration reporting paperwork (e.g. Bail 201).
• Mobile phone (to show your SMS message to security personnel at the main entrance to the building).

To avoid security delays, you should only carry essential items needed for your appointment. Also, follow official guidance about travelling safely if you will use public transport to get to the appointment.

The reporting centre may also need some extra information about your situation. This can include your address and whether you have a dependant (e.g. a child or a family member).

Immigration reporting centres usually send a text message, email, or a letter. It will remind you about the time and place for the appointment.

Note : You can email [ [email protected] ] if you get a text message by mistake. Give them your name, phone number, and reference (if applicable).

Missing Home Office Appointments

If you miss your appointment, you will need to contact your caseworker within seven (7) days. There is also a contact number on your immigration paperwork. You should use that for reporting if you are unable to contact your caseworker.

Note : Failure to attend an appointment can result in a penalty. They may withdraw your asylum support (money and housing). In some cases, you may also get an unlimited fine, a six (6) month prison sentence, or a criminal record.

Immigration Reporting Centre Contact Number

There are fourteen immigration reporting centres listed throughout the United Kingdom. Check your immigration paperwork to see which reporting centre you need to attend.

Central London

South london, west london.

Eaton House 581 Staines Road Hounslow Middlesex TW4 5DL Email: [email protected]

East Midlands

West Midlands

South yorkshire, west yorkshire, north east and cumbria, immigration reporting centres in wales, general buildings, e block dvla, immigration reporting centre in scotland.

Festival Court 2 200 Brand Street Glasgow G51 1DH Email: [email protected]

Scotland Police Station Reporting

Email: [email protected]

Immigration Reporting Centre in Northern Ireland

Related help guides.

• How to seek protection or asylum in the United Kingdom?
• Using the Home Office voluntary return form .
• How immigrants can apply for bail while waiting for an appeal .

Bedford Point Croydon Service Point (UKVCAS Immigration Office)

If you would like to read a step-by-step guide about the in-country UK visa application process, feel free to read our UKVCAS / Sopra Steria Guidance [STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE FOR 2022] article.

What is the address of the Bedford Point Croydon UKVCAS service point?

The address is Bedford Point, 35 Dingwall Road, Croydon, CR9 2EF, United Kingdom.

What are the opening hours for Bedford Point, Croydon?

Is there car parking near bedford point, croydon.

Yes, there are two car parks near Bedford Point, Croydon.

The closest (around 200m away) is Viceroy Court Car Park, Croydon CR0 2BE and parking is also available at Ruskin Square Car Park, Dingwell Road, CR0 0XH (around 500m away).

What services are available at Bedford Point, Croydon?

i) Document scanning

If an applicant does not self-upload their documents when submitting their online application they can pay to have their documents scanned when they attend their appointment at Bedford Point.

If you choose this service, you will need to take all your required documents (the original versions) with you to the appointment when staff will scan and upload them in front of you. The documents will then be returned to you before you leave.

How much does the scanning service cost?

The standard cost is £54 but if an applicant books an appointment at a Premium Lounge, at a Mobile Pop-up centre or using their VIP service, the cost of scanning is included in the appointment fee.

Please note, if you are using a paper (offline) application form you will not require the document scanning service.

ii) Interpretation

If you need language support at your appointment, UKVCAS can provide a qualified telephone interpreter.

There is a £70 fee for this service but please note it is not available for VIP or Mobile Pop-Up appointments.

iii) Express Appointments

Express appointments aim to complete your appointment within 30 minutes with the help of one dedicated member of staff dealing with everything from when you arrive at the application centre.

The fee for an express appointment is £75.

iv) Concierge service

This specialist service allows you to arrive at the application centre when a member of staff will book your appointment* and then take you through every aspect of the appointment.

As well as guiding you through confirming your identity and providing your biometric information, the service includes any additional services you may need such as document scanning or document checking** and SMS text notifications.

The fee for the concierge service is £275.

* This service is for single applicants only and is only currently available at Bedford Point, Croydon.

**Document checking is not available if your appointment is within two working days of booking.

Where are the other nearest UKVCAS service points?

You can check what other UKVCAS service points are available nearby by inputting your postcode on the UKVCAS website here .

The UKVCAS website will then list the available service points, including the number of miles they are away from your postcode.

What are the reviews from Google for Bedford Point like?

Bedford Point has 184 Google reviews (at the time of writing) with an average star rating of 2.7 out of 5.

The reviews are mixed with some users happy with the service on the day and others complaining of poor service.

