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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

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Getting an online immigration status (eVisa)

This advice applies to England. See advice for See advice for Northern Ireland , See advice for Scotland , See advice for Wales

You should check if you can get online evidence of your immigration status - also called an ‘eVisa’. 

Most physical immigration documents are being replaced by eVisas. This includes:

biometric residence permits (BRPs)

biometric residence cards (BRCs)

stamps in passports

'vignette' stickers in passports

Getting an eVisa is free and won’t change your permission to live in the UK.

You’ll need to create a UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account before the end of 2024 to access your eVisa.

If your biometric residence permit expires on 31 December 2024

Most biometric residence permits (BRPs) have an expiry date of 31 December 2024 - because eVisas are replacing BRPs. This doesn’t mean your visa ends on this date.

The Home Office will ask you to create an account for your eVisa before your BRP expires. 

If you’re not sure when your visa ends, you can check the letter you got from the Home Office when they approved your application.

If you still can't find when your visa ends, talk to an adviser .

Video from the Home Office - what is an eVisa?

When you'll get an online immigration status

When you'll get an eVisa depends on your situation.

If you're applying for a visa or indefinite leave

The Home Office will ask you to create a UKVI account for your eVisa if you’re applying for:

a visa - unless you're visiting the UK for less than 6 months

indefinite leave to remain

You might need to create your online account during or after the application process. It depends what kind of visa you’re applying for.

If your application for a visa or indefinite leave is approved, you’ll get a temporary biometric residence permit (BRP) as well as an eVisa. The BRP will expire at the end of 2024. This doesn’t mean your visa ends on this date. 

Later in 2024, the Home Office will stop issuing temporary BRPs and you’ll only get an eVisa.

If you already have a visa or indefinite leave

The Home Office will contact you during 2024 to ask you to create a UKVI account for your eVisa if you have:

a visa - unless you’re visiting the UK for less than 6 months

indefinite leave to remain (ILR)

Make sure the Home Office has your correct email and postal address so they can reach you. To update your contact details, you can fill in a change of circumstances form on GOV.UK .

If the Home Office can’t contact you, you can still create a UKVI account later in 2024.

If your visa ends in 2024

You’ll get an eVisa if you apply to extend your visa or get indefinite leave.

If you have ILR and you don’t have a BRP

If your have an ILR stamp in your passport, you’ll need to get an eVisa before your passport expires.

You can apply for a free BRP. This will make it easier for you to set up a UKVI account when the Home Office contact you. You can apply for a BRP on GOV.UK .

If you have pre-settled or settled status

If you get pre-settled or settled status through the EU Settlement scheme, you’ll get an eVisa.

If you’re not an EU Citizen, you’ll get a physical immigration document - but these will also be replaced by eVisas.

You can check how to view and prove your pre-settled or settled status .

If you already have an online account

You don’t need to create a UKVI account if you already have one. You might already have one if you’ve applied for:

pre-settled or settled status from the EU Settlement Scheme

a student visa

a British National (Overseas) visa - and you’re from Hong Kong

If you can’t access your account 

You can get help to recover it. You’ll need to have access to the phone number and email address used to create your account. Check how to recover your UKVI account on GOV.UK .

Creating an online account

You’ll need to create a UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account to get an online immigration status. 

You’ll be able to use your UKVI account to:

view and prove your online status

check what rights you have in the UK

update your personal details - like your contact information

How to create a UKVI account

The Home Office will send you a link to create your online account. You’ll also need to download an app called ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ to verify your ID. 

To create your account, you’ll need:

access to an email address

an identity document - for example, your passport or current BRP

your current BRP number - if you already have a visa

your application number - if you’re applying for a new visa 

a smart phone to download the ID verification app

You can check how to download the UK Immigration: ID Check app on GOV.UK .

If you’ve already proved your identity at a Visa Application Centre or Service Support Centre, you still need to create a UKVI account.

If you need help creating an account

You can ask someone you trust - like a friend or family member.

If you can’t manage your own account, you can add someone to your account who can do it for you - known as a ‘proxy’. For example, you might need a proxy if you’re a child or you have a disability that means you can’t do it yourself.

If you still need help creating a UKVI account, talk to an adviser .

If you need help using a computer or mobile device

You can get help from the Home Office’s assisted digital service if you either:

aren’t confident using a mobile device or computer

don’t have access to a mobile device or computer

don’t have internet access

The service is provided by We Are Group.

They can help you over the phone. You might be able to visit someone or they might be able to visit you at home - this will depend on where you live.  Find out more about how to get help from We Are Group  on GOV.UK.

