Get your visa, immigration or citizenship documents back

You might be able to ask for your passport and other documents to be returned if you鈥檝e sent them with your application but need them urgently.

How you do this depends on whether you applied in the UK or not, and what type of application you鈥檝e made.

You might have to cancel your application - you鈥檒l be told if you have to do this when you ask for your documents back.

If you applied outside the UK

Contact UK Visas and Immigration.

You will not get a refund if your application has been processed.

You鈥檒l have 3 months to collect your passport or travel document once you鈥檝e been told it鈥檚 ready for collection. If you do not collect your passport or travel document within 3 months, it鈥檒l be returned to the authority that issues it.

If you applied in the UK

You might be able to use the . The service explains who can use it and how to get your documents back.

You cannot use the online service if:

  • you no longer have permission to stay in the UK (your 鈥榲alid leave to enter or remain鈥� has expired)
  • you want to cancel your application to extend your stay in the UK because you now plan to leave
  • your application to stay in the UK (鈥榣eave to remain鈥�) has been refused or rejected
  • you鈥檝e applied for asylum

If you鈥檙e eligible, you鈥檒l usually get your documents back within 10 working days.

If your application has been refused and you do not have permission to stay

If you do not have permission to stay in the UK and want to leave voluntarily or cannot use the online form, contact the Voluntary Returns Service. You鈥檒l get your documents back at the airport.

Voluntary Returns Service
Telephone: 0300 004 0202
Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm
Find out about call charges

You may be removed from the UK if you do not have permission to stay in the country and do not leave voluntarily.

If you鈥檝e applied for asylum

Contact your caseworker to ask for your documents back.

If you do not receive your documents

You can if they鈥檝e not been returned after 10 working days.

If you applied for British citizenship before 1989

Your passport would have been sent to your country鈥檚 embassy in the UK.

Cancel your request

Use the if you no longer need your documents returned.

You cannot cancel your request if it鈥檚 already been processed.

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