There are no available appointments at Bedford Point, Croydon. What shall I do?

The UKVCAS appointment centres offer appointments up to 28 days in advance.

If you find there are none available at Bedford Point when you try to book an appointment, you should try logging in to your account another time to check and see if new appointments are available.

New appointments are released daily, with new free appointments becoming available at 9am and chargeable appointments at midnight.

Alternatively, you could look for another nearby service centre by inputting your postcode on this link .

How do I cancel my appointment at Bedford Point, Croydon?

You can contact UKVCAS via this link to cancel your appointment.

What happens at the appointment?

When you go to the appointment, you must take the QR code from your UKVCAS appointment confirmation with you (which is normally received via email when you book).

If you don’t take this you, the appointment will not be able to go ahead.

Once you arrive at the centre, you will be escorted to a self-service biometric booth where, after pressing start, you will scan the QR code with your appointment details on.

After this, you will scan the ID page of your passport.

Next, you will have your photograph taken in the booth. You will need to make sure your photo is acceptable, for example no glasses or hats, before pressing you are ready.

You can retake your photo if you are not happy with the outcome.

Next, your fingerprints will be scanned.

Finally you will provide your digital signature.

If you have any problems with the process, staff should be available at the centre to help.

You should allow up to 1 hour for the appointment to be completed though it is often quicker than that. The length of time will depend on how many other applicants are at the centre at the same time and whether you are using other services, like document scanning.

There is no direct phone line to Bedford Point. The only way to contact UKVCAS on the phone is through the UKVCAS Premium Support Line on 0844 8920232. Calls cost £0.04 per minute

Depending on your personal circumstances and any additional services you have paid for, you might also have:

• staff confirm your identity against your ID document (usually your passport)
• a check of the biometric information you have provided to make sure it meets quality standards
• any outstanding supporting documentation digitised and uploaded to your application. Please note you are likely to be charged for scanning if you bring extra documentation on the day.
• a check of your digitised supporting documents to make sure they are legible, in English (or with appropriate translation) and complete.

Once you have successfully completed your appointment, UKVCAS will send your supporting documents digitally and securely to UKVI for a decision on your application.

You should receive an email confirmation this has been done.

What do I need to do when I attend an appointment?

UKVCAS is currently continuing to ask applicants to wear a face mask when they attend their appointment at a centre in England. Staff may also be wearing face coverings.

There are different rules in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland and applicants are expected to follow the public health guidelines that apply in each of those countries.

UKVCAS has limited room in waiting areas, so UKVCAS asks applicants to arrive at their appointment on time (and not earlier).

Only applicants on the booked appointment should attend. One additional person may be allowed in exceptional circumstances which are detailed in the FAQs on UKVCAS’s website under the Attending my Appointment category here .

If the application is for a minor, the responsible adult who was named on the application must also attend the appointment and must bring an ID document with them.

You must bring your travel document (usually your passport or similar) with you for ID purposes. If you don’t bring suitable ID, you will not be allowed to enter the UKVCAS Service Point.

You must also bring the QR code on your appointment receipt with you. This can be printed off or it can be read off a smart phone from the email you received which confirmed your appointment.

Please note, if you don’t follow UKVCAS guidelines, staff are authorised to turn applicants away.

Will I get a refund if I cancel my appointment at Bedford Point?

If you cancel an appointment more than 48 hours before it is due to take place, you will receive a refund minus £10 UKVCAS keeps as an administration fee.

If you cancel less than 48 hours before your appointment, UKVCAS may keep your appointment fee.

What should I bring with me to my appointment?

The applicant will normally need to bring the following to their appointment:

• Their passport or travel document;
• Any documents you want to be scanned; and
• Their QR code which are in the file(s) attached to your appointment confirmation email.

How do I complain about the service received at Bedford Point, Croydon?

You can complain about the service by email using the web-form here .

The UKVCAS contact centre is open 9am to 5.30pm Monday to Friday.

If the complaint cannot be resolved quickly using the internal complaints procedure, UKVCAS will provide further information about using its alternative dispute resolution provider.

How should I prepare for my appointment at Bedford point, Croydon?

First, you should read and follow the instructions you receive in an email when you have booked your appointment. The email will also include the QR code you must take to the appointment.

You can either print your QR code, bring it to the appointment or it can be read off your phone.

You must also have your passport or suitable alternative ID document available to bring to the appointment.

Who will need to attend the appointment when I visit Bedford point, Croydon?

All the people named on the application must attend the appointment. This will include a named Responsible Adult, if the application is for a child/minor.

