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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

Step 1 Apply for a 1951 UN Convention travel document if you are a refugee.

  • 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.

Step 2 Use a 1954 UN Convention travel document if you are

  • 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

Step 3 Try a Certificate of Travel (COT) if you aren't a refugee or stateless person.

  • 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.

Step 4 Get a one-way travel document if you want to leave the UK permanently.

  • 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

Step 1 Visit the Visas and Immigration website to start 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.

Step 2 Enter your answers to the questions on the application.

  • 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.

Step 3 Fill out the BRP portion of the application if you don't have a BRP.

  • 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.

Step 4 Pay your application fees online to complete your 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

Step 1 Gather original documents to support 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.

Step 2 Get documents translated if they aren't in English.

  • 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.

Step 3 Print your application and sign the declaration in black ink.

  • 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.

Step 4 Email or fax evidence to support a priority request.

  • 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.

Step 5 Send your package using Royal Mail Signed For service.

  • 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.

Step 6 Wait for your travel document to arrive.

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

Step 7 Write to the home office if you've waited longer than 14 weeks.

  • 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

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  • ↑ 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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Home Office Travel Documents

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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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Travel Documents | ICS Legal

Travel documents | home office travel documents.

A travel document is a document used for travel if you are not able to obtain a document from your country of nationality. Do not apply for a Home Office travel document if you have changed your personal details as your application will be refused. You can only apply to the Home Office for a travel document in certain special circumstances. There are 4 types of travel documents, depending on your circumstances and your status in the UK.

Call ICS Legal today on 0207 237 3388 and we can explain which type of travel document you would be required to apply for. If you wish to get some initial legal advice, click here to complete this. 

We charge for our services, and our consultation charge is £60 on the telephone. If you would like us to make a formal submission as a one-off, our fee would be £120. Further costs may apply. 

For most of these travel documents, you must be legally resident in the UK and have permission to stay here for at least 6 months after the date when you make your application.

The Home Office has issued biometric travel documents since 17 March 2008, but existing travel documents can continue to be used until they expire. The biometric travel document has a new design and security features including a tamper-proof biometric chip. The chip contains the holder's personal details (name, nationality, sex, place and date of birth, and signature) as shown on page 31 of the document. No other personal information is included on the chip. The applicant's scanned photograph is the 'biometric' element of the document.

Biometric residence permits

From 29 February 2012 anyone applying for a Home Office travel document must also apply for a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) if they do not already hold one. 

How do you qualify for a home office travel document?

To qualify for a Home Office travel document other than a one-way travel document, you must be lawfully resident and present in the UK in one of the eligible groups.

Who qualifies for a home office travel document?

There are five groups. The first two are listed immediately below.

A refugee who has been granted asylum. If you have been recognised as a refugee under the terms of the 1951 United Nations Convention Relating to the Status Of Refugees, you may apply for a Convention Travel Document (blue).

A stateless person. If you have been recognised as a stateless person under the terms of the 1954 United Nations Convention Relating to the Status of Stateless Persons, you may apply for a Stateless Person’s Document (red).

The other three groups are at c., d. and e. Please note that if you are in any of these particular groups, you must provide either: documentary evidence that you have applied to your national authorities for a passport or travel document, and that your application has been formally and unreasonably refused.

Or, an acceptable written explanation with any relevant documentary evidence as to why you cannot or should not have to provide such evidence.

The groups subject to these requirements are:

A person is granted humanitarian protection for a limited period following a refused asylum claim. You may apply for a Certificate of Travel (black).

A person is granted indefinite leave to remain. You may apply for a Certificate of Travel (black).

A person is granted discretionary leave for a limited period following a refused asylum claim. You may apply for a Certificate of Travel (black).

One-way travel document

If you are in the UK and are not British, you may apply for a one-way document. Your immigration status is not relevant for such an application but you must provide evidence of your identity. You do not need to apply for a BRP if applying for a one-way document.

Which type of document should you apply for?

You should apply for the appropriate document for the group to which you belong among. The table below sets out the Home Office status letters and documents most frequently-issued to persons who may qualify for a Home Office travel document.

Which countries can you travel to with a Home Office travel document?

