Moving Address: How to Notify the Home Office
A step-by-step guide to reporting your change of address to the Home Office when you move house in the UK as a visa holder.
- Section
- Practical Life in the UK
- Reading time
- 8 min
- Last checked
- 2 September 2026
- Source
- The published Immigration Rules and GOV.UK guidance, linked throughout this guide.
- Rowan does not
- Look at your own case, tell you which route to choose, or say what the Home Office will decide. This guide shows the published rules and where to read them.
In short
- GOV.UK says visa holders in the UK must report a change of address.
- Update it in your UKVI account (your eVisa) — there is no fee.
- There is no card to replace: BRPs expired at the end of 2024 and your eVisa does not show your address.
- If you are sponsored, tell your employer: they must keep your address on record.
- GOV.UK sets no deadline, but the Home Office writes to the address it holds, so report promptly.
If you hold a UK visa, GOV.UK says you must report a change of address to the Home Office. This guide explains how to do it through your UKVI account, who else you need to notify, and why it matters that letters reach you.
Who Needs to Report?
Most people with limited leave to remain (a visa) must report a change of address. This includes holders of:
- Skilled Worker visas
- Spouse and partner visas
- Student visas
- Any other visa, including if you had a biometric residence permit (BRP) that has now expired
GOV.UK's guidance covers everyone in the UK who has, or had, a BRP, which includes many people with indefinite leave to remain (settlement); if you hold an eVisa, keep the address in your UKVI account up to date. British citizens and Irish citizens do not need to report to the Home Office (though they need to update their details with HMRC, the DVLA, and their GP).
How to Report Online
Use the GOV.UK change of circumstances service. If you have an eVisa, it directs you to sign in to your UKVI account, where you can update your address, phone number and email yourself. You will need:
- The sign-in details for your UKVI account (the identity document and the phone number or email you registered with)
- Your new address
If you are in the UK and do not have a UKVI account, GOV.UK has a separate online address update service; other changes to your contact details go on the change of circumstances form. The process takes approximately 5 minutes. There is no fee. You will receive a confirmation.
Deadline
GOV.UK does not set a deadline, so report as soon as possible after moving — ideally within a few days. The Home Office expects you to keep your details up to date, including your biometric records. If they write to your old address and you miss important correspondence, this could affect your immigration status.
Sponsored Workers: Additional Obligations
If you hold a Skilled Worker visa or another sponsored visa, your employer (as your sponsor) must keep a record of your UK residential address, personal email and telephone number, and keep it up to date at all times. A change of home address is not one of the changes a sponsor has to report through the Sponsorship Management System, but if they stop sponsoring you, or report an unauthorised absence, they must give the Home Office your last recorded address. Tell your employer about your move so their record is correct.
Who Else to Notify When You Move
- HMRC. Update your address for tax and National Insurance purposes.
- Your GP. Register with a new GP if you have moved area.
- Your bank. Update your address with your UK bank.
- DVLA. If you hold a UK driving licence.
- Electoral register. Register at your new address if eligible.
- Your employer. For payroll and sponsorship purposes.
- Council tax. Register with your new local authority.
Impact on Pending Applications
If you have a pending visa application or extension, update your address through your UKVI online account. Home Office correspondence (including decisions) may be sent by post. If letters go to your old address and are returned undelivered, this could delay your case. See our Home Office contact guide for how to reach them about pending applications.
Next Steps
Report your change of address online through the GOV.UK change of circumstances service. Then update your details with your employer, GP, bank, and HMRC. For more on living in the UK as a visa holder, see our employment rights guide and our eVisa guide for managing your digital immigration status.
Questions and answers
Do I have to tell the Home Office if I move address?
Yes. GOV.UK says you must report changes in your circumstances, including a new address, if you are in the UK with a visa — this includes anyone who had a biometric residence permit (BRP), even one that has now expired. GOV.UK does not set a deadline or state a penalty, so report as soon as you can after moving: the Home Office writes to the address it holds, and missed letters can include decisions on your case.
How do I report a change of address to the Home Office?
Sign in to your UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account — the account that holds your eVisa — and update your address there. If you are in the UK and do not have a UKVI account, GOV.UK has a separate online address update service. There is no fee.
Will changing my address affect my visa?
No. Changing your address does not affect the validity of your visa. If you have a pending application, updating the address in your UKVI account also makes sure letters about that application reach you.
Do I need a new document when I change address?
No. Biometric residence permits (BRPs) are no longer issued and expired at the end of 2024; your immigration status is now held digitally as an eVisa, which does not show your address. Updating the address in your UKVI account is all that is needed.
Does my sponsor need to know about my change of address?
Yes. If you are on a Skilled Worker visa or another sponsored route, your sponsor must keep an up-to-date record of your UK residential address, personal email and telephone number (Appendix D of the sponsor guidance). A change of home address is not one of the changes a sponsor must report through the Sponsorship Management System, but if the sponsor stops sponsoring you, or reports an unauthorised absence, they must give the Home Office your last recorded address. Tell your employer so their record is correct.
This guide is general information about published immigration rules. It is not advice about an individual application under s.82 Immigration and Asylum Act 1999, and Rowan is not regulated by the Immigration Advice Authority. Immigration rules change several times a year. For advice on a particular situation, contact an adviser authorised by the Immigration Advice Authority or an immigration solicitor. Always check GOV.UK for the authoritative current rules.