Family and friends who are not named on the application will not be allowed to attend the appointment, in line with UKVCAS’s current public health guidelines.

There are a few exemptions where an additional person may be allowed, such as a carer or young children.  More information is available in the FAQs section on the UKVCAS website under the Attending my Appointment category here .

Would it be helpful to have an immigration advisor with you?

For most applicants (in 99%+ of instances), there will be no benefit to having an immigration advisor with them when they attend the visa centre appointment.

Whilst you may see some immigration firms who offer a service which involves an advisor attending the appointment with the applicant, such a cost will normally be difficult to justify.

After all, the appointment is solely an administrative task. The staff at the visa centre should have no impact on the outcome of the visa application. They will not interview the applicant about their application. In fact, the staff that applicants will deal with will likely not be trained in the relevant Immigration Rules.

Furthermore, the UKVCAS site states that you may only bring a legal advisor “only if a legal adviser is absolutely necessary” (which again, it will not be in most instances).

Will I be interviewed at Bedford point, Croydon?

No. UKVCAS staff do not have any role in the decision-making process for your application. They are also not generally qualified to give immigration advice and are essentially there to make sure the appointment goes smoothly and to assist with any additional services you have paid for.

Do my documents need to show that I met the requirements on the date of attending the visa centre appointment?

The general rule throughout UK immigration applications is that your documents must show that the Immigration Rules were met on the date that you submitted the application by paying the Home Office fees on the online application website (not the date that the applicant attends the appointment).

Does Bedford Point, Croydon have a premium lounge?

No. The only premium lounge - where appointments are held in what UKVCAS calls a ‘comfortable business lounge environment’ – is at London Premium Lounge, 20 Mark Lane, London, EC3R 7NQ.

Do I need to bring my supporting documents if I have already uploaded them before the appointment?

No. You do not need to bring the supporting documents if they have already been uploaded.

FREE UK Partner Visa Video Series

CLICK HERE to watch our free video series.

In this free video series, we discuss:

• The online application form
• The financial requirement
• Document translations
• The adequate accommodation requirement
• Dependent children requirement
• The English language requirement
• The unmarried partner visa two years cohabitation requirement
• Other partner visa requirements

As an OISC registered immigration law firm that specialises in UK spouse and partner visas, we primarily offer two services.

Our full legal representation service involves Ed Lowe and Matthew French (both of whom worked for the Home Office for many years) handling your application from start to finish.

Our £435 DIY Application Pack service is for partners who are looking to apply for their own UK spouse visas (including FLR(M) visas ) but would like additional assistance with their application.

Related Articles

Sheffield Service Point (UKVCAS Immigration Office)

London Mark Lane Premium Lounge (UKVCAS Immigration Office)

Birmingham Service Point (UKVCAS Immigration Office)

Liverpool Service Point (UKVCAS Immigration Office)

Leave a reply cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

GOV.UK uses cookies to make the site simpler. Find out more about cookies

Leaving your feedback will help us to improve this service.

UKVI - Change your address or your legal representative's details

When to use the form

Update your address or your legal representative's details.

• update your home address
• update your correspondence address
• update your legal representative's address
• update your dependant's details
• inform us of a change in your legal representation

Who shouldn’t use this form

Information and evidence you will need.

• your full name
• your date of birth
• your nationality
• Home Office Reference Number / Port Number
• your old postcode
• your new address
• your passport, BRP or ARC number
• your email address
• your home telephone number
• your mobile number
• your legal representatives details
• the name, date of birth and nationality of any dependants if you need to update their details
• national passport
• EEA National Identity card
• travel Document
• Biometric Residence Permit
• Asylum Registration Card (ARC)
• UK Driving Licence (Photo card only)
• BAIL201 form
• official letters issued by the Home Office
• bank statements
• mortgage statements
• credit card statements
• Council Tax bills
• benefit statements
• utility bills
• letters from UK government departments
• rental agreements (this must be the full document, signed by the landlord and tenants)
• dated within 3 months
• signed by yourself and the accommodation provider
• confirms you are a resident at the hotel which includes your room number and full address
• is dated within the last 3 months
• is on letterheaded stationary and signed by the hotel manager.
• your photo ID
• photo ID for the friend or relative
• a letter from the friend or relative that confirms they are providing you with accommodation, which is signed and dated within the last 3 months
• a proof of address document for your friend or relative - this must have their full name and address and be dated within 3 months
• photo ID for the minor, or a copy of their birth certificate
• the parents' photo ID and proof of address, dated within 3 months

Updating someone’s address on their behalf

Updating a legal representative:.