Convention Travel Documents (blue) will normally be valid for travel to all countries except those from which asylum was sought and/or your country of origin. Stateless Person’s Documents (red) will normally be valid for travel to all countries. Certificate of Travel (black) will normally be valid for all countries except those from which asylum was sought and/or your country of origin.

However, countries that are party to the Schengen agreement, along with the Republic of South Africa, will not usually accept a Home Office Certificate of Travel as a valid travel document. Before applying for a Home Office travel document, you should check with the embassy of the country to which you wish to travel that they will accept the document.

It is not possible for children to be included in the travel document of their parent or guardian. Children who wish to hold a travel document should apply on a separate application form. If they are aged under 16, they may apply for a child’s document. If they are aged 16 or over, they must apply for an adult document.

Children should normally travel on a British passport if they were born in the United Kingdom:

to a parent who was settled in this country on the date of the child’s birth, or

to a parent who was a British citizen on the date of the child’s birth.

Lost or stolen travel documents

If you are applying to replace a lost or stolen travel document, you must provide a police report and crime reference number, together with full details of the circumstances of the loss or theft. Home Office may need to make enquiries before we can issue a replacement and these may sometimes take a while to resolve. The checks made before issuing a travel document are necessary to prevent the misuse of identities.

Call us today on 0207 237 3388 for some initial legal advice or if you need help on the travel document application. 

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Travel Documents

If you wish to return to the United States lawfully after traveling outside the United States, you generally must have a:

  • Valid entry document, such as a Permanent Resident Card (Green Card) or nonimmigrant visa; or
  • Valid and unexpired travel document.

The type of document you need varies depending on your immigration status (including lawful permanent resident status) or if you have a pending immigration benefit request.

You generally need to apply for and obtain a travel document before you leave the United States. Before planning travel, please consider USCIS processing times . If you have an urgent need to travel outside the United States, see our Expedite Request and  Emergency Travel  pages for additional information.

File  Form I-131, Application for Travel Document , to request travel documents, including:

  • Advance parole document for noncitizens in the United States seeking to return after temporary travel abroad (including advance permission to travel for Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) long-term residents);
  • Refugee travel document;
  • Reentry permit; or
  • Temporary Protected Status travel authorization.

If you are already outside the United States and need to return, but do not have your reentry permit, Green Card, advance parole document, or Temporary Protected Status travel authorization document because it was lost, stolen, or destroyed, see Form I-131A, Application for Carrier Documentation.

NOTE:  If you file Form I-131, Application for Travel Document, to request an advance parole document to authorize your return to the United States after temporary travel abroad and  you depart the United States before we issue your advance parole document, we will consider your Form I-131 application abandoned unless you were previously issued an advance parole document that remains valid for the entire time you are outside the United States.

Travel outside of the United States may have severe immigration-related consequences.

Admission or parole into the United States is not guaranteed even if you have the appropriate documents. You are still subject to immigration inspection or examination at a port of entry to determine whether you may be admitted or paroled into the country and whether you are eligible for the immigration status you seek.

Additional cautions for people in certain circumstances are summarized below.

If you are a nonimmigrant

If you have been admitted as a nonimmigrant and have filed Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status , to change to a different nonimmigrant status, we generally will consider your Form I-539 abandoned if you leave the United States before we make a decision on your application, though there are some exceptions.  Having an advance parole document does not prevent abandonment of the change of status application. When you return to the United States, you are likely to be denied admission if your current status has expired.

If you have a pending Green Card application

In general, if you are applying for adjustment of status (a Green Card) and leave the United States without the appropriate travel documentation (for example, an advance parole document), you may not be allowed to reenter the United States when you return. Even if you are allowed to reenter, you may be found to have abandoned your pending application for adjustment of status.

If you have unlawful presence or a removal order

If you have accrued unlawful presence while in the United States or have a removal order, then you may be found inadmissible if you seek admission after a departure from the United States, even if you have a travel document.  We follow the Board of Immigration Appeals decision in Matter of Arrabally and Yerrabelly , which held that travel on advance parole does not constitute a “departure” for purposes of triggering the 10-year unlawful presence bar under Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) § 212(a)(9)(B)(i)(II) for applicants for adjustment of status. We also apply this analysis to INA § 212(a)(9)(B)(i)(I) and to individuals with TPS who travel on TPS travel authorization.  For more information, please see  Section 212(a)(9) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) and the Unlawful Presence and Inadmissibility page. 