We Are Group

Tel: 0333 344 5675 (Monday to Friday from 9am to 6pm)

Text: 07537 416 944 - text the word VISA

Textphone (using Next Generation Text): 18001 0333 344 5675

Email: [email protected]

Your call is likely to be free of charge if you have a phone deal that includes free calls to landlines - find out more about calling 030 numbers .

If you don't have internet access

You can use the internet free of charge at:

your local council -  find your local council on GOV.UK

your local library -  find your local library on GOV.UK

Proving your rights in the UK

You can give a share code to someone who needs to check your immigration status - like your employer.

You can still use your expired BRP to get a share code until the end of 2025 - as long as your visa is still valid.

You can get a share code on GOV.UK .

This code is only valid for 90 days - if it isn’t used within the 90 days you’ll need to get a new one.

Proving your right to enter the UK

You still need to show your physical immigration documents when you travel - for example, your BRP or stamp in your passport.

Before the end of 2024, you’ll be able to use your eVisa to enter the UK instead of your physical document. 

You can check the rules for entering the UK on GOV.UK .

Updating your UKVI account

Make sure you keep your account up to date.

If you don't keep your account details up to date, you might not be allowed to enter the UK.

You’ll need to update your UKVI account if:

you renew or replace the identity document you used to apply - for example, if your passport expires

you change your name - for example, if you get married 

you change your address, phone number or email address - your contact details need to be up to date so you can view or share your status

you want to change your identity document or add another one

You can add or change your identity document using your UKVI account. You might be asked to send your passport or national identity card to the Home Office.

It will be a number of weeks before you can log in with your new identity document details - make sure you keep the details of your old one until then. 

When you add a new identity document to your account, you’ll need to sign in using that identity document in the future.

Don’t worry if you can’t see your old identity document on your account. It’s still there, but the system might only show the most recent one you’ve added.

You can update your details in your UKVI account on GOV.UK .

If you don’t get confirmation after you've updated your account, or you’ve been waiting longer than 4 weeks, contact the UK Visas and Immigration contact centre .

If you have problems with your eVisa

If you create a UKVI account before the Home Office contacts you, you won’t be able to see your eVisa in your account.

If you need help sharing your status, updating your details or correcting an error, contact the UK Visas and Immigration contact centre .

UK Visas and Immigration contact centre

Telephone: +44 (0)300 790 6268 - select option 3

Telephone: +44 (0)203 875 4669, if you are unable to dial 0300 numbers

Monday to Friday, 8am to 8.30pm

Saturday and Sunday, 9.30am to 4.30pm

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Take 3 minutes to tell us if you found what you needed on our website. Your feedback will help us give millions of people the information they need.

Page last reviewed on 08 March 2024

ONLINE CONSULTATIONS AVAILABLE

0203 5245439, [email protected].

Home Office Travel Documents

What is a Home Office Travel Document?

A Home Office travel document is a document that allows non-UK nationals to travel outside the UK if they cannot use or obtain a passport from their own country. A person can only apply for a Home Office travel document in certain special circumstances.

Who is eligible?

In order to be eligible to apply for a Home Office travel document, a person must be living in the UK for one of the following reasons:

(i) they have permission to stay as a refugee or stateless person; (ii) they have humanitarian protection for a limited time after a failed asylum application; (iii) they have discretionary leave for a limited time after a failed asylum application; or (iv) they have indefinite leave to remain.

What are the different types of travel documents?

There are four different types of travel documents that a person can apply for, depending on their circumstances and their status in the UK:

1) If a person is a refugee, they can apply for a convention travel document; 2) If a person is stateless, they can apply for a stateless person’s document; 3) If a person is a non-UK citizen that wants to leave the UK and not come back, they can apply for a one-way document (also known as an IS137); 4) If a person has been refused a passport by their own country’s national authorities, they can apply for a certificate of travel.

It is important to note that a person must show that they have formally applied for and been unreasonably refused a passport by authorities in their country. People who have permission to be in the UK as a refugee or stateless person are exempt from this condition.

Applying for a Travel Document:

A person can apply for a travel document online or by post. If a person chooses to apply by post, they must fill in form TD112 BRP and send it to the Home Office. The form states that certain documents must be submitted alongside the application. All submitted documents must be original documents, not photocopies. Failure to provide the original documents will delay the application and may result in its refusal.

The applicant will also need to apply for a biometric residence permit (BRP) if they don’t already have one that’s up to date, as it is part of the travel document application. This is not required if a person is applying for a one-way document. Additionally, all existing non-biometric travel documents can continue to be used until they expire.

It is important to note that some countries will not accept a travel document if a person has less than 6 months’ leave to remain in the UK on the date they travel. The applicant should check that they meet the requirements of the country they are travelling to.