• your client's full name
• your client's date of birth
• your client's signature
• date your client signed the letter (must be within three months)
• OISC/SRA number
• name of the legal representative
• contact number for the legal representative
• e-mail address for the legal representative
• full Business Address of the legal representative either on the letter of authority or separately in a covering letter

Submitting a change of address by post

Data protection.

404 Not found

• Forum Listing
• Advanced Search
• Britain Expat Forum for Expats Living in the UK

Missing documents from Croydon home office

• Add to quote

Good evening My wife applied for her EEA family permit from Madrid and got great news that she got her EEA family permit... I'm from n.ireland and my wife is Venezuelan. Ok when we got home we checked through our documents and some of our documents are missing. You see i renonced don't British citizenship to be a Irish citizen living in the uk and applied for a EEA family permit. The documents are missing is my renonced British citizenship to say I'm not British our marriage certificate my contract of work my p60 and my pay slips. Is there a phone number to get these back ? Or what do I do. I think it's unacceptable from the home office as we need these document back.. Please any help will be much appreciated thank you  

Did you enclose photocopies of originals? If you didn't, they can hang on to original documents. Just ask politely, and they may send them back to you. Use https://www.gov.uk/contact-ukvi/european-nationals  

Thank you Joppa. I didn't put copies into documents. I will call them in the morning Does the home office normally give your document back when you ask for them back?  

It depends. Sometimes they can't find them. That's why you should always enclose copies of documents you want returned.  

Oh flip Joppa that's not good Should me & my wife go to the visa centre in Madrid because that's were we applied for the EEA family permit? As I am in Madrid at the moment, I will call them in the morning or write a email To be honest I'm not happy about this  

But your application was processed in Croydon, so your documents are in some archives at UKVI HQ. I've been there. They are massive.  

The number on the website is the number of Croydon ?  

There isn't any, as enquiries should be channelled through the European Section.  

Thank you Joppa you are a star.. Joppa see when my wife applies for the RC should we put the rounce of the British citizenship to the RC ? Or would I be on the home office saying in just Irish ? You are a true gentleman and great to the forum  

Yes, the renunciation of British citizenship is a useful document to submit, in case they wonder if you are a dual national.  

• ?            
• 454.1K members

Top Contributors this Month

• International edition
• Australia edition
• Europe edition

Man detained by Home Office told he is being sent to Rwanda, says NGO

Sudanese man being held in Croydon after arriving for routine sign-in believed to be first potential deportation under new law

An asylum seeker who turned up for a routine Home Office appointment on Monday was detained and told that he was being sent to Rwanda, an NGO has said.

In what is believed to be the first potential deportation case under the Rwanda scheme since Rishi Sunak’s bill received royal assent, the Sudanese man was held in Croydon, south London, the organisation Soas Detainee Support (SDS) told the Guardian.

The man said he had arrived to sign in but was informed that he would be deported to east Africa.

A government impact assessment released on Tuesday warned that changes to guidance would result in more vulnerable and traumatised people being held and deported.

It was revealed on Tuesday night that a man who had his asylum claim in the UK rejected had become the first person to be relocated to Rwanda – but under a different, voluntary removal scheme.

The man, understood to be of African origin, was flown on a commercial flight on Monday. In exchange for agreeing to relocate to Rwanda, he received a payment of up to £3,000, government sources told the Sun.

Official figures released on Monday suggested thousands of people the government hoped to deport to Rwanda had stopped reporting to the Home Office .

According to SDS, the Sudanese man detained in Croydon is one of three people being held after attending the Lunar House immigration reporting centre. Another detainee is Afghan, it said.

A spokesperson for SDS said: “We have been in touch with three asylum seekers who were detained on Monday after attending the Lunar House immigration reporting centre. All three meet the government’s criteria for deportation to Rwanda, although none have received notices of intent yet.

“They are also from countries with high asylum grant rates. One of them reports being told by immigration enforcement staff that they were being detained in order to be deported to Rwanda.”

SDS – set up by students at the School of Oriental and African Studies, a London university, in 2005 – offers advice and support to detainees.

It said it had received “an alarmingly high number of calls” since the government announced its goal of detaining asylum seekers en masse in preparation for a Rwanda flight.

“Some of our members were also present yesterday outside Eaton House immigration reporting centre [in Hounslow, west London] and saw at least three people be detained and taken away in enforcement vans,” an SDS spokesperson said. “However, we are unable to confirm whether they were detained for the purposes of the Rwanda scheme.”

