home office travel document section address

ONLINE CONSULTATIONS AVAILABLE

0203 5245439, [email protected].

Home Office Travel Documents

What is a Home Office Travel Document?

A Home Office travel document is a document that allows non-UK nationals to travel outside the UK if they cannot use or obtain a passport from their own country. A person can only apply for a Home Office travel document in certain special circumstances.

Who is eligible?

In order to be eligible to apply for a Home Office travel document, a person must be living in the UK for one of the following reasons:

(i) they have permission to stay as a refugee or stateless person; (ii) they have humanitarian protection for a limited time after a failed asylum application; (iii) they have discretionary leave for a limited time after a failed asylum application; or (iv) they have indefinite leave to remain.

What are the different types of travel documents?

There are four different types of travel documents that a person can apply for, depending on their circumstances and their status in the UK:

1) If a person is a refugee, they can apply for a convention travel document; 2) If a person is stateless, they can apply for a stateless person’s document; 3) If a person is a non-UK citizen that wants to leave the UK and not come back, they can apply for a one-way document (also known as an IS137); 4) If a person has been refused a passport by their own country’s national authorities, they can apply for a certificate of travel.

It is important to note that a person must show that they have formally applied for and been unreasonably refused a passport by authorities in their country. People who have permission to be in the UK as a refugee or stateless person are exempt from this condition.

Applying for a Travel Document:

A person can apply for a travel document online or by post. If a person chooses to apply by post, they must fill in form TD112 BRP and send it to the Home Office. The form states that certain documents must be submitted alongside the application. All submitted documents must be original documents, not photocopies. Failure to provide the original documents will delay the application and may result in its refusal.

The applicant will also need to apply for a biometric residence permit (BRP) if they don’t already have one that’s up to date, as it is part of the travel document application. This is not required if a person is applying for a one-way document. Additionally, all existing non-biometric travel documents can continue to be used until they expire.

It is important to note that some countries will not accept a travel document if a person has less than 6 months’ leave to remain in the UK on the date they travel. The applicant should check that they meet the requirements of the country they are travelling to.

If an applicant’s family is applying at the same time, all postal applications should be sent in one envelope so that they can be dealt with together. A separate application and payment must be made for each person, whether it is online or by post. A person can also apply for a new travel document using form TD112 BRP if their previous document has filled up or expired.

What are the costs?

All applicants are required to pay a non-refundable fee when they send their application to the home office. We have provided an overview of this below. Please note this is separate from the fee we will charge to assist with such an application. The fee an applicant must pay depends on the type of travel document they are applying for and whether they are an adult or child:

How can NA Law Solicitors help?

As specialists in individual immigration, we can help you apply for your desired travel document. If you have any questions about anything mentioned in this article or have specific queries about your immigration matter, please do not hesitate to contact us for a 15-minute telephone consultation .

Human rights videos

• Terms and Conditions
• Privacy Policy
• Cookie policy
• Cancellation and Refund Policy

How do I contact the Home Office?

Many people need to get in contact with the Home Office for enquiries about visa applications, to  track a visa status , or find out further information about an immigration case. Although it can be difficult to contact UKVI, there are phone, email, post, and online contact details. This page is an ultimate resource of all contact details for the Home Office.

What are the contact details for the UK Home Office?

To  get in touch with the Home Office , you can use one of the below methods:

• Phone inside or outside the UK
• Email inside or outside the UK
• Send a letter via post
• Use an online communication portal
• Use a social media platform

Please note that some charges may apply, depending on the method of contact.

Additionally, the contact details are different depending on where you are located and the nature of your query.

There are many ways that you can get in touch with the customer service team at the Home Office UK, including via email, phone, or social media.

You can contact UK immigration (also known as UK Visas and Immigration) with your query using one of the below methods.

UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) oversees applications for foreign nationals who wish to visit, work, study, or settle in the UK. This agency was previously part of the UK Border Agency (UKBA) which was shut down in 2013.

This page outlines every available current method of contacting the Home Office.

How to get in contact with the Home Office inside the UK

General enquiries phone number : +44 (0) 300 790 6268

If you cannot call 0300 numbers : +44 (0) 203 875 4669

Opening hours : 09:00 – 16:45 (Monday to Thursday), 09:00 – 16:30 (Friday)

EU citizen/ settlement application queries phone number : +44 (0) 300 123 7379

Opening hours : 08:00 – 20:00 (Monday to Friday), 09:30 – 16:30 (Saturday and Sunday)

Asylum queries phone number : +44 (0) 80 8801 0503

Opening hours : 08:30 – 17:00 (Monday to Friday)

Email address :  [email protected]

Sponsor and educator queries phone number : +44 (0) 300 123 4699

Opening hours : 11:00 – 15:00 (Monday to Thursday)

Employer email address :  [email protected]

Educational institution email address :  [email protected]

Home Office Coronavirus helpline phone number : +44 (0) 800 678 1767

Opening hours : 09:00 – 17:00 (Monday to Friday)

Coronavirus helpline email address :  [email protected]

Please note that coronavirus guidance changes very frequently and to stay updated on government advice (including on travel restrictions and opening hours of public bodies), it is recommended to check the   UK government coronavirus advice page   regularly.

Call the Home Office outside the UK

General enquiries phone number : +44 (0) 20 3080 0010

If you are unable to dial UK 03000 numbers : +44 (0) 203 875 4669

Opening hours : 08:00 – 20:00 (Monday to Friday), 09:30 – 16:30 (Saturday and Sunday) (UK local time)

You can use these contact details if you need help with one of the following:

• Applying for a visa to come to the UK
• Updates on the progress of your application
• Technical issues with your application
• A mistake you made with your application
• Issues accessing your account
• Issues making a payment to UKVI

Send an enquiry to UK Visas and Immigration outside the UK

To email UKVI from outside the UK, you will be required to pay £2.74 via credit or debit card. This cost includes the initial email and any follow-up emails.

You can expect to receive a response within five working days. Please be aware that the staff in the contact centre organisations are not involved in the decision of your application.

Contact UKVI with your query via online portal .