If an applicant’s family is applying at the same time, all postal applications should be sent in one envelope so that they can be dealt with together. A separate application and payment must be made for each person, whether it is online or by post. A person can also apply for a new travel document using form TD112 BRP if their previous document has filled up or expired.

What are the costs?

All applicants are required to pay a non-refundable fee when they send their application to the home office. We have provided an overview of this below. Please note this is separate from the fee we will charge to assist with such an application. The fee an applicant must pay depends on the type of travel document they are applying for and whether they are an adult or child:

How can NA Law Solicitors help?

As specialists in individual immigration, we can help you apply for your desired travel document. If you have any questions about anything mentioned in this article or have specific queries about your immigration matter, please do not hesitate to contact us for a 15-minute telephone consultation .

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UKVI: UK Visas and Immigration Applicants’ Guide

Anne morris.

• 13 November 2023

IN THIS SECTION

UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) is the government department responsible for deciding who has the right to visit or stay in the UK.

In the following guide, we explain what UKVI is, including the role that it plays and the services it provides. We also look at how to create an UKVI account and check your online immigration status, together with UKVI’s processing times and the ways in which you can contact UKVI if needed.

What is UKVI?

UKVI, the acronym for UK Visas and Immigration, is the division of the UK’s Home Office responsible for the issuance of visas and British citizenship decisions, as well as approving UK-based organisations to sponsor foreign workers and students. This is the department that applicants will need to directly liaise with when making these types of applications.

UKVI’s primary role is to adjudicate the validity, suitability and eligibility of applicants applying for visas, settlement, citizenship and sponsorship. The official UKVI webpage at GOV.UK advertises its’ ethos and approach to these decisions as having a firm emphasis on national security and on a culture of customer satisfaction for people coming here legally.

UKVI services

UKVI has a workforce of approximately 7,500 people, where its staff work on high volume services and more specialist casework, with responsibilities to:

• run the UK’s visa service, managing around 3 million applications each year from overseas nationals who wish to come to the UK to visit, study and/or work
• consider applications for British citizenship from overseas nationals who are looking to settle in the UK on a permanent basis and to obtain a British passport
• run the UK’s asylum service, offering protection to those eligible on this basis
• decide applications from employers and educational establishments who want to join the register of UKVI-approved sponsors
• manage immigration appeals from unsuccessful applicants.

How do you create a UKVI account?

You may be asked to create a UKVI account when you make an application. You can use this account to sign in to UKVI services which will allow you to view and prove your online immigration status, also known as an eVisa, and to keep your details up-to-date.

If you do not yet have a UKVI account, you should be able to register for one in due course, where UKVI is rolling out a digital-by-default system throughout 2024 so that almost all visas will soon become eVisas. In this way you can sign in to the online ‘View and Prove’ service using your UKVI account details. You can then use this service to view your eVisa and check what rights you have in the UK, including your right to work and rent. You can also use this service to prove your status to others, such as employer and landlords, by generating an online share code which gives them time-limited access to the relevant data.

You can update personal information through your UKVI account, where you must notify UKVI about any important changes to things like your contact and travel document details. You will need to update your account details if there are changes to:

• your name or nationality
• your home or postal address
• your ID document, passport or travel document
• your account sign in details (email address and phone number)

  It is important to keep your details up-to-date so that you can continue to access your immigration status online and to ensure that your passport is linked to this account, in this way minimising the possibility of any delays when you travel in and out of the UK. If you have an UKVI account, your information will be digitally checked on your return.

How to check your UKVI immigration status

If you have been told that you can view your UK immigration status online, you can use the ‘View and Prove’ service at GOV. UK to do any of the following:

• generate an online share code to prove your status to third parties
• update personal and travel document details
• check what rights you have in the UK, such as the right to work or rent.

  If you need help accessing or using your UKVI account, including accessing and proving your online immigration status and conditions of stay, you should contact the UKVI Resolution Centre which provides telephone and email support to all account-holders. This support includes helping you access or recover your account, helping you update your relevant details, and sharing your status on your behalf, if unable to do so yourself.

UKVI processing times

In making decisions on the different applications within its remit, UKVI will do so within certain customer service standards . As such, if you apply to come to or remain in the UK and your application is considered by UKVI to be straightforward (typically where a decision can be made without asking for more information) it will be decided within these standards. Service standard processing times will start to run when you make an application, prove your identity and provide your supporting documentation.

You can find out how long it should take UKVI to process applications inside or outside the UK in line with customer service standards at GOV.UK. These are divided into various categories, including family, students, settlement, visitors and transit, and work.