An impact assessment examined how changes to the law introduced this week would affect detained “adults at risk”, who include victims of sexual violence, transgender people, individuals with learning difficulties and those with post-traumatic stress disorder.

It concluded that the changes would allow the home secretary, rather than the courts, to determine what constitutes a reasonable period of detention for vulnerable people.

The document said: “The latest amendments to the policy revise the previous aim to reduce the number of vulnerable people in detention.

“This aim is no longer considered compatible with the fact that the immigration detention estate is growing in response to the government’s change in approach to how immigration detention is used.

“It logically follows that a rise in the detained population will result in a rise in those that are considered vulnerable.”

Another impact assessment on the Home Office’s website on Monday suggested the department was in contact with 38% of those it intended to remove to Rwanda.

Only 2,145 “continue to report to the Home Office and can be located for detention”, the impact assessment said, of the 5,700 it had identified to put on the first flights.

The Guardian disclosed on Sunday that the government planned to start holding people for deportation this week.

A Home Office spokesperson declined to comment directly on the detentions at Lunar House.

“Now that the Safety of Rwanda Act has passed and our treaty with Rwanda ratified, government is entering the final phase of operationalising this landmark policy to tackle illegal migration and stop the boats,” they said.

“This includes detaining people in preparation for the first flight, which is set to take off to Rwanda in 10-12 weeks.”

Commenting on the changes affecting adults at risk, the Home Office said: “We continue to ensure that individuals are held in safe and decent conditions. It’s right that we have adapted our approach to the use of immigration detention in response to the global challenge of illegal migration, so that we can remove those with no right to be here.”

• Immigration and asylum
• Home Office

More on this story

‘Compassion for the most vulnerable’: bishop thanks protesters who blocked asylum coaches

London protesters block transfer of asylum seekers to Bibby Stockholm

Lone children at risk of deportation to Rwanda after being classified as adults, says charity

UK ministers acknowledge detention of asylum seekers to be sent to Rwanda

Rwandan opposition leader voices doubts Kigali will stick to UK asylum deal

Home Office has lost contact with thousands of potential Rwanda deportees, data shows

Asylum seekers in UK should have right to work after six months, MPs say

UK will not accept return of asylum seekers from Ireland, Rishi Sunak says

Lampedusa aid workers condemn UK’s Rwanda plan after Cleverly visit

Home Office to detain asylum seekers across UK in shock Rwanda operation

Most viewed.

Fri 3 May 2024

2024 newspaper of the year

@ Contact us

Your newsletters

Home Office operations to detain Rwanda migrants disrupted by protesters

The home office has begun detaining people ahead of planned flights to rwanda in nine weeks' time, raiding homes and stopping people at routine immigration appointments.

Protesters are disrupting the Home Office ‘s attempts to detain migrants that are set to be deported to Rwanda.

Over the past two days, asylum seekers have been detained in their homes and at routine immigration appointments, as the Government pushes on with plans to begin deportations in just over two months.

But protesters across the UK are staging demonstrations at Home Office immigration buildings in a bid to block the detentions or offering asylum seekers at risk of Rwanda deportation numbers and contact information for legal help.

Some asylum seekers arriving for immigration appointments told i they were terrified of going inside because they feared they would be detained.

At Lunar House in Croydon, campaigners said they initially blocked the detention of up to six asylum seekers who had been held on Tuesday evening after arriving for an immigration check-in.

Immigration officials and police had to return in the early hours of the morning when most demonstrators had left to take away two of the individuals in Home Office vans, protest groups said.

“I got to Lunar House about midnight because I knew there’d be support needed overnight. There were around 20 of us. We were just having a presence in order to dissuade police and Home Office from allowing the van to go out. There are several ways to get out of Lunar House so we tried to cover all bases. We weren’t shouting, just staying put,” said one campaigner involved in the demonstration who did not want to give his name.

“There were two police vans and a Mitie van – a Home Office contractor – which people were sat next to because we thought people might be put in there. Earlier in the day they had tried to detain some people in that van and there was a bit of a tussle. About 1.30am, about four more police vans turned up with around 30 police officers marching out.

“They asked us what we were doing and how long we’d be there. Then all of a sudden police moved out of the way of one of the entrances and two black vans hurtled out of Lunar House, tyres screeching around the corner. A few protesters jumped into the road; police pushed them back and shouted to them to get back, but the two vans got away, we presume carrying two people. We left the site about 3am.”

On Wednesday, a small demonstration continued outside Lunar House, with around ten people wearing brightly coloured clothes carrying placards saying “Stop Rwanda”, and handing out flyers with numbers for refugee helplines and immigration lawyers.