Advance parole allows you to travel back to the United States without applying for a visa. A transportation company (airlines) can accept an advance parole document instead of a visa as proof that you are authorized to travel to the United States. An advance parole document does not replace your passport.

Please note that having an advance parole document does not guarantee that you will be allowed to reenter the United States. At the airport or border, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer will make the final decision about whether to allow you to reenter the United States.

Advance parole is most commonly used when someone has a pending:

  • Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or to Adjust Status : If you depart the U.S. while your Form I-485 is pending without first obtaining advance parole, USCIS will deny your case unless you fit into a narrow exception for people with certain nonimmigrant statuses.
  • Form I-589, Application for Asylum and for Withholding of Removal : If you are an asylum applicant and you intend to travel outside the United States and return, you must apply for and receive advance parole. If you leave the United States without first obtaining advance parole, we will assume that you have abandoned your asylum application.

For information on how to apply for advance parole, go to our Form I-131, Application for Travel Document page.

USCIS issues refugee travel documents to people with refugee or asylum status and to lawful permanent residents who obtained their Green Cards based on their refugee or asylee status.

You must have a refugee travel document to return to the United States if you:

  • Have refugee or asylee status but are not a lawful permanent resident (Green Card holder); or
  • Are a derivative asylee or refugee.

If you do not obtain a refugee travel document before you leave the U.S., you may be unable to re-enter the United States or you may be placed in removal proceedings before an immigration judge.

For information on how to apply for a refugee travel document, go to our Form I-131, Application for Travel Document page.

Permanent or conditional residents should apply for a re-entry permit if they will be outside the United States for one year or more. While it is valid, a re-entry permit allows you to apply for admission to the U.S. without having to obtain a returning resident visa from a U.S. Embassy or Consulate. Go to our Form I-131, Application for Travel Document page for information on how to apply.

Travel authorization for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) beneficiaries allows you to travel back to the United States and, if you are eligible, be inspected and admitted into TPS. A transportation company (such as an airline) can accept a TPS travel authorization document instead of a visa as proof that you are authorized to travel to the United States. A TPS travel authorization document does not replace your passport.

Please note that having a TPS travel authorization document does not guarantee that you will be allowed to reenter the United States. At the airport or border, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer will make the final decision about whether to allow you to reenter the United States.

If we are still adjudicating your application for TPS and you wish to travel outside the United States, you may request advance parole.

For information on how to apply for TPS travel authorization, go to our Form I-131, Application for Travel Document , page.

Carrier documentation allows an airline or other transportation carrier to board permanent residents who have temporarily been outside the United States and whose Green Card or re-entry permit has been lost, stolen or destroyed. If you are a permanent resident in this situation, you may need to file a Form I-131A. Go to the Form I-131A, Application for Travel Document (Carrier Documentation) for more information.

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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.

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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.

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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,

travel documents home office

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

travel documents home office

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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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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Apply for a Home Office Travel Document

You can apply for a document to travel outside the UK if:

  • you are not British 
  • you cannot use or get a passport from your country's national authorities 
  • your country's national authorities cannot give you a new passport  

It may take longer than usual to get a decision on your application. This is because of the home invasion of Ukraine. Do not book travel until you get your travel document.

If you have already applied 

If you changed address after you submitted your application, contact the Home Office immediately to let them know. If you do not, your documents may be sent to the wrong address. Email the Home Office travel document enquiries team with 'Change of address' and your name in the subject line.

  • Home Office travel document enquiries email (external link)

Eligibility 

To apply you must be living in the UK because of one of the following:

  • you have permission to stay as a refugee (external link)
  • you have humanitarian protection and it has been officially accepted that you have a fear of your country's national authorities  
  • you are not recognised as a citizen of any country (a 'stateless person') and you have permission to stay (known as 'leave to remain') or are settled in the UK (known as 'indefinite leave to remain') 
  • you have permission to stay (known as 'leave to remain') or are settled in the UK (known as 'indefinite leave to remain'), but you cannot get a passport or travel document from your country's national authorities 

You must be in the UK when you apply.

How to apply (external link)  

Report and replace your travel documents (external link)  

Refugee travel document (external link)  

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Home Office travel documents and visa free countries

Tell Us What You Think?  