Contact the Home Office/ UKVI in a language other than English

Phone number : +44 (0) 300 790 6268

Opening hours :

• Arabic (05:00 – 13:00, Sunday to Thursday, UK local time)
• Cantonese (01:00 – 09:00, Monday to Friday, UK local time)
• French (09:00 – 17:00, Monday to Friday, UK local time)
• Hindi (04:00 – 12:00, Monday to Friday, UK local time)
• Mandarin (01:00 – 09:00, Monday to Friday, UK local time)
• Russian (06:00 – 14:00, Monday to Friday, UK local time)
• Spanish (13:00 – 01:00, Monday to Friday, UK local time)

Take the first step. Request a Fact Finding + Expert Consultation

How to get in contact with the Home Office for online help

If you have any of the below problems and you want to get in touch with the Home Office from inside the UK, you should email the online support team at:  [email protected]

• Problems with your online application
• Changing details you submitted in your online application
• Problems entering your sponsor licence number online
• Technical support with error messages on your online application
• Accessing your UKVI account

To get help with your application from the Home Office support team, you should:

• Write an email including your name and the nature of your immigration query/ application
• Include a detailed description of the problem
• Include screenshots of the issue(s) if possible
• Email  [email protected]
• You can usually expect a reply to your report within one working day

UK Home Office social media accounts

It is also possible to access information and contact details for the Home Office via their online platforms, including the following:

• Home Office Facebook page
• Home Office Twitter account
• Home Office Instagram account
• Home Office YouTube channel
• Home Office LinkedIn page
• Home Office Media blog

Please note that not all accounts are monitored for communication purposes. If you want to contact the UK Home Office, it is advised to use some of the above contact methods.

What is the Home Office address?

The main UK Home Office is located at the following address:

2 Marsham Street,

United Kingdom

There are also a number of Service and Support Centres (SSCs) located around Britain for the purposes of serving individuals with visa or immigration applications. The SSCs are located in the followng locations:

• Her Majesty’s Passport Office,
• Law Society House,
• 90-106 Victoria Street,
• General Buildings,
• 1 st  Floor,
• 31-33 Newport Road,
• Lunar House,
• 40 Wellesley Road,
• Festival Court 1,
• 200 Brand Street,

The Capital Building,

• 6 Union Street,
• Liverpool, L3 9PP

Peterborough

• Aragon Court,
• Northminster Road,
• Peterborough,
• Vulcan House
• Riverside Entrance,
• 6 Millsands,
• Dominion Court,
• 41 Station Rod,
• Birmingham,

How much does it cost to speak to someone at the Home Office?

The Home Office charges a different fee depending on where you are and whether you want to phone or email your query.

Cost of contacting the Home Office outside the UK

• International Contact Centre – Email service (per query) : £2.74
• International Contact Centre – Telephone helpline (per minute) : £0.69

Cost of contacting the Home Office inside the UK

• Phone numbers beginning with 030 : Landlines (per minute): up to £0.10
• Phone numbers beginning with 030 : Mobile phones (per minute): £0.3 – £0.40
• Phone numbers beginning with 02 : Landlines (per minute): £0.16
• Phone numbers beginning with 02 : Mobile phones (per minute): £0.3 – £0.65
• Phone numbers beginning with 0800/ 0808 : Freephone service (no cost)
• Email service in the UK  – No charge

What is the Home Office contact number for BRP?

There is no direct line to the Home Office for a BRP application, but the process of contacting their outsourced company is outlined below:

If you intend to come to the UK for period of longer than six months, you may be required to hold a  Biometric Residence Permit  (BRP) as proof of your immigration status.

You must collect your BRP within ten days of arriving in the UK (if you applied outside the UK). However, this timeline may be impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

If you applied inside the UK, your BRP will be delivered by a  courier service (TNT).  If you need to contact BRP delivery team, you can call the below number:

• TNT (Courier Service delivering the BRP) : +44 (0) 345 608 0630

It is recommended to contact TNT about your BRP if it has not arrived within ten days of receiving your decision letter, or if you wish to track or rearrange the delivery of the permit.

You should only contact the Home Office about your BRP if the following applies:

• You have already contacted TNT and they were unable to help
• You cannot track your delivery with a consignment number

Use the  BRP service page to speak to the Home Office  if the above situations apply to your case.

If you applied outside the UK and you intend to collect your BRP at a post office, you can use the  post office general enquiries page  if you need to speak with a customer service representative.

What is the contact number for a British citizenship application?

The email address for British naturalisation, registration, and citizenship applications is  [email protected] .

Once you have submitted an application for British citizenship to UKVI, you can expect to wait for between three and four months for a decision.

When you submit your citizenship application, you may be asked to submit your biometric information and supporting documents via the  UK Visa and Citizenship Application Service  (UKVCAS) website.

You should not contact UKVCAS about your citizenship application. You can contact UKVI using the general contact number inside the UK or outside the UK.

You can use your UKVCAS account to do the following:

• Book an appointment to enrol your biometric information
• Submit your supporting documents to be verified
• Purchase additional visa application services

If you need help with booking an appointment, uploading documents, requesting an access code, or information about a service, you can contact UKVCAS directly.

• UKVCAS telephone helpline inside and out the UK : +44 (0) 844 8920 232
• Opening hours : 09:00 – 17:30 (Monday to Friday)
• Cost : £0.04 per minute plus your phone provider’s charges

What is the Home Office travel document contact number?

You may need to apply to the Home Office for a travel document if you have leave to remain in the UK for less than six months. Currently, there is no Home Office contact number for a travel document application.

However, to apply for the travel document, you must do the following:

• Complete the  travel document online application form
• Send your supporting documents by post

During the application, you will be given a document checklist and a postal address to send your application.

If you need to travel urgently on the basis of compassionate reasons (e.g., illness, death, or urgent medical reasons), you can email the Home Office at the following email address:

• Home Office travel document enquiries:  [email protected]
• Put ‘New Application Enquiry – Urgent Compassionate Care’ and your name as the subject line

How can IAS help me?

IAS is a highly regarded immigration law firm with a proven track record of successfully helping our clients with their goals.

We listen to the needs of all clients and make expert recommendations based on current immigration laws and rules. We work tirelessly on your behalf to help you with your case, no matter how complex.

You can expect to work one-on-one with an experienced immigration lawyer who will do the following:

• Assess your eligibility for your chosen immigration route
• Advise on your suitability for the route
• Make recommendations for you or family members to help you acheive your goals
• Provide you with a bespoke document checklist of supporting documents
• Complete your application in full to the highest standards
• Liaise with the Home Office on your behalf while your application is pending
• Advise you on next steps when a decision has been reached.

Your lawyer will speak to the Home Office on your behalf, meaning that you don’t have to worry about contacting UKVI. Working with an immigration lawyer does not guarantee a successful decision, but it can significantly reduce the work involved in an immigration application.

To get started, speak to a member of our friendly and professional client care team today. Your qualified and accredited immigration lawyer can advise you on the best route based on your circumstances to get started as quickly as possible.

