Who needs to register with the police in the UK?

Nationals of certain countries who are granted leave to enter or remain in the UK for longer than 6 months may be required to register with the police. The requirement is stated on your visa or BRP. Common nationalities include Afghanistan, Algeria, Argentina, China, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Libya, Morocco, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Turkey, and UAE.

How much does police registration cost?

The police registration fee is currently 34 pounds. You pay this when you first register. There is no charge for updating your details after initial registration.

What happens if I do not register with the police?

Failing to register when required is a criminal offence. It could also negatively affect future immigration applications, as the Home Office may view non-compliance as a failure to meet your visa conditions.

Do I need to register again if I change my visa?

If your new visa also has a police registration condition, you must update your registration with any changes. If your new visa does not include the condition, you no longer need to be registered.

Police Registration Requirement for UK Visa Holders

The police registration requirement applies to nationals of certain countries who hold UK visas for more than 6 months. If your visa conditions include police registration, you must register within 7 days and report certain changes. Failure to comply is a criminal offence.

What Is Police Registration?

Police registration is a condition attached to certain UK visas. If your visa includes this requirement, you must register with the local police within 7 days of arriving in the UK or, if you are already in the UK and switching visas, within 7 days of receiving your new visa.

The requirement exists for nationals of specific countries and is noted on your visa vignette, Biometric Residence Permit (BRP), or eVisa conditions. You should check your visa documents carefully to see if this condition applies to you.

Who Must Register?

The police registration requirement applies to nationals of countries listed in Appendix 2 of the Immigration Rules. This includes nationals of countries such as:

Afghanistan, Algeria, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan
Bahrain, Belarus, Bolivia, Brazil, China
Colombia, Cuba, Egypt, Georgia, Iran
Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Libya, Moldova, Morocco
North Korea, Oman, Palestine, Peru, Qatar
Russia, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Tajikistan
Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, UAE, Ukraine
Uzbekistan, Yemen

Not all nationals of these countries will be required to register. The condition must appear on your visa. If it is not listed, you do not need to register regardless of your nationality.

How to Register

Registration is done in person at an Overseas Visitors Record Office (OVRO). The process varies by location:

In London

If you live in the Metropolitan Police area, you register at the Overseas Visitors Record Office in central London. You can book an appointment online.

Outside London

If you live outside London, contact your local police force to find out where to register. Some forces have dedicated offices, while others handle registration at local police stations. University international offices can often help students find the correct location.

What to Bring

Your passport
Your BRP or visa vignette
Two recent passport-sized photographs
Proof of your UK address
Details of your employer or educational institution
The registration fee of 34 pounds (check accepted payment methods in advance)

What You Must Report

After initial registration, you must report any changes to your details within 7 days. Changes that must be reported include:

Change of address
Change of employer or educational institution
Change of marital status
Renewal or change of passport
Change of visa status

Updating your details is free. You visit the same registration office to make changes, and they update your police registration certificate.

Police Registration and Visa Applications

When you apply to extend your visa, apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain, or apply for British citizenship, the Home Office may check whether you complied with the police registration requirement. Non-compliance could count against you, particularly for the good character assessment.

If you realise you failed to register or update your details, do so as soon as possible. Late registration is better than no registration.

When Police Registration Ends

You no longer need to be registered with the police if:

You are granted Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR)
You become a British citizen
You switch to a visa that does not have the police registration condition
You leave the UK permanently

When your obligation ends, you do not need to formally de-register. The police record simply becomes inactive.

Common Questions

What if I am a Skilled Worker visa holder? Check your visa conditions. If police registration is listed, you must comply. Many Skilled Worker visa holders from the listed countries are required to register.

What about Spouse visa holders? The same rule applies. If the condition is on your visa, you must register.

Do Student visa holders need to register? Students from listed countries with visas over 6 months are typically required to register. Your university's international student office can usually help arrange this.

Next Steps

Check your visa conditions to see if police registration applies to you. If it does, register within 7 days of your arrival or visa grant. Keep your police registration certificate safe, as you may need to show it when reporting changes to the Home Office.

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