Under the 1951 UN Convention Refugee Travel Document (blue) is issued by the United Kingdom to a refugee who has been granted asylum in the UK. If someone has been recognised as a refugee then they can apply for a travel document under the 1951 refugee Convention, which is a blue passport-sized document. Information about applying for this travel document is available  on the UK government website .

The Refugee Travel Document Normally is normally issued for up to 10 years for adults and for up to 5 years for children, or in line with limited leave. It also may be issued with a shorter validity if considered appropriate.

Travel documents are normally valid for all countries other than the country asylum is claimed from and/or the country of origin.

Countries that allow visa-free travel on Refugee Travel document

Countries that do not allow entry with refugee travel document.

UAE – Dubai

Qatar – Doha

Stateless person’s travel document

A stateless person may apply for a travel document under 1954 United Nations Convention relating to Stateless Persons. Information about applying for this travel document is available  on the UK government website . For more information on statelessness, see our  fact sheet on statelessness .

The travel document is normally valid for up to 5 years (children) or 10 years (adults) or in line with the leave granted. The stateless travel document is normally valid for all countries.

Certificate of Travel

Certificates of Travel may be issued to individuals who:

  • are permanently resident in the United Kingdom, or
  • have been granted Humanitarian Protection (HP) or Discretionary Leave (DL) to enter or remain in the UK for a limited period, following an unsuccessful asylum application  and  can provide documentary evidence that they have been formally and unreasonably refused a passport by their country of origin.

The certificate of travel is normally valid for up to 5 years or for the length of leave the individual has. The Home Office guidance states that the certificate of travel is normally valid for all countries but there were previously issues with the acceptance of the document in a number of countries, including many European ones. It is recommended that a particular country’s rules should be checked before applying for such a document and travelling to that country.

However, if an individual stay outside of the UK for a period of more than 2 years, that leave to remain (whether indefinite or limited) will lapse. The leave to remain will not lapse if someone comes back and left again during the two-year period – it must be continuous for the leave to lapse.

Disclaimer:

The information in this blog is for general information purposes only and does not purport to be comprehensive or to provide legal advice. Whilst every effort is made to ensure the information and law is current as of the date of publication it should be stressed that, due to the passage of time, this does not necessarily reflect the present legal position. Connaught Law and authors accept no responsibility for loss which may arise from accessing or reliance on information contained in this blog. For formal advice on the current law please don’t hesitate to contact Connaught Law. Legal advice is only provided pursuant to a written agreement, identified as such, and signed by the client and by or on behalf of Connaught Law.

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You may also be interested in, ilr for children with 7 years residence in the uk, new changes impacting skilled workers and employers, sponsoring a spouse is getting more expensive., new changes to the immigration rules for students and their dependants., what is a judicial review and who can apply for it, what are the financial equirements for a uk fiance visa, requirements for 10 years long residence and the case of afzal v sshd, access to child – 5 years route to settlement, indefinite leave to remain for children, contact information.

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Legal Notice

Latest Immigration News

Sunday, july 28, 2019, uscis closes the moscow field office to public on feb. 28, 2019.

As of Feb. 28, 2019, the USCIS field office in Moscow, Russia, is closed to the public and no longer accepting applications. Due to a significant decrease in workload, USCIS will permanently close the office on March 29, 2019. The USCIS field office in Athens, Greece, will assume jurisdiction over immigration matters in the Russian Federation, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan.  The U.S. Embassy in Moscow will assume responsibility for certain limited services previously provided by USCIS to individuals residing in Russia (see table below). The USCIS Refugee Affairs Division will assume primary responsibility for adjudicating refugee cases presented for interview in the region.

Due to a significant decrease in workload, USCIS will permanently close its field office in Moscow, Russia, on March 29, 2019. The last day the office will be open to the public and accepting applications is Feb. 28, 2019. The USCIS field office in Athens, Greece, will assume jurisdiction over immigration matters in the Russian Federation, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan.  The U.S. Embassy in Moscow will assume responsibility for certain limited services previously provided by USCIS to individuals residing in Russia (see table below). The USCIS Refugee Affairs Division will assume primary responsibility for adjudicating refugee cases presented for interview in the region.