Call us today on  0333 305 9272  or use the online contact form to request a callback. We look forward to helping you with your case.

Table of Contents

Need help with an immigration issue? Book a one-to-one advice session with one of our legal caseworkers.

We can complete your visa application on your behalf, taking the stress and hassle out of the process.

Need to submit an application quickly? We can help you complete and send it off in as little as 24 hours.

Ensure you have the greatest chance of a successful appeal with our legal support and guidance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you email ukvi.

In general, it is very difficult to directly contact UKVI via email. However, there are some routes you can take, and you can email UKVI at the following addresses.

Ultimate list of available Home Office email addresses:

• General enquiries :  [email protected]
• Technical support with your online application :  [email protected]
• Coronavirus immigration helpline :  [email protected]
• Complaints :  [email protected]
• Employers of foreign nationals :  [email protected]
• Education institution sponsoring foreign students :  [email protected]
• Travel document enquiries:   [email protected]
• British citizenship enquiries:  [email protected]

Note that staff in the contact centre cannot give you immigration advice, and may not give you information on the progress of your application. They may be able to give you the contact details of the department you have applied to.

It can be very difficult to get a response from the Home Office or UKVI about your application.

If you choose to work with an immigration lawyer, they can assist you with UK visas and applications by liaising directly with the Home Office on your behalf.

How can I contact the London Home Office?

The contact details for the London Home Office are listed below:

Phone number : +44 (0) 207 0354 848

Email address :  [email protected]

Postal address :

Direct Communications Unit,

How can I contact the Liverpool Home Office?

You can send a letter communication directly to the Liverpool head office if your query is non-urgent. Alternatively, use the phone or email methods below.

Phone number:  +44 (0) 333 3445 675

UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI),

New Hall Place,

6 Union Street

How do I contact the Home Office to complain?

The quickest way to complain to the Home Office is to email your complaint to  [email protected]  or submit a complaint on the  online complaints form .

Include the following information in your email:

• All your personal contact details (name, address, phone number, email address, reference number (where relevant)
• Full details of the nature of your complaint (include dates, times, locations, individuals, etc)
• Names of staff involved
• Details of witnesses (where relevant)
• Copies of relevant supporting documents (where relevant)
• Home Office reference details (where relevant)

There are many reasons why you may need to contact the Home Office with a complaint.

You can read more about the complaints process on the  Home Office complaints page .

You can contact the complaints team if the following applies:

• You want to submit a complaint about the service you received
• You want to complain about the professional conduct you experienced
• The incident in question happened within the last three months

If you are unhappy with a decision issued by the Home Office, you may have recourse to some of the below options:

• Apply for an adminstrative review
• Reuqest a judicial review 
• Appeal a Home Office decision
• Submit a pre-action protocol for judicial review

Additionally, you can contact related departments if you wish to submit complaints to the following:

• UK Border Force
• Disclosure and Barring Service
• HM Passport Office
• Home Office

You can expect a response to your complaint within 20 working days. If your case requires additional time to investigate, you will be informed of this.

Related Posts

Join Us for Our monthly Webinar Series on Migration Opportunities

UK Government Makes Radical Changes to Family and Work Visa Requirements – What You Can Do

Happy New Year from IAS

Sponsor Licence Renewals No Longer Necessary After 6 April 2024

Relaxed Immigration Rules for Games Industry Workers Announced

Visa Holders Who Incite Anti-Semitism to be Deported from the UK

Can I Change Visitor Visa to Student or Work Visa UK?

Can I Visit USA with UK Student Visa?

How Much Is UK Visa Application Fee in Nigeria?

Get in touch with our team.

Learn about our professional services and find out how we can help.

Get in Touch

Immigration Advice Service Ashwood House, Ellen Street Oldham, OL9 6QR

We have over 20 offices across the UK, find a branch near you:

Request a call back from our immigration experts

Official websites use .gov A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock ( A locked padlock ) or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

• Create Account

Travel Documents

If you wish to return to the United States lawfully after traveling outside the United States, you generally must have a:

• Valid entry document, such as a Permanent Resident Card (Green Card) or nonimmigrant visa; or
• Valid and unexpired travel document.

The type of document you need varies depending on your immigration status (including lawful permanent resident status) or if you have a pending immigration benefit request.

You generally need to apply for and obtain a travel document before you leave the United States. Before planning travel, please consider USCIS processing times . If you have an urgent need to travel outside the United States, see our Expedite Request and  Emergency Travel  pages for additional information.

File  Form I-131, Application for Travel Document , to request travel documents, including:

• Advance parole document for noncitizens in the United States seeking to return after temporary travel abroad (including advance permission to travel for Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) long-term residents);
• Refugee travel document;
• Reentry permit; or
• Temporary Protected Status travel authorization.

If you are already outside the United States and need to return, but do not have your reentry permit, Green Card, advance parole document, or Temporary Protected Status travel authorization document because it was lost, stolen, or destroyed, see Form I-131A, Application for Carrier Documentation.

NOTE:  If you file Form I-131, Application for Travel Document, to request an advance parole document to authorize your return to the United States after temporary travel abroad and  you depart the United States before we issue your advance parole document, we will consider your Form I-131 application abandoned unless you were previously issued an advance parole document that remains valid for the entire time you are outside the United States.

Travel outside of the United States may have severe immigration-related consequences.

Admission or parole into the United States is not guaranteed even if you have the appropriate documents. You are still subject to immigration inspection or examination at a port of entry to determine whether you may be admitted or paroled into the country and whether you are eligible for the immigration status you seek.

Additional cautions for people in certain circumstances are summarized below.

If you are a nonimmigrant

If you have been admitted as a nonimmigrant and have filed Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status , to change to a different nonimmigrant status, we generally will consider your Form I-539 abandoned if you leave the United States before we make a decision on your application, though there are some exceptions.  Having an advance parole document does not prevent abandonment of the change of status application. When you return to the United States, you are likely to be denied admission if your current status has expired.

If you have a pending Green Card application

In general, if you are applying for adjustment of status (a Green Card) and leave the United States without the appropriate travel documentation (for example, an advance parole document), you may not be allowed to reenter the United States when you return. Even if you are allowed to reenter, you may be found to have abandoned your pending application for adjustment of status.