For example, in accordance with the latest customer service standards, the partner or spouse of someone settled in the UK applying on the family route can expect to wait up to 24 weeks when applying from outside the UK and up to 8 weeks when applying from inside the UK. In contrast, a foreign student or worker can expect to wait up to 3 weeks when applying from outside the UK or up to 8 weeks when applying from inside the UK.

If UKVI cannot make a decision within the service standards because there is a problem with your application, for example, if it is incomplete or complex, they will write to explain to you why it will not be decided within the normal standard. This letter will explain what will happen next. If you have applied for the priority or super priority service, UKVI will contact you within the service standard if there is a problem with your application.

Can you pay for UKVI to make a faster decision?

You may be able to pay for a faster decision on a visa or settlement decision, depending on your category of visa and where you are applying from, where you will be told if this is the case when you apply. You may be able to pay for either the priority or super priority service.

Using the priority service means that you will usually get a decision within 5 working days (or soon after), while using the super priority service means you will usually get a decision by the end of the next working day (or soon after). The cost of the priority service is an extra £500, in addition to the normal application fee, and an extra £1,000 for the super priority service. If it takes longer to get a decision on your application, for example, if UKVI needs to ask you for more information, you will not usually get your money back.

Can you minimise any risks of delay with UKVI?

UKVI’s customer charter sets out the service that it aims to provide its customers and what it expects from them. In line with this charter, and to help ensure that your application is considered within the service standards, you therefore need to make sure that:

• you make an application before your visa expires, if you currently have one
• your application is completed accurately and fully, including any required photos
• you provide your biometric information, as requested, at an overseas visa application centre (VAC), a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) service point, a Service and Support Centre (SSC) or using the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check app’
• you upload or submit at your VAC, UKVCAS or SSC appointment the appropriate documentation required in support of your application
• you respond to any requests made by UKVI for further information by the dates asked
• if your application is made on paper, ensure that you use the correct form, and sign and date this form, including the required documents and your application fee.

  It is also worth seeking expert advice from an immigration specialist to help ensure that you are eligible for the visa sought before applying, as well as to ensure your application is correctly completed and you have gathered all the necessary documentation in support.

How to contact UKVI

You can contact UKVI from either inside or outside the UK in relation to a number of matters and in various different ways. There is a dedicated webpage at GOV.UK by searching ’Contact UK Visas and Immigration for help’, where this will let you know the way in which you can contact UKVI, depending on your circumstances, including:

Inside the UK

• Applying to continue living in the UK, including settled and pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• Viewing and proving your online immigration status, right to work or right to rent
• Sponsoring an employee or student
• Accessing your UKVI account
• Updating your UKVI account details
• Getting support as an asylum seeker
• Ukraine Family Scheme visa
• Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme (Homes for Ukraine) visa
• Ukraine Extension Scheme visa
• Electronic travel authorisation (ETA)

Outside the UK

• Applying for settled or pre-settled status under the EUSS
• Using the ‘ UK Immigration: ID Check ’ app
• Using the ‘EU Exit: ID Document Check’ app
• Accessing your UKVI account or updating your account details
• Applying for British citizenship and nationality
• Applying for a Frontier Worker permit or Service Provider from Switzerland visa

Depending on the nature of the issue you would like to discuss with UKVI, you will be given the option to either raise an online inquiry, email the online help team or call the UKVI contact centre, although contact centre staff cannot advise on personal circumstances.

Is UKVCAS different to UKVI?

UKVCAS is the acronym for UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services which provide any necessary appointments for in-country immigration applications. This includes all visa extension applications and any switching between visa categories, as well as applications for settlement and citizenship. UKVCAS services, delivered by Sopra Steria (an official commercial partner of UKVI), was introduced in 2018 to streamline the process of obtaining further leave to remain, or other immigration entitlements, from inside the UK.

If you are applying to UKVI from within the UK, you may need to use UKVCAS to prove your identity, enrol your biometrics and provide your supporting documentation, where needed. You can provide your supporting documents by either uploading them into the UKVCAS online service or by having them scanned at your UKVCAS appointment.

In some cases, you may also be able to use the ID Check app to prove your identity, as well as being able to re-use any biometric information already enrolled for a previous application. In these cases, an UKVCAS appointment will not be necessary. However, you will be told when you apply whether or not you need to attend a UKVCAS service point as part of your application and how to go about scheduling that appointment. Importantly, you can only attend a service point if you have a pre-booked appointment.

A standard UKVCAS appointment is free, although some appointments are chargeable, such as out-of-hours, weekend, next day and same day appointments. You can also opt to buy additional services at certain service points, such as advance or on-the-day document checking and document scanning, as well as document translation and interpreter services.

Once you have attended your UKVCAS appointment, you will not get a decision on your application on the day, where your information and documentation will be sent to UKVI for processing. The length of time it will take for a decision to be made will therefore depend on the type of application made and if you have paid UKVI for a priority service.