Beginning on March 1, 2019, individuals who live in the aforementioned countries must follow these filing instructions:

General information about the U.S. Embassy Moscow is available on the embassy website . You may also contact the embassy by calling 011-7 (495) 728-5000 or by mailing:

U.S. Embassy Moscow Bolshoy Deviatinksy Pereulok No. 8 Moscow 121099 Russian Federation 

For more information on the services USCIS provides in the region, please contact the USCIS field office in Athens.

You can find contact information for USCIS Athens on the USCIS website.

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The Germany Embassy in Moscow - Russia . Diplomatic representation of Germany. Information on consular services of the Germany Embassy in Moscow. Visa applications, passports, consular statements, legalisation of documents and more. We provide general information about the Germany Embassy in Russia. We have no affiliation with the Germany Embassy or the Germany Embassy visa department in Moscow.

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Copy of Saleh Ahmed Handule Ali's travel document

Refugee who left UK for holiday in 2008 stranded in east Africa for 16 years

Saleh Ahmed Handule Ali, now 33, had indefinite leave to remain in UK, but Home Office failed to keep a record

A refugee who left the UK on holiday as a teenager in 2008 has been stranded in east Africa for the last 16 years in a case that senior judges have described as “extraordinary”.

Saleh Ahmed Handule Ali, now 33, arrived in the UK at the age of nine in April 2000 with his mother and two younger siblings from Somalia. They came to join Ali’s father, who had been granted refugee status by the UK government. The family were also recognised as refugees by the Home Office and Ali was given a travel document in 2004 under the refugee convention, which was valid for 10 years.

In 2008 Ali was diagnosed with tuberculosis and in December of that year decided to travel to Djibouti for a short holiday in the hope that the warmer climate would aid his recovery.

At some point after arriving in Djibouti, he lost his refugee travel document and could not get back home to his family, who live in Bristol. As there is no British embassy in Djibouti, he managed to get to neighbouring Ethiopia , and when he finally reached Addis Ababa, he tried at least twice to get assistance from the embassy, without success.

It later emerged that the Home Office had failed to keep a record on its database of the fact that it had granted him indefinite leave to remain in the UK as a refugee. According to a ruling in the court of appeal last week, he has been “stranded in Ethiopia, undocumented, ever since”.

His mother, who suffers from several health conditions, saved up money for several years to engage a solicitor to try to bring her son back home.

In June 2015, a Home Office entry clearance officer refused Ali permission to return to the UK. The family appealed the first tier and in the upper tribunal of the immigration court, but their appeals were rejected.

Ali is undocumented in Ethiopia and is living a hand-to-mouth, destitute existence, unable to work. He survives on the money his mother sends him.

“I have been crying for 16 years over the loss of my son,” his mother, Shamis Dirya, told the Guardian. “We want the Home Office to bring him back to us. But they are not listening to us. When we speak on the phone, I cry and he cries. He has not had a phone for the last three months, so it has been difficult to speak to him. Sometimes we don’t even know whether he’s alive. He went to primary school here, he went to high school here. He only went to Djibouti for a short holiday.”

Ali’s brother and his mother

In the court of appeal, the lead judge, Lady Justice Andrews, said in the ruling by three judges: “This is by any standards and in many different respects a most extraordinary case.”

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The judgment, which granted Ali’s appeal against the refusal of his case and remitted it to the upper tribunal, was critical of the judge in the first-tier tribunal, Adam Rhys-Davies, and said that a clear error of law had been made when he rejected Ali’s case.

Referring to information coming to light in 2017 that the Home Office had no information on its system recording that Ali had been granted indefinite leave to remain in the UK, the judgment said: “Quite how this could have happened … is difficult to comprehend.”

Khalid Khashy of Pristine Law, who represents Ali, said: “Our client understandably has suffered immensely, including from mental health and destitution, whilst living in African countries of Djbouti and Ethiopia in the hope of returning to his home and family in the UK.

“Unfortunately, his ordeal is not over, as the matter is sent back to the upper tribunal for a fresh decision, which could take months. To avoid costs and delays, it is hoped that the Home Office will concede and grant him entry clearance with a sincere apology.”

A Home Office spokesperson said: “It is a matter of longstanding government policy that we do not routinely comment on individual cases.”

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  21. Refugee who left UK for holiday in 2008 stranded in east Africa for 16

    The family were also recognised as refugees by the Home Office and Ali was given a travel document in 2004 under the refugee convention, which was valid for 10 years.

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