If you have unlawful presence or a removal order

If you have accrued unlawful presence while in the United States or have a removal order, then you may be found inadmissible if you seek admission after a departure from the United States, even if you have a travel document.  We follow the Board of Immigration Appeals decision in Matter of Arrabally and Yerrabelly , which held that travel on advance parole does not constitute a “departure” for purposes of triggering the 10-year unlawful presence bar under Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) § 212(a)(9)(B)(i)(II) for applicants for adjustment of status. We also apply this analysis to INA § 212(a)(9)(B)(i)(I) and to individuals with TPS who travel on TPS travel authorization.  For more information, please see  Section 212(a)(9) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) and the Unlawful Presence and Inadmissibility page. 

Advance parole allows you to travel back to the United States without applying for a visa. A transportation company (airlines) can accept an advance parole document instead of a visa as proof that you are authorized to travel to the United States. An advance parole document does not replace your passport.

Please note that having an advance parole document does not guarantee that you will be allowed to reenter the United States. At the airport or border, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer will make the final decision about whether to allow you to reenter the United States.

Advance parole is most commonly used when someone has a pending:

• Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or to Adjust Status : If you depart the U.S. while your Form I-485 is pending without first obtaining advance parole, USCIS will deny your case unless you fit into a narrow exception for people with certain nonimmigrant statuses.
• Form I-589, Application for Asylum and for Withholding of Removal : If you are an asylum applicant and you intend to travel outside the United States and return, you must apply for and receive advance parole. If you leave the United States without first obtaining advance parole, we will assume that you have abandoned your asylum application.

For information on how to apply for advance parole, go to our Form I-131, Application for Travel Document page.

USCIS issues refugee travel documents to people with refugee or asylum status and to lawful permanent residents who obtained their Green Cards based on their refugee or asylee status.

You must have a refugee travel document to return to the United States if you:

• Have refugee or asylee status but are not a lawful permanent resident (Green Card holder); or
• Are a derivative asylee or refugee.

If you do not obtain a refugee travel document before you leave the U.S., you may be unable to re-enter the United States or you may be placed in removal proceedings before an immigration judge.

For information on how to apply for a refugee travel document, go to our Form I-131, Application for Travel Document page.

Permanent or conditional residents should apply for a re-entry permit if they will be outside the United States for one year or more. While it is valid, a re-entry permit allows you to apply for admission to the U.S. without having to obtain a returning resident visa from a U.S. Embassy or Consulate. Go to our Form I-131, Application for Travel Document page for information on how to apply.

Travel authorization for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) beneficiaries allows you to travel back to the United States and, if you are eligible, be inspected and admitted into TPS. A transportation company (such as an airline) can accept a TPS travel authorization document instead of a visa as proof that you are authorized to travel to the United States. A TPS travel authorization document does not replace your passport.

Please note that having a TPS travel authorization document does not guarantee that you will be allowed to reenter the United States. At the airport or border, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer will make the final decision about whether to allow you to reenter the United States.

If we are still adjudicating your application for TPS and you wish to travel outside the United States, you may request advance parole.

For information on how to apply for TPS travel authorization, go to our Form I-131, Application for Travel Document , page.

Carrier documentation allows an airline or other transportation carrier to board permanent residents who have temporarily been outside the United States and whose Green Card or re-entry permit has been lost, stolen or destroyed. If you are a permanent resident in this situation, you may need to file a Form I-131A. Go to the Form I-131A, Application for Travel Document (Carrier Documentation) for more information.

•   Mon-Fri 9am-6pm
•   020 7237 3388 (UK Local Number, 1p per min)
•   [email protected]
•   ICS Legal, Suite 11, City Business Centre, Lower Road, London SE16 2XB

Official Sponsor

• Client Access
• Speak to a Lawyer
• [email protected]
• 020 3818 7585
• Legal community
• 020 7237 3388
• Office Directory
• Immigration Advice
• Find an Immigration Lawyer near you
• Visiting the UK
• UK Visit Visa Types
• Marriage Visit Visa
• UK Visit Visa Extension
• Refusal of a UK Visit Visa
• S2 Healthcare Visitor
• Partners and Families
• Apply for a UK Visa
• UK Fiance Visa
• UK Spouse Visa
• Domestic Violence & ILR
• Forced Marriages
• Settlement Visa UK
• Access to Child Visa
• Adult Dependant Relative
• HM Armed Forces
• UK Partner Visa
• Citizens Advice UK
• Family Visa UK
• Entrepreneurs & Highly Skilled Visas
• Global Business Mobility Visas
• UK Expansion Visa
• Innovator Founder Visas
• Scale-up Worker Visa
• Business Immigration
• Enterprise & Educational Sponsor Licence
• Corporate Immigration Lawyers
• Applying for a Sponsor Licence
• Our Clients
• Getting our Help
• Advisory Service
• Client Briefings
• Client Trainings
• Sponsor Licence Ratings
• Categories of Migrants
• EEA Laws & Brexit
• European Citizens
• EEA Family Permits
• Pre-Settled Status
• Settled Status
• EEA Residency Card
• EEA Permanent Residency
• Derivative Residency
• UK Residency & ILR
• Travel Documents
• Returning Residents
• Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR)
• FLR(FP) Visa
• ILR Categories
• ILR Absences
• Apply For British Citizenship
• British Citizenship
• Apply for British Nationality
• British Nationality for Children
• Refusal of British Nationality
• British Passport
• Removal of Citizenship
• Visa Refusals
• Administrative Reviews
• Representation to UKVI
• Immigration Appeals
• Appeals & Representation
• Choosing ICS Legal
• Judicial Reviews
• Bail Application
• Applying from the United States
• Legal Advice & Consulting
• UK Immigration Lawyers
• Immigration Lawyers London
• Immigration Appeals & Courts
• Legal Managed Services
• Super Priority Service
• Types of Applications
• How Does It Work
• Client Care
• Application Checking Service
• Application Packs
• Invitation Letter
• Business Invitation Letter
• Business Plans
• Tech ICS Digital & IT
• Other Country Visas
• Housing Report
• Professional Relocation Services
• Regulatory Bodies
• Blogs & News
• Our Values & Ethics
• Our work and reviews
• Latest Legal
• Careers with ICS Legal

Share ICS Legal

Invite someone in your network to explore ICS Legal platform, using the below options.