Need assistance?

DavidsonMorris are UK immigration specialists . For advice on a UK visa, settlement or citizenship application, contact us .

What does UKVI mean?

UKVI is an acronym that stands for UK Visas and Immigration. This is the division of the UK’s Home Office responsible for the issuance of visas and citizenship decisions, and for approving UK-based organisations to sponsor foreign workers and students.

How do I check my UKVI status?

You can check your online status with UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) by accessing your UKVI account that you may have created when applying for your visa or applying to the EU Settlement Scheme.

How do I contact UKVI?

There are various ways in which you can contact UKVI from both inside and outside the UK, including by telephone and email. You can find a dedicated webpage at GOV.UK by searching ’Contact UK Visas and Immigration for help’.

Does UKVI respond to emails?

In some instances, you can contact UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) via email although, depending on what you need help with, you may instead need to raise your query using a dedicated UKVI online contact page or by telephoning them.

  Last updated: 13 November 2023

Founder and Managing Director Anne Morris is a fully qualified solicitor and trusted adviser to large corporates through to SMEs, providing strategic immigration and global mobility advice to support employers with UK operations to meet their workforce needs through corporate immigration.

She is a recognised by Legal 500 and Chambers as a legal expert and delivers Board-level advice on business migration and compliance risk management as well as overseeing the firm’s development of new client propositions and delivery of cost and time efficient processing of applications.

Anne is an active public speaker, immigration commentator , and immigration policy contributor and regularly hosts training sessions for employers and HR professionals

• Anne Morris https://www.davidsonmorris.com/author/anne/ UK Visa Fees 2024
• Anne Morris https://www.davidsonmorris.com/author/anne/ British Citizenship Fees 2024
• Anne Morris https://www.davidsonmorris.com/author/anne/ Guide to Travelling to the UK
• Anne Morris https://www.davidsonmorris.com/author/anne/ Explore Commonwealth Visa Options

About DavidsonMorris

As employer solutions lawyers, DavidsonMorris offers a complete and cost-effective capability to meet employers’ needs across UK immigration and employment law, HR and global mobility .

Led by Anne Morris, one of the UK’s preeminent immigration lawyers, and with rankings in The Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners , we’re a multi-disciplinary team helping organisations to meet their people objectives, while reducing legal risk and nurturing workforce relations.

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 at the time of writing, 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.

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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.

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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.

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Home Organisations UK Visas and Immigration

UK Visas and Immigration

Page contents:

UK Visas and Immigration is part of the Home Office. They decide who has the right to visit or stay in the UK. Use their service to apply for a visa to:

• visit the UK
• work in the UK or sponsor a worker
• study in the UK or sponsor a student
• join your UK, EU, or EEA family member in the UK
• live permanently in the UK and British Citizenship
• apply to the EU Settlement Scheme

Visit UK Visas and Immigration website to find the contact details you need for your situation. If you dont have an online account or need further help you can contact them by phone using the contact details below

Contact details

Main Telephone: 0300 790 6268

UK Visas and Immigration contact for general enquiries

Other Telephone: 020 3080 0010

Outside UK number for EU resettlement or family visa

Alternative Telephone: 0808 801 0503

Migrant Help UK for asylum support

Website: gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-visas-and-immigration

Other Website: gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration/asylum

Email: [email protected]

Last updated: May 8, 2024

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Blog Home Office in the media

https://homeofficemedia.blog.gov.uk/2024/04/17/media-factsheet-evisas/

Media factsheet: eVisas  

eVisas are a key part of delivering a border and immigration system which will be ‘digital by default’ by 2025. This process is already underway, and millions of people in the UK who applied for their visa through the EU Settlement Scheme or used the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app already have an eVisa (digital proof of their immigration status). These changes bring significant benefits to customers, deliver excellent value, and increase the UK immigration system’s security and efficiency.     

An eVisa is an online record of a customer’s immigration permission in the UK, and any conditions which apply. It can be viewed by logging into the online ‘View and prove your immigration status’ service using their UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account. It is usually linked to a customer’s passport to facilitate straightforward international travel.  

Using a phased approach to implementing digital services, the intention is that by 2025 most customers will have a secure and seamless digital journey when they interact with the UK’s immigration system.    

Over time this will see physical and paper-based products and services replaced with accessible, straightforward online and digital services (such as the ‘view and prove’ service) and products such as the eVisa.    

The Home Office has launched a phased rollout of eVisas to biometric residence permit (BRP). Initially this is to BRP holders by email invitation only, being sent in phases. The service will open to all BRP holders from summer 2024. Customers with BRPs do not need to do anything unless they receive an email, and don’t need to contact the Home Office if they do not receive an email immediately because the service will open to all in the summer.   