Two immigration enforcement cars waited in the car park while three police vans line up along the road, with a small group of officers stationed on the opposite street corner watching the entrance.

“I got here at 9am today but I was also here yesterday and the day before,” said 22-year-old Ria Patel, a local councillor for the Green Party in Croydon.

“We’ve been handing out some key contact information on flyers to people who are reporting. We’ve been hearing that people are being detained when they do come to report, so we’ve been making sure people do have the contact numbers to get help if they need it.

“We were blocking a van from leaving because they had put five or six people in there. We managed to successfully block it for a large part of the night but then they let people go and it seems about 1.30am when less comrades were out, lots of police turned up and they ended up taking two away. We’re not really sure to where.”

Refugee rights campaigner Zoe Gardner, who was also at the demonstration, said that “people up and down the country are horrified that the asylum seekers who have come into their communities could just be bundled into the back of a van and dragged away”.

“When we stand up for each other, we can be stronger than this desperate last-ditch attempt at terrorising us by a dying Government,” she said.

Protests were also staged in Birmingham, Loughborough and at a Home Office site in Hounslow, with several people believed to have been taken away in vans from the facilities despite demonstrations.

Asylum seekers ‘terrified’ to turn up at Home Office appointments

Asylum seekers at Lunar House told i they were terrified of being detained and sent to Rwanda , with some hesitant to go inside.

One man from Afghanistan arrived with two friends – also Afghans but with British citizenship – because he was too afraid to go to the appointment alone.

“Our friend worked with the British in Afghanistan, but now he’s terrified of being sent to Rwanda,” his friend, a 31-year-old delivery driver, said.

“He worked in the courts where they prosecuted terrorists, and his family have been threatened because he refused to hand over documents to them. But the translator misinterpreted his job and described him as a postman. The Home Office rejected his claim and now he’s appealing.

“I’ve come with him to support him. I have British citizenship, and we’ve taken the time off work to come with him from Kent. He thinks he will be taken to Rwanda. People are feeling very scared. We drove an hour to get here, and I kept saying, don’t stress, don’t worry.”

The man said asylum seekers feared they would be unsafe in Rwanda, in part due to its history of conflict, and that they would struggle with the language and lack of community.

Deportation flights to Rwanda could still continue under Labour

“What’s the difference between us and Ukrainians? People have given space in their homes for Ukrainians , but look at my country. It was the British and American withdrawal which handed my country to the terrorists. We never thought the Taliban could come back. I feel like we should be able to seek safety here,” he said.

Four Afghan men also waited near the entrance of Lunar House, with one afraid to go inside out of fear he would be detained.

“A lot of people are depressed,” said one. “They’re worried about what happens if they get sent to Rwanda. We’ve heard of one person from Pakistan who was detained. It’s very stressful.

“My cousin didn’t want to go inside because he was worried they would send him to Rwanda. We don’t want to go because of the government and economic situation.

“I know many people who applied for the Afghan schemes, but they can’t stay a single day in Afghanistan [so they had to go]. They worked with the British, or with Nato. My brother was killed by the Taliban. Lots of my friends lost family too.”

This man had claimed asylum in Germany but was rejected, so travelled to the UK. He said he knows of some people who have crossed into Ireland since the Rwanda bill was passed in a bid to seek asylum there, travelling to Northern Ireland on a ferry before entering the Republic.

‘I haven’t heard anything’ about Rwanda

Meanwhile, some at the Home Office facility in west London said they had not even heard of the Rwanda plan to deport people arriving in the UK illegally, such as by crossing the Channel in a small boat.

One man, who preferred not to give his name, said he was fleeing persecution for his involvement in opposition politics in Turkey and arrived in the UK two months ago on a small boat.

He said his family had arranged passage to get him out of Turkey and that he had been beaten by smugglers when he expressed fear of getting on the boat.

The man said he “hadn’t heard anything” about the Rwanda scheme but that he wanted to seek refuge in the UK and still hoped they would provide him with safety.

Rwanda plan could be delayed as civil servants sue Government over law breach

A 23-year-old woman from India, who fled several years ago when her family were threatened but made an asylum claim earlier this year, said someone in her family had mentioned the Rwanda plan but she hadn’t given it much thought until asylum seekers began to be detained this week.

“It feels so unfair. I came to the UK for a reason, because I have family here. I want to join the police and have started training but am waiting for my passport,” she said.

“My family had mentioned Rwanda before but I didn’t pay much attention. Then I saw it in the news this morning and realised it might be more serious.”