• Business Visas
• Tier 1 Start-up Visa
• Tier 1 Grad Entrepreneur Visa
• Apply for Innovator Visa
• Tier 1 Entrepreneur Visa
• Tier 1 Exceptional Talent Visa
• Global Talent Visa
• Post Study Work Visa
• Tier 1 Investor Visa
• Apply for UK Ancestry Visa
• Non-PBS Dependants
• Apply for ILR as a Skilled Worker
• Domestic Work Visa
• Creative & Sporting Worker
• Turkish Workers & Business
• Sole Representative Visa
• Religious Worker
• Youth Mobility Visa
• Charity Workers
• Government Auth Exchange
• Tier 2 General Visa
• Tier 2 General Extension
• Tier 2 Maintenance
• Tier 2 English Language
• Apply for ILR under Tier 2
• Tier 2 Visa Refusal
• Tier 2 Intra Company Transfer
• Tier 2 Minister of Religion
• Tier 2 Sportsperson
• Business & Commercial WP
• Tier 2 Health and Care Visa
• Tier 5 Visas
• UK Student Visa
• Short Term Student
• Tier 4 General
• Tier 4 Child
• Human Rights Law
• Family & Private Life
• 7 Years Child Concession
• Long Residence
• Discretionary Leave to Remain
• Leave Outside the Rules
• Deportation Orders
• Criminal and Fraud

Travel Documents | ICS Legal

Travel documents | home office travel documents.

A travel document is a document used for travel if you are not able to obtain a document from your country of nationality. Do not apply for a Home Office travel document if you have changed your personal details as your application will be refused. You can only apply to the Home Office for a travel document in certain special circumstances. There are 4 types of travel documents, depending on your circumstances and your status in the UK.

Call ICS Legal today on 0207 237 3388 and we can explain which type of travel document you would be required to apply for. If you wish to get some initial legal advice, click here to complete this. 

We charge for our services, and our consultation charge is £60 on the telephone. If you would like us to make a formal submission as a one-off, our fee would be £120. Further costs may apply. 

For most of these travel documents, you must be legally resident in the UK and have permission to stay here for at least 6 months after the date when you make your application.

The Home Office has issued biometric travel documents since 17 March 2008, but existing travel documents can continue to be used until they expire. The biometric travel document has a new design and security features including a tamper-proof biometric chip. The chip contains the holder's personal details (name, nationality, sex, place and date of birth, and signature) as shown on page 31 of the document. No other personal information is included on the chip. The applicant's scanned photograph is the 'biometric' element of the document.

Biometric residence permits

From 29 February 2012 anyone applying for a Home Office travel document must also apply for a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) if they do not already hold one. 

How do you qualify for a home office travel document?

To qualify for a Home Office travel document other than a one-way travel document, you must be lawfully resident and present in the UK in one of the eligible groups.

Who qualifies for a home office travel document?

There are five groups. The first two are listed immediately below.

A refugee who has been granted asylum. If you have been recognised as a refugee under the terms of the 1951 United Nations Convention Relating to the Status Of Refugees, you may apply for a Convention Travel Document (blue).

A stateless person. If you have been recognised as a stateless person under the terms of the 1954 United Nations Convention Relating to the Status of Stateless Persons, you may apply for a Stateless Person’s Document (red).

The other three groups are at c., d. and e. Please note that if you are in any of these particular groups, you must provide either: documentary evidence that you have applied to your national authorities for a passport or travel document, and that your application has been formally and unreasonably refused.

Or, an acceptable written explanation with any relevant documentary evidence as to why you cannot or should not have to provide such evidence.

The groups subject to these requirements are:

A person is granted humanitarian protection for a limited period following a refused asylum claim. You may apply for a Certificate of Travel (black).

A person is granted indefinite leave to remain. You may apply for a Certificate of Travel (black).

A person is granted discretionary leave for a limited period following a refused asylum claim. You may apply for a Certificate of Travel (black).

One-way travel document

If you are in the UK and are not British, you may apply for a one-way document. Your immigration status is not relevant for such an application but you must provide evidence of your identity. You do not need to apply for a BRP if applying for a one-way document.

Which type of document should you apply for?

You should apply for the appropriate document for the group to which you belong among. The table below sets out the Home Office status letters and documents most frequently-issued to persons who may qualify for a Home Office travel document.

Which countries can you travel to with a Home Office travel document?

Convention Travel Documents (blue) will normally be valid for travel to all countries except those from which asylum was sought and/or your country of origin. Stateless Person’s Documents (red) will normally be valid for travel to all countries. Certificate of Travel (black) will normally be valid for all countries except those from which asylum was sought and/or your country of origin.

However, countries that are party to the Schengen agreement, along with the Republic of South Africa, will not usually accept a Home Office Certificate of Travel as a valid travel document. Before applying for a Home Office travel document, you should check with the embassy of the country to which you wish to travel that they will accept the document.

It is not possible for children to be included in the travel document of their parent or guardian. Children who wish to hold a travel document should apply on a separate application form. If they are aged under 16, they may apply for a child’s document. If they are aged 16 or over, they must apply for an adult document.

Children should normally travel on a British passport if they were born in the United Kingdom:

to a parent who was settled in this country on the date of the child’s birth, or

to a parent who was a British citizen on the date of the child’s birth.

Lost or stolen travel documents

If you are applying to replace a lost or stolen travel document, you must provide a police report and crime reference number, together with full details of the circumstances of the loss or theft. Home Office may need to make enquiries before we can issue a replacement and these may sometimes take a while to resolve. The checks made before issuing a travel document are necessary to prevent the misuse of identities.

Call us today on 0207 237 3388 for some initial legal advice or if you need help on the travel document application. 

Contact Us Today

Most visited, recommended pages.

ICS Legal : UK Immigration Advice | UK Visas | Partners & Marriage Visas | Tier 1 Start-up, Tier 1 Innovator & Tier 1 Investor Visas | British Citizenship. ICS Legal is part of ICS Legal Immigration Specialists Ltd. The content and the source codes contained in this page and subsequent pages of www.icslegal.com are the property of ICS Legal Immigration Specialists Ltd. Company Reg Company No. 08703375. Company Registered in England & Wales. By logging into the site, you have accepted our terms and conditions and must abide accordingly. Unauthorised reproduction and copying is strictly prohibited. Selective contents of the website have been re-produced in accordance to Office of Public Sector Information (OPSI). ICS Legal Immigration Specialists Ltd holds PSI Licence and licence number is C2009002244. Parliamentary Licence number is P2009000241. 

The content on our site is provided for general information only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Although we make reasonable efforts to update the information on our site, we make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether express or implied, that the content on our site is accurate, complete or up-to-date. We do not guarantee that our site, or any content on it, will always be available or be uninterrupted. Access to our site is permitted on a temporary basis. We may suspend, withdraw, discontinue or change all or any part of our site without notice. We will not be liable to you if for any reason our site is unavailable at any time or for any period. You are responsible for making all arrangements necessary for you to have access to our site. You are also responsible for ensuring that all persons who access our site through your Internet connection are aware of these terms, and that they comply with them.