The latest information on eVisas is available at www.gov.uk/evisa .  Holders of other physical immigration documents, including (for those who hold indefinite leave to enter or indefinite leave to remain) passports containing vignette visa stickers or ink stamps, and biometric residence cards (BRCs), can also find information there on how to create a UKVI account to access their eVisa. It is free, and straightforward for customers who hold physical and paper documents to create a UKVI account to access their eVisa. Creating a UKVI account will not change, impact or remove customers’ current immigration status or their rights in the UK.    

Customers who already have an eVisa, including anyone granted status through the EU Settlement Scheme, do not need to do anything. This is also the case if a customer holds both a physical document, such as a BRP, and an eVisa. Customers who are not sure if they already have a UKVI account and eVisa can either check here on GOV.UK or refer to their original grant email or letter.   

Further information and future updates, including details of the support available, is available at www.gov.uk/evisa . This will be updated throughout 2024.  

An eVisa partner pack comprising further information and factsheets for stakeholders is also available here to download.     

What is an eVisa?  

An eVisa is an electronic record of a person’s immigration status.    

It removes the need for physical documents such as the biometric residence permit (BRP), ink stamps or vignette visa stickers in passports, or the biometric residence card (BRC).     

It explains the immigration status of the holder, including the conditions of the immigration permission such as any limitations on their right to work.   

Customers can view their eVisa by logging into the view and prove service using their UKVI account and share relevant information about their status securely with third parties, such as employers or private service providers such as letting agencies.  

What are the benefits of eVisas?  

eVisas bring significant benefits, deliver excellent value and increase the UK immigration system’s security and efficiency.  

They will also bring significant benefits to customers who hold an immigration status in the UK:  

• An eVisa cannot be lost, stolen or damaged.  
• Customers can prove their rights instantly, accurately and securely to anyone who requests it while sharing only necessary information.  
• With an eVisa, fewer customers will need to leave their passport with the Home Office while awaiting a decision. eVisas also mean that customers do not need to collect documents like BRPs or wait for these documents to be sent to them.  
• With a UKVI account, customers can easily keep the Home Office updated with any changes in their details or documentation. For example, customers can tell us about changes to their name and nationality, travel document (such as passport), email, telephone and postal address contact details.  
• Customers can access many UK government services and benefits without needing to present proof of immigration status. This is because selected government departments and authorities including the Department for Work and Pensions and the National Health Service in England and Wales, can securely access immigration status information automatically through system to system checks. Immigration data is held securely, and government will never sell customer data. Further information on how the Home Office handles customer data can be found here on GOV.UK .  

It is also simpler for those who need to check someone’s UK immigration status (such as employers and landlords), to use online services, rather than having to maintain awareness of, and look through, different types of physical immigration documents, some of which may be in bad condition, or even fraudulent. As more and more customers create UKVI accounts, checkers can increasingly conduct one quick and simple check using a secure online service on GOV.UK  

When are eVisas launching?   

Although millions of customers already have and use eVisas, including everyone granted status under the EU Settlement Scheme, throughout 2024 customers who currently use physical immigration documents to prove their status and rights in the UK, will be asked to take action to create a UKVI account to access their eVisa.   

This process launched in April 2024, with BRP holders emailed directly with instructions on how to create UKVI account to access their eVisa. These email invitations are being sent in phases, before the service is made available to all BRP holders in the summer. BRP holders who have not yet received an email should not worry as the process will soon be opened to all without an invitation, and there is no need to contact the Home Office in the meantime.  

As we rollout the online process for BRP holders to create a UKVI account to access their eVisa we will send emails to BRP holders when they are able to take action. BRP holders who have not yet received email instructions but have been made aware of the process by friends, family or online forums may find the process does not yet work for them. There is no need to contact the Home Office in this case as the online process will be open for all BRP holders in summer 2024 at www.gov.uk/evisa .  

Holders of other physical immigration documents, such as a passport containing ink stamps or vignette visa stickers, or BRCs can take steps to acquire an eVisa now, and further instructions are available at www.gov.uk/evisa .   

Will this impact British citizens?  

British passport holders and Irish citizens, including those who previously held an immigration status but have since acquired British citizenship, do not need to do anything. British citizens who do not have a British passport because they are dual nationals (excluding Irish passport holders) may need to take action in future regarding how they prove their right of abode. Updates on this will be provided in due course.    

Will the Home Office be communicating about eVisas?   

A comprehensive range of communications activity on the implementation of eVisas is underway and will be delivered throughout 2024.   

