Uk Visas Immigration
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You might be able to ask for your passport and other documents to be returned if youve 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 youve made.
You might have to cancel your application - youll 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.
Youll have 3 months to collect your passport or travel document once youve been told its ready for collection. If you do not collect your passport or travel document within 3 months, itll be returned to the authority that issues it.
If you applied in the UK
You might be able to use the online return of documents form. The form explains who can use it and how to get your documents back.
You cannot use the online form if:
- you no longer have permission to stay in the UK (your valid leave to enter or remain 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 (leave to remain) has been refused or rejected
- youve applied for asylum
If youre eligible, youll 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. Youll 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 youve applied for asylum
Contact your caseworker to ask for your documents back.
If you do not receive your documents
You can report that you have not received your documents if theyve not been returned after 10 working days.
If you applied for British citizenship before 1989
Your passport would have been sent to your countrys embassy in the UK.
Cancel your request
Use the cancellation form if you no longer need your documents returned.
You cannot cancel your request if its already been processed.