Police registration

To find out if you need to register with the police you should check your current student visa letter.

You are legally required to register with the police if it states:

• 'Register with UK police on arrival' or
• 'Register with the police within seven days'

If your letter does not state this, then you probably do not need to register with the police. You can check the list of countries whose nationals need to register with the police in Appendix 2 of the Immigration Rules. If you are a national of a country on this list but your visa does not state you should register, then you should contact us as your letter may contain an error.

If your course will last for 6 months or less, then you will not need to register even if you are from a country listed in the Immigration rules.

The government have confirmed some temporary concessions in response to Covid-19.

3.12 Students who are required to register with the police as a condition of a grant of permission to stay, or who need to notify the police of a change of circumstances, should check with their local police force whether it is possible to register with them at this time. Where it is not possible, students must register with the police or update their information once social distancing measures are lifted.

 3.13 Students who have already registered with the police and are making a new application in the UK should submit their Police Registration Certificate along with any other documents in support of their application as normal.

You will need to check their current visas, and if they have one of the statements listed above, they are also legally required to register with the police.

You will need to register because it is a condition of your visa and failure to do so is a criminal offence, which can lead to prosecution. It can also affect your immigration status in the UK.

When you register with the police you will be issued with a Registration Certificate. It is your responsibility to keep this up to date. It is also one of the documents that you will need to send to UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) if you ever need to extend your visa and it must be up to date when you submit your application to UKVI.

If you are required to register, you must do so within seven days of your arrival in the UK. 

If you are not able to attend the police station within seven days of your arrival in the UK due to self-isolation, you must still make an appointment online (for a later date) within the seven days of your arrival in the UK.

If you are required to self-isolate for or  are experiencing symptoms that could be COVID-19, you must not attend the Police Station during your period of self-isolation. 

If you wish to travel outside the UK before you have registered with the police, you must carry details of your booked appointment with you in your hand luggage when you return to the UK.

Leave to enter can be refused where there has been a failure to comply with any conditions attached to the grant of leave to enter or remain. You must ensure that you register with the police if you are required to do so.

When registering with the Police you will need to provide all the following documents:

• £34 registration fee. It is preferred that this is paid by card. Please note, international cards are also accepted, except American Express.
• Two  recent identical passport-sized colour photographs. Please note that you should not wear hats or anything that covers your face in the photograph. If you cover your head (not your face) for religious purposes and intend to carry on doing so in the UK then you may submit photographs with your head covered.

• Valid passport and Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) Card if applicable. All Home Office letters will also be required.

• Proof of address. Acceptable evidence to bring to prove your address includes a bank statement, utility bill, or tenancy agreement. Proof of address must be dated within the last three months. You must have all of the required documents to be registered.

Once you have registered with the Police, you will be issued with a Certificate of Registration.

Once you have received your certificate you should carry it with you at all times. We recommend that you make a photocopy of your registration certificate and keep it in a safe place.

There has been an increase in the number of students that have failed to attend their appointments with the Police. Please note the following:

• You must only arrive 10 minutes prior to your appointment time. Anybody arriving before the required 10 minutes will be asked to wait outside, as the Overseas Visitors Registration office does not have the room to accommodate large numbers of people. 
• Should you be unable to keep your appointment, you should let the Police know by telephone or email, which can be found above. The Police can then reschedule your appointment for a more convenient date and time
• Attending a lecture is not a valid reason for not keeping appointments.

Failure to keep appointments means you are not complying with your visa requirements.

It is very important that your registration details are kept up to date. It is your responsibility to inform the police of any of the following changes in your circumstances within seven days:

• If you change your address
• If you extend your visa
• If you get a new passport
• If you change your university or course
• If your marital status changes while you are in the UK
• If you change your visa type (i.e. switch to any other category such as work permit holder)
• If you are moving from the West Midlands area but staying in the UK
• If you stay away from your UK address for 3 months or more

You will need to provide evidence of these changes, such as a new tenancy agreement, a letter of acceptance onto a new course or a marriage certificate. Your certificate will then be updated and returned to you.

There is no charge when you update your details with the Police.

Failure to report the above changes to the police is classed as a criminal offence.

If your police registration form is lost or stolen, you should go to your local police station and obtain a crime number (if stolen) or a lost property number (if lost). This is necessary in order to obtain a new certificate. You will then need to visit the Overseas Visitors Registration Office to obtain a new certificate. There will be a charge of £34 for a new certificate.

Each time you inform the police of a change in your circumstances, they will add this information in the spaces provided and stamp and sign the certificate. When there is no more space for updated information, they will issue you with a new certificate. There will be a charge of £34 for a new certificate.  

If you are returning home permanently, you should inform the Overseas Visitors Registration Office. You will need to retain your Police Registration Certificate as you will need to use this again should you decide to return to the UK.

If you are returning home for three months or more, you should inform the Overseas Visitors Registration Office and keep your certificate.

If you are returning home for less than three months, you do not need to inform the Police.