Stay in touch

Subscribe to receive our latest immigration alerts

We have placed cookies on your device to enable the website to function and to help improve the website. Please read on to learn about how to control cookies. Some of the cookies we use are essential for the website to work. We also use some non-essential cookies to collect information to make reports and help us improve the site. To control non-essential third party cookies you can adjust your browser settings. Further details on how to do this can be found in our Privacy Policy

• EXPLORE Random Article

How to Apply for Travel Documents in the UK

Last Updated: February 22, 2022 References

This article was co-authored by Jennifer Mueller, JD . Jennifer Mueller is an in-house legal expert at wikiHow. Jennifer reviews, fact-checks, and evaluates wikiHow's legal content to ensure thoroughness and accuracy. She received her JD from Indiana University Maurer School of Law in 2006. There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 5,162 times.

If you live in the UK but aren't a British citizen and can't get a passport from your home country, you might be able to get travel documents from the British Home Office if you need to travel outside the country. Generally, you're only eligible for travel documents if you're staying in the UK as a refugee or stateless person, or if you're settled in the UK permanently (what the Home Office calls "indefinite leave to remain"). You can apply for travel documents online through the Home Office, but you have to mail the completed application along with supporting documentation. If you don't have a biometric residence permit (BRP), you'll need to apply for one of those when you apply for your travel document. [1] X Trustworthy Source Official UK government website Official website for the public sector of the UK government Go to source

Choosing the Right Travel Document

• This travel document is typically valid for up to 10 years, depending on the validity of your biometric residence permit (BRP). You can travel to any country except your country of origin.

• Stateless travel documents are usually valid for 10 years, although they might be issued with a shorter validity depending on your situation. You can typically travel to any and all countries.
• You're only considered stateless if you are not recognized as a citizen of any country. Some refugees are stateless, but not all. If you're not sure if you've been officially recognized as stateless, you probably haven't. Fewer than 100 people in the UK have been recognized as stateless since the official determination procedure was started in 2014. [4] X Research source

• To get this documentation, apply for a passport using your home country's usual process. When your application is denied, save the original letter you get back from your home country.
• You also need to show why the denial was unreasonable. The Home Office considers a denial reasonable if, for example, you have a criminal record in your home country or did not provide enough evidence to confirm your identity.
• If you are granted a COT, it will typically have 5 years of validity. You can travel to any country with this document except for your country of origin.

• While you do need to provide documentation to confirm your identity, you don't need to apply for a BRP to use this type of travel document.
• This document is issued to any non-British citizen in the UK who doesn't have a passport and wants to leave the country. It can only be used for one journey out of the country and is valid for a year, although it's generally intended to be used immediately. [7] X Research source
• One-way travel documents are typically issued for travel to a specified country. If you have to travel through one country to get to your destination country, that country will also be listed on your document.

Filling out Your Application

• After you provide your location, you'll be asked to select which type of travel document you want to apply for. If you're not sure, click on the question so see who qualifies for each type.

Tip: If you don't feel comfortable using a computer or do not have internet access, you can get help over the phone by calling 03333 445 675. This phone line is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

• If you're applying for a one-way travel document, your document will only be valid for travel to the country you specified. However, all other travel documents are typically valid for travel to any country, except your country of origin or the country from which you sought asylum.
• If you're applying for a COT, you'll also need to discuss your process of applying for a passport from your country of origin and the reason your application for a passport was denied.

Tip: If members of your family are also applying for travel documents at the same time, you each have to apply online and pay your fees separately.

• The online application will ask you if you have a BRP. If you do, simply answer "yes." If you answer "no," the BRP application will come up for you to fill out.
• You will have to provide a digital photo and digital fingerprints along with your signature for your BRP. You can get these done at any government service and support center or post office branch. As of January 2020, the fee is £19.20 for biometrics. [11] X Trustworthy Source Official UK government website Official website for the public sector of the UK government Go to source

Warning: If you already have a BRP but need to amend or replace it, you must do this before you apply for your travel document. You can't use the application included with the travel document application.

• Refugee and stateless person's travel documents are £75 for adults, £49 for children under 15, and £0 if you were born before September 1, 1929.
• One-way travel documents are £75 for all adults (regardless of age) and £49 for children under 15.
• A COT is £280 for all adults (regardless of age) and £141 for children under 15.

Submitting Your Application

• If you're applying for a travel document as a refugee or stateless person, you'll need the British court order or certificate that shows you've been officially recognized as a refugee or stateless person, as well as your BRP.
• If you're applying for a COT, you need documents that prove that you applied for a passport from your home country and that application was unreasonably denied. This might include a letter from your home country's immigration authority or a copy of your passport application. A COT typically requires the most documentation.

Tip: Make a photocopy of your BRP to send with your application — do not send your original BRP. All other documents must be originals.

• There are many translation companies in the UK that offer professional translation services. You can find these companies with a quick internet search. You might also use the search engine provided by the Institute of Translation and Interpreting, a professional association of translators. Go to https://www.iti.org.uk/component/itisearch/?view=translators to find a translator who is a member of the association.

• Your signature will be scanned and digitally included on your travel documents.
• After you've signed your declaration page, make a photocopy of your entire application so you have it for your records.

• Scan the document and email it to [email protected] or fax it to 020 8196 0109.
• You still must include the paper originals of any documents you fax or email in your package that you send to the Home Office.

• Send your documents to: Travel Documents Section UK Visas and Immigration Lunar House 40 Wellesley Road Croydon CR9 2BY
• After verifying the information in your application, the Home Office returns documents that don't need to be kept with your application. If you want these documents returned to you by Special Delivery, include a prepaid Special Delivery envelope with your package.
• If you realize after you've sent your package that you left out a document, don't send it separately. Instead, wait to hear back from the Home Office. They will send you a letter to request any documents that are missing from your application package.

• It typically takes 3 to 4 months for the Home Office to process an application for a travel document. [19] X Research source

• If you're writing a physical letter, mail it to: Travel Documents Section UK Visas and Immigration Lunar House 40 Wellesley Road Croydon CR9 2BY
• You can also send an email to [email protected].