This includes a range of direct emails which will be sent, in phases, to BRP holders with instructions on how to create a UKVI account to access their eVisa. We are also proactively engaging with a wide range of targeted stakeholders to engage those impacted by the move to eVisas, and have developed a range of partner pack content (see above) to equip them to communicate widely about eVisa changes.   

We will also be using official communication channels, including videos and regularly updated content on gov.uk to communicate these changes.   

What is a UKVI account? How is it different to an eVisa?    

A UKVI account is a secure way for customers to log into online services such as view and prove, whereas an eVisa is an electronic record of a person’s immigration status.   

Using their UKVI account, customers can view their eVisa and share the relevant information via the online view and prove service, by generating a share code, which provides time-limited access to the relevant data. A person can have a UKVI account but no eVisa, for example, where the application for permission to stay in the UK was refused or expired.   

A customer can also update personal details such as address and contact details in their UKVI account. This service is free, unlike updating physical immigration documents for which customers may be charged. This service is available at: www.update-your-UK-Visas-and-immigration-account-details .  

The UKVI account is currently created automatically for everyone who uses the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check mobile App’ to make an immigration application.    

Customers who already hold a physical document will need to create a UKVI account to access their eVisa and to be able to use the full range of online services.   

As physical documents that evidence immigration status expire, the view and prove service, accessed via the UKVI account, will be the way people can view and prove their immigration status and associated rights in the UK.  

Can you still use a physical document if it expires, and you don’t get an eVisa?    

The expiry of a physical document, for example, a BRP card, does not affect a customer’s immigration status. However, how they prove their status will change from 2025. Customers will have to use our online services to prove their rights in the UK and to do so they will need to create a UKVI account.   

What do customers need to do if they hold a BRP that expires at the end of 2024?  

Customers who have a BRP and are living in the UK will need to create a UKVI account to access their eVisa unless their immigration leave expires before 31 December 2024. From April 2024, BRP holders are being emailed directly with instructions on how to do this. These email invitations are being sent in phases, before the service is made available to all BRP holders in the summer. BRP holders who have not yet received an email should not worry as the process will soon be opened to all without an invitation, and there is no need to contact the Home Office in the meantime. BRP holders should visit www.gov.uk/evisa for the latest information.  

For now, customers should continue to use their BRP as they have previously and visit www.gov.uk/evisa for updates. This includes taking their BRP with them when they travel internationally.     

The expiry of their BRP card does not affect their immigration status. However, how they prove their status will change from 2025.   

Customers who already have an eVisa (a digital immigration status) as well as a BRP, will not need to create a UKVI account, as they already have one. Customers can find out if they already have a UKVI account by checking the email or letter that they were given when they were granted immigration status in the UK or go to www.gov.uk/evisa for further information.   

Should customers whose BRP expires on 31 Dec 2024 before their immigration leave is due to expire, apply now to renew their BRP?    

No, customers should not apply to renew their BRP, as all BRPs issued to customers who hold immigration leave beyond 2024, including renewals, are due to expire on 31 Dec 2024 and will be replaced by the eVisa.    

What should customers do if they’ve lost their BRP?   

If a customer has lost their valid BRP then they should apply for a replacement in the usual way. As with all BRPs, if their leave extends beyond the end of 2024, their replacement BRP will expire on 31 December 2024, and they will need to create a UKVI account to access their eVisa to prove their rights.    

Once you have received your replacement then you should visit www.gov.uk/evisa for details of how to create a UKVI account and access your eVisa.   

If a customer has a BRP but it expires before the end of 2024 what do, they need to do?    

If a customer’s BRP expires before 31 Dec 2024 then their immigration leave may also expire at that point. If it does, and if they plan to remain in the UK then they should make a visa renewal application in the usual way.    

Will a BRP holder be able to use an expired BRP to generate a share code after it has expired but while they still have immigration leave?      

How a customer proves their status will change from 2025 and they should take action to create a UKVI account to access their eVisa before their BRP expires.   

Information on what steps a BRP holder will need to take to create a UKVI account and access their eVisa is available at www.gov.uk/evisa .    

We would encourage all BRP holders to create an account and access their eVisa as soon as it is possible for them to do so.  Where individuals have not created an account before their BRP expires at the end of 2024, we will put in place mechanisms to ensure they are still able to prove their rights while they create an account. Holders of expired BRPs will still be able to use these to create an account.  

BRP holders should take steps to create a UKVI account and access their eVisa before it expires to prevent any unnecessary delays in proving their rights.   

What do legacy paper document holders need to do to evidence their rights in the UK – and what do they need to do to get an eVisa?    

Customers who have indefinite leave to enter or indefinite leave to remain and prove their rights using a passport containing an ink stamp or vignette visa sticker or use another type of legacy paper document should make a ‘No Time Limit’ application.  