The Home Office has not revealed how many people have been detained ahead of Rwanda flights but has confirmed the detentions are under way.

They have now said that flights will be taking off in nine to eleven weeks – a week sooner than the period outlined by Rishi Sunak last month.

Home Secretary James Cleverly described the partnership as a “pioneering response to the global challenge of illegal migration”.

“Our dedicated enforcement teams are working at pace to swiftly detain those who have no right to be here so we can get flights off the ground,” he said.

“This is a complex piece of work, but we remain absolutely committed to operationalising the policy, to stop the boats and break the business model of people smuggling gangs.”

The Home Office’s head of enforcement, Eddy Montgomery, said that the enforcement teams were “highly trained and fully equipped to carry out the necessary enforcement activity at pace and in the safest way possible”.

“It is vital that operational detail is kept to a minimum, to protect colleagues involved and those being detained, as well as ensuring we can deliver this large-scale operation as quickly as possible,” he said.

Most Read By Subscribers

The Federal Register

The daily journal of the united states government, request access.

Due to aggressive automated scraping of FederalRegister.gov and eCFR.gov, programmatic access to these sites is limited to access to our extensive developer APIs.

If you are human user receiving this message, we can add your IP address to a set of IPs that can access FederalRegister.gov & eCFR.gov; complete the CAPTCHA (bot test) below and click "Request Access". This process will be necessary for each IP address you wish to access the site from, requests are valid for approximately one quarter (three months) after which the process may need to be repeated.

An official website of the United States government.

If you want to request a wider IP range, first request access for your current IP, and then use the "Site Feedback" button found in the lower left-hand side to make the request.

Cookies on GOV.UK

We use some essential cookies to make this website work.

We’d like to set additional cookies to understand how you use GOV.UK, remember your settings and improve government services.

We also use cookies set by other sites to help us deliver content from their services.

You have accepted additional cookies. You can change your cookie settings at any time.

You have rejected additional cookies. You can change your cookie settings at any time.

• Entering and staying in the UK
• Visas and entry clearance
• Request copies of your personal immigration and borders information

Border Force

• Immigration Enforcement
• UK Visas and Immigration

Request copies of personal information held in the borders, immigration and citizenship system

Updated 24 November 2023

© Crown copyright 2023

This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: [email protected] .

Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned.

This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/requests-for-personal-data-uk-visas-and-immigration/request-personal-information-held-by-uk-visas-and-immigration

1. Information you can request

You have the right to access your personal information, known as a ‘Subject Access Request’ ( SAR ) or a ‘Right of Access Request’, under the Data Protection Act 2018.

You can use this service to request personal information held on the Home Office’s immigration systems for yourself or someone else who has given you permission to act on their behalf.

The Subject Access Request Unit ( SARU ) handles all requests for information held by the following parts of the Home Office:

immigration

citizenship

To provide you with the best service, we need you to be as clear as possible about the information you require.

We do not provide immigration status documents. You can check someone’s:

• immigration status
• right to work
• right to rent

2. Request options

We offer 3 online request options, depending on the information you require. If multiple requests are made for the same person, we will contact you to confirm which information you require. All requests are free of charge.

You will receive a response within 1 month once we have all the supporting documents to process your request. If we write to you for further information, 1 month begins when we receive all documents. You do not need to contact us to track your request if it is still within this timeframe.

Your supporting documents must comply with the evidence guidance below.

Basic request

Most people find this option gives them all the information they need.

We will provide all of the digital information recorded about you since the year 2000, including:

details of your immigration history, for example, dates applications were submitted and decisions made

landing cards

visa applications you submitted from outside of the UK (as part of entry clearance)

Workers Registration Scheme (WRS) information if you are a national of Czechia, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia

Specific request

This is the best option if you require a particular document.

You can request specific information if you need to. You should clearly describe which documents you need.

You can request copies of up to 5 single documents, for example:

a list of your applications or a copy of a specific application form

a particular decision letter

the outcome of an appeal (appeal determination)

a particular detention progress report

a particular interview record

This list is not exhaustive. If you need something else, provide clear details of the document you are looking for.

Detailed request

Initially, you will be sent an electronic summary of your immigration information (as with a basic application). This gives most people what they need.

This option also allows you to request paper records from your Home Office file if the electronic data does not fulfil your request.

Refining your request to state clearly which paper records you need will help your application.

3. How to make a request

Apply online.

Use the online application form .

We cannot accept applications from an address outside the UK through our online form. If you do not have a UK address, email your request to [email protected] .