Expert Q&A

• Before you travel, check with the embassy or consulate of the country you want to visit and make sure your travel documents will be accepted at the border. You also may need a visa. [21] X Trustworthy Source Official UK government website Official website for the public sector of the UK government Go to source Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0
• The guidance notes, available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/apply-for-a-home-office-travel-document-form-td112-brp , provide more information about the process of applying for travel documents. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• Don't book travel until you've received your travel document in case there are any delays or issues with the approval of your application. [22] X Research source Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• Don't apply for a travel document if you have less than 6 months' leave to remain in the UK. Your travel document will only be valid to the extent of your leave to remain in the UK and most countries won't accept travel documents with less than 6 months' validity. [23] X Research source Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

You Might Also Like

• ↑ https://www.gov.uk/apply-home-office-travel-document
• ↑ https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/752814/TD112_BRP_Guidance_Notes_11_2018.pdf
• ↑ https://files.institutesi.org/ISI_statistics_analysis_2018.pdf
• ↑ https://www.gov.uk/apply-home-office-travel-document/how-to-apply
• ↑ https://www.gov.uk/biometric-residence-permits/personal-data
• ↑ https://visas-immigration.service.gov.uk/product/travel-document
• ↑ https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/488177/Home_Office_travel_documents_guidance_v6.0EXT_clean.pdf

About this article

Did this article help you?

• About wikiHow
• Terms of Use
• Privacy Policy
• Do Not Sell or Share My Info
• Not Selling Info

• Invest in the UK
• Come to the UK
• Start a Business in the UK
• Trade with the UK
• Privacy Policy
• Terms of Use
• Cookies Notice
• UK Immigration Rules and Visa Requirements
• Newsletter Sign Up

How to apply for a UK Travel Document

• 19 April 2022

IN THIS ARTICLE

A valid passport is usually required for international travel and serves as an important form of official identification that is recognised around the world. However, some people cannot obtain a passport whilst they are living in the United Kingdom for a variety of reasons, such as refugees and stateless people. These individuals may be eligible to apply for a Home Office Travel Document, allowing them to travel outside the UK.

In this guide, we explain what the UK travel document is, who is eligible, and how to apply. We’ll also answer some frequently asked questions from Home Office rravel document applicants.

What is a UK travel document?

A UK Travel Document, also known as a Home Office Travel Document, is an alternative form of identification that provides the ability to cross international borders for travel. Whilst it looks like a UK passport, it does not confer the same rights granted to British nationals. Rather, a UK Home Office Travel Document provides a mechanism to permit travel and serves as identification. Holders of UK Home Office Travel Documents must note that they cannot access visa-free international travel in the same way as British citizens and will be subject to the visa arrangements outlined for nationals of their country of origin.

Why is a UK travel document important?

UK Home Office Travel Documents are important as they provide the ability to travel to individuals currently in the United Kingdom who may otherwise incur difficulties obtaining a national passport. For some people, obtaining a national passport can be impossible due to factors such as war, civil unrest, or persecution in their country of nationality. Obtaining a UK Home Office Travel Document also provides a widely recognised form of identification that will be accepted within the United Kingdom for future immigration applications and in daily life.

Who needs a UK travel document?

You will need a UK Home Office Travel Document if you want to have a form of UK identification and seek to travel internationally. You can only apply for a UK Home Office Travel Document from within the United Kingdom. You cannot be a British citizen and you must not be able to obtain a passport from your country of nationality. One of the following must also be true:

• You have Leave to Remain or Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) in the United Kingdom as a refugee
• You have Leave to Remain or Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) in the United Kingdom as a stateless person
• You have Leave to Remain or Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) in the United Kingdom as an individual with humanitarian protection status
• You have Leave to Remain or Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) in the United Kingdom but cannot obtain a passport from your country of nationality

What are the different types of UK travel documents?

There are four different types of UK Home Office Travel Documents. You will need to apply for the correct type of UK Home Office Travel Document for your circumstances. These include the Refugee Travel Document, Stateless Person’s Travel Document, One-Way Travel Document, and Certificate of Travel.

Refugee Travel Document – This type of UK Home Office Travel Document is intended for people who have been granted refugee status in the United Kingdom as well as people who came to the United Kingdom via Family Reunion to join a family member who has refugee status. Refugees are eligible for UK Home Office Travel Documents as per the 1951 United Nations Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and the 1967 Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees. The Refugee Travel Document is valid for up to 5 years for individuals with Leave to Remain and expires in line with your immigration permission. If you have Indefinite Leave to Remain as a refugee, your Refugee Travel Document is valid for up to 10 years. If you are under the age of 15, your Refugee Travel Document is valid for up to 5 years. You can travel anywhere in the world on a Refugee Travel Document except for your country of nationality and/or any country you’ve sought asylum from. Please note that you will still be liable to apply for visa(s) before travelling internationally as you are not considered a UK national with this document. You will also need to be sure that the countries you travel to accept Refugee Travel Documents as a valid form of identification.

Stateless Person’s Travel Document

This type of UK Home Office Travel Document is intended for individuals who have been recognised by the UK Government as being stateless. Stateless persons are those who lack an officially recognised nationality from any country around the world and therefore are not eligible for the passport of any country. The Stateless Person’s Travel Document is valid for up to 5 years for individuals with Leave to Remain and expires in line with your immigration permission. If you have Indefinite Leave to Remain as a stateless person, your Stateless Person’s Travel Document is valid for up to 10 years. If you are under the age of 15, your Stateless Person’s Travel Document is valid for up to 5 years. You can generally travel anywhere in the world on a Stateless Person’s Travel Document issued by the UK Home Office. Please note that you will still be liable to apply for visa(s) before travelling internationally as you are not considered a UK national with this document. You will also need to be sure that the countries you travel to accept Stateless Person’s Travel Documents as a valid form of identification.

One-Way Travel Document

This type of UK Home Office Travel Document is intended for individuals who are not British, do not have a valid passport from their country of nationality, and seek to leave the United Kingdom permanently. It allows a one-way right of travel out of the United Kingdom to a country of destination. You will not be able to return to the United Kingdom on a One-Way Travel Document, so you will want to apply for a full passport once you leave the UK. The One-Way Travel Document is valid for 12 months from the date of issue. Please note that you will still be liable to apply for visa(s) before travelling internationally as you are not considered a UK national with this document. You will also need to be sure that the countries you travel to accept One-Way Travel Documents as a valid form of identification.