As part of the application process customers may need to travel to a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services Centre (known as a UKVCAS) to provide a photograph, and in some cases provide fingerprints.   

Once an application has been processed successful No Time Limit applicants will be issued with a biometric residence permit (BRP), which can then be used to prove the customer's rights and to create a UKVI account.  

By the end of 2024 No Time Limit applicants will receive an eVisa, rather than a BRP. Further updates on this change will be available in due course.

It is free to make a No Time Limit application, and information on how to do so is available at http://www.gov.uk/biometric-residence-permits/replace-visa-brp  

Why do holders of legacy documents such as passports containing ink stamps or vignette visa stickers need to get an eVisa?    

The border and immigration system is becoming ‘digital by default’, a change that will enhance the customer experience, deliver excellent value, and increase the immigration system’s security and efficiency. This move also reflects a broader societal move towards a digital approach.    

The phasing out of legacy documents, such as passports containing ink stamps or a vignette visa sticker, is a key part of this process, but will bring a range of benefits to customers. This includes the fact that an eVisa cannot be lost or damaged, like a vignette, and there is no need for a potentially costly replacement.   

Customers who replace their legacy document with an eVisa will benefit from the automated access that public bodies, including the Department for Work and Pensions and the National Health Service in England and Wales will securely have to their immigration status, which will streamline access to key services.    

Creating a UKVI account to access an eVisa will also help to prevent unnecessary delays when travelling internationally (if travelling on the document linked to the UKVI account).    

If legacy document holders do not acquire an eVisa by 2025, then they may experience challenges and delays in proving their rights and when travelling internationally.    

What do eVisas mean for international travel?   

Customers should continue to carry their in-date physical immigration documents with them when they travel internationally. Customers who already have an eVisa should tell the Home Office about any travel document on which they intend to travel using the Update your UK Visas and Immigration account details’ service at www.gov.uk/update-uk-visas-immigration-account-details .‘ if this is not already linked to their account.   

During 2024, the Home Office is taking steps to allow carriers, including transport operators such as airlines, ferry, and international train operators, to securely and automatically access the immigration status of passengers travelling on their services when they present their travel document which is linked to their UKVI account.   

This will automate the existing routine checks completed whenever a passenger presents their travel document when travelling internationally. This will provide a more convenient customer journey, and enhanced border security.   

While the UK government is delivering a digital border and immigration system including plans to trial contactless entry using facial recognition only, there are no current plans to replace physical passports with digital equivalents.  

Will all international carriers have automatic access to immigration details? Or will it just be airlines?    

From later this year, carriers operating across air, rail & sea will be able to securely access passenger immigration information. Further updates will be provided in due course.  

Is there help and support for vulnerable groups?   

We are developing our digital products and services for use by all, including vulnerable users.     

Customers can contact the UK Visas and Immigration Contact Centre, which provides telephone and email support to those using the online immigration status services.    

This includes supporting users through the online journey by:    

• helping them to access or recover their account.  
• helping them to update their personal details.   
• sharing status on behalf of individuals if they are unable to do so themselves.

The UK Visas and Immigration Contact Centre will also be able to assist users who are experiencing technical issues with their online immigration status, and where necessary, enable individuals’ status to be verified through alternative means.  

Individuals can nominate a ‘helper’ and give them limited access to their account, so that they can assist with creating a UKVI account, completing details to access an eVisa, and with any immigration application. Where a person is unable to manage their own affairs due to, for example, age or disability, a ‘proxy’, who is authorised, can create and manage the account on behalf of the person.  

Our Assisted Digital service is also available to provide individual support by phone and email to individuals who require assistance with IT-related aspects of creating a UKVI account.    

Additionally, we work collaboratively with a range of third-party stakeholders on the move to eVisas. Many of these organisations offer support to individuals requiring assistance in creating a UKVI account and accessing their eVisa.    

We are exploring options to provide additional eVisa support and will provide further updates in due course.   

What support is there for those who are digitally excluded?   

Assisted Digital is a free service provided by UKVI to support customers in the UK who are digitally excluded to create a UKVI account and access their eVisa. Customers are classified as being digitally excluded if they have access needs or if they have low or no digital skills.     

Access needs can include any disability that requires support to use online services, a lack of device or a lack of internet access.   

Will children be impacted by the move to eVisas?   

In the case of children, the expectation is that their parent or guardian will have access to their UKVI account and use the online services on their behalf, as they would have looked after and used a BRP/C on the child’s behalf. They can subsequently transfer ownership of the account and access to the online services when the child reaches majority.   

Parents and guardians can create a UKVI account for their children at the same time they create an account for themselves.   

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