Apply another way

You can make a request without using the online form, but it may mean we have to ask you for more information, delaying the start of the 1 month processing time.

You can email [email protected] .

You may also write to us at:

Subject Access Request Unit (SARU) Lunar House 40 Wellesley Road Croydon CR9 2BY

4. Supporting evidence

Protecting your information is important to us. For this reason, we need to be sure that the person requesting it has permission to do so.

We need the following evidence to confirm your identity:

a copy of your photo identification, such as a passport

a letter of authority, to give permission for your records to be sent to you or your representative

proof of your relationship, if you are applying for a child under 12

You should have this evidence ready before you start your application.

The application form will tell you how to send this evidence.

Your application will not be accepted until we receive these documents. It will be automatically rejected if you do not send them within 15 days of making your application.

Photo identification

We match your photograph against our systems to ensure we send personal information to the right person. This helps us keep your personal information safe.

Photo identification can include a copy of your:

driving licence

biometric residence card

national identity card

travel document

If you do not have any of these, you will need to send a recent photograph.

Do not send original documents. We need a good quality, clear, colour photocopy.

We no longer require photo evidence to be certified.

Letter of authority

This can be a short letter or statement. We use this to be sure that you want your records to be sent to you and, if someone is applying on your behalf, that you have given your authority for them to do so.

The letter must include:

confirmation that you give permission for your records to be sent to you (or a third-party representative, if they are applying on your behalf)

your signature and the date, within the last 6 months

Your signature as well as your photo identification is used to verify that the person making the request is entitled to do so.

You can sign the letter of permission on the applicant’s behalf if any of these apply:

• you are completing this application for a child under 12
• you have the power of attorney for an applicant
• you are a litigation friend

If you do, you must submit proof of your relationship.

Proof of your relationship

If you are applying on behalf of a child under 12.

You must provide evidence of your relationship, so we are sure that you have the parental authority to do this.

This evidence can include:

a birth certificate

proof of parental responsibility

if you are divorced or no longer residing with the child, proof that you continue to hold or share parental responsibility, for example: a shared Parental Responsibility Order, Care Order, Adoption Order, Residence Order, Special Guardianship Order or permission from the parent who has sole custody or parental responsibility

If you are applying on behalf of someone because you have the power of attorney or are a litigation friend

You must provide evidence of this.

We will not be able to process your request without the required evidence being submitted unless the information is required to establish or exercise a legal claim.

Family applications

You need to apply separately for each family member.

5. What happens next

We will process your request within 1 month of receiving all information. You do not need to contact us to track your request.

When you may wait longer

Your request may take longer to process if we need additional information. We will contact you if we need more information.

In exceptional circumstances we may consider your request is complex, in which case the deadline can be extended. We will write to you separately explaining why.

Any data disclosed is the property of the data subject and should be retained by them for their records.

6. Contact and complaints

If you need help.

If you would like more information or help filling in your form, contact us by email [email protected].

You can also contact us by emailing [email protected] if you:

have a query about making a subject access request

have a query about a subject access request you have made or received

Customer survey

After you have made your application, we will send you a link to complete an online survey. Your feedback will help us understand how we can improve our service.

Making a complaint

Email customer services at [email protected]. to seek resolution through the Home Office complaints procedure.

If you are not satisfied, you can contact the Office of the Data Protection Officer ( ODPO ). The ODPO investigates complaints in relation to suspected or identified breaches of subject rights under the Data Protection Act 2018. This includes subject access rights.

You should email [email protected] if you want to:

complain about the processing of your personal data

complain to the Home Office Data Protection Officer

You will need to provide:

your reference number

the date the original request was made

information on how you made the request, for example online or by post

The ODPO is unable to provide updates about outstanding subject access requests.

Information Commissioner’s Office ( ICO )

The ICO adjudicates on individual complaints. Individuals have a right under section 165 of the Data Protection Act to bring a complaint to the ICO .

However, the role of the ICO remains as a regulator, not an ombudsman. More often, the ICO use complaints to help build up a picture of a data controller’s general compliance which will then inform decisions as to whether we need to take more formal enforcement action.

Complain to the ICO .

Find details of which personal information is held and processed by the Home Office .

Is this page useful?

• Yes this page is useful
• No this page is not useful

Help us improve GOV.UK

Don’t include personal or financial information like your National Insurance number or credit card details.

To help us improve GOV.UK, we’d like to know more about your visit today. We’ll send you a link to a feedback form. It will take only 2 minutes to fill in. Don’t worry we won’t send you spam or share your email address with anyone.