Certificate of Travel

This type of UK Home Office Travel Document is intended for individuals who fall under one of the following situations:

• If you have Leave to Remain or Indefinite Leave to Remain and have been refused a passport by your country of nationality
• If you have humanitarian protection status in the United Kingdom with officially recognised fear of the authorities from your country of nationality
• If you are on a Family Reunion visa in the United Kingdom after joining your family member who has humanitarian protection status in the United Kingdom
• If you were born in the United Kingdom to an individual who has refugee status in the UK but you have not been granted refugee status in your own right
• If you have a critical reason to travel and cannot receive a passport from your country of nationality quickly enough
• If you fall under any of the above situations, you may be eligible for a Certificate of Travel. If you are applying for a Certificate of Travel due to a critical and imminent need to travel, you will need to provide details about why you need to travel soon.

What is the application process like for a UK travel document?

The application process for a UK Travel Document is not complex, but you must ensure that you meet the requirements and eligibility criteria before beginning the online application form. If you do not meet all requirements and eligibility criteria for a UK Home Office Travel Document, your application will be refused. You will need to submit a separate Travel Document application for every individual in your family, if you are applying as a family unit.

First, you will need to select the Travel Document application form on the UK Home Office website. You will need to identify if you are inside or outside the United Kingdom and then select the type of Travel Document for which you seek to apply – One-Way Travel Document, Certificate of Travel, Stateless Person’s Travel Document, or Refugee Travel Document. You will then need to provide an email address to the Home Office and click through the email verification link.

Next, you will provide all required personal details for your Travel Document application such as the following:

• Your email address
• Your phone number
• Your home address
• Your sex and relationship status
• Your country of nationality, date of birth, country of birth, and place of birth
• Information about your current Biometric Residence Permit (BRP)
• Your National Insurance Number (NIN)

You will also need to provide details about any criminal convictions, driving penalties, arrests, charges, cautions warnings, reprimands or other out-of-court penalties, civil court judgments, or civil penalties under UK immigration law that have been issued in the United Kingdom or any other country. You must also provide details if you have ever been involved in war crimes, crimes against humanity, genoide, terrorist activities, terrorist organisations, held terrorist views, or any other activities that would indicate you are not a person of good character. You must truthfully provide this information or face rejection of your application.

You will then provide details about your immigration and travel history, such as the length of time you have lived in the United Kingdom, any Home Office reference numbers you have been issued, past immigration applications in the UK and abroad. You will also need to provide details about places you plan to travel once you receive your new UK Home Office Travel Document, if you have these details.

Finally, you will need to consent to provide supporting documents. You will be required to send two passport-sized photographs in the post with your name and date of birth written on the back of each photograph. You will also need to send any previous Travel Documents to the Home Office before they will issue your new Travel Document. You will then confirm all information on the Travel Document application and pay the relevant application fee. Once you have paid the application fee, your online application form is complete. You should download and print the Document Checklist to send with your supporting documents in the post.

After you have submitted the online Travel Document application form, you will need to collect all supporting documents. At minimum, you will be required to send two passport-sized photographs and your Document Checklist. If you are submitting an application on behalf of a minor, you will need to provide a consent letter declaring that you agree to apply for your child’s Travel Document. You may be asked to provide additional documents depending on your circumstances, such as:

• Your Leave to Remain grant letter
• Any current or expired Home Office Travel Documents
• Any current or expired national passports
• Any current or expired foreign national identity cards

The Document Checklist will identify if you need to send original copies of these documents or if you can send copies of these documents. If any of these documents are not originally in English, Welsh, or Scottish Gaelic, you will need to include a certified translation alongside the original language.

Once you have collected all of your documents, you should send them with your Document Checklist within 15 working days to the Home Office at the below address:

Home Office Travel Documents Section Lunar House 40 Wellesley Road Croydon CR9 2BY

How much does it cost to apply for a UK travel document?

The cost of your new UK Home Office Travel Document will depend on the type of Travel Document you require and how old you are. Here are the associated costs for the four types of UK Home Office Travel Documents:

You will need to pay the full Travel Document fee at the end of the online application form. If you do not pay the associated fee for your Travel Document, your application will be considered null and void.

How long does it take to receive a decision on my UK travel document application?

Once you have submitted the online application form for a UK Home Office Travel Document and submitted your two passport-size photographs in the post, you will need to wait for your Travel Document to process. Typically, you could wait 3 months to receive your new Travel Document to arrive. However, due to delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Home Office advises that it could take up to 6 months for your new Travel Document to arrive. As such, the Home Office strongly advises that you should not plan or book any travel arrangements until you have received your new UK Travel Document.

UK travel document FAQs

[wp-faq-schema accordion=1]

Legal disclaimer

The matters contained in this article are intended to be for general information purposes only. This article does not constitute legal advice, nor is it a complete or authoritative statement of the law, and should not be treated as such. Whilst every effort is made to ensure that the information is correct, no warranty, express or implied, is given as to its accuracy and no liability is accepted for any error or omission. Before acting on any of the information contained herein, expert legal advice should be sought.

Gill Laing is a qualified Legal Researcher & Analyst with niche specialisms in Law , Tax , Human Resources , Immigration & Employment Law .

Gill is a Multiple Business Owner and the Managing Director of Prof Services - a Marketing & Content Agency for the Professional Services Sector.

• Gill Laing https://www.xpats.io/author/editor/ Medical Visa UK: Step-by-Step Guide
• Gill Laing https://www.xpats.io/author/editor/ UK ETA - Electronic Travel Authorisation Scheme
• Gill Laing https://www.xpats.io/author/editor/ Chinese Tour Group Visa: A Guide to ADS
• Gill Laing https://www.xpats.io/author/editor/ UK Transit Visa - Requirements 2024 Guide

Subscribe to our newsletter

Filled with practical insights, news and trends, you can stay informed and be inspired to take your business forward with energy and confidence.

Xpats.io is a Rokman Media brand © 2024. All rights reserved.

Xpats.io is a registered trademark of Rokman Group Limited and may not be used by third parties without permission.

Website by Prof Services

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

Privacy Overview

Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.

Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.

East Cambridgeshire District Council

Search form

Planning Application Search | Meetings Search

Apply for a Home Office Travel Document

You can apply for a document to travel outside the UK if:

• you are not British 
• you cannot use or get a passport from your country's national authorities 
• your country's national authorities cannot give you a new passport  

It may take longer than usual to get a decision on your application. This is because of the home invasion of Ukraine. Do not book travel until you get your travel document.

If you have already applied 

If you changed address after you submitted your application, contact the Home Office immediately to let them know. If you do not, your documents may be sent to the wrong address. Email the Home Office travel document enquiries team with 'Change of address' and your name in the subject line.

• Home Office travel document enquiries email (external link)

Eligibility 

To apply you must be living in the UK because of one of the following:

• you have permission to stay as a refugee (external link)
• you have humanitarian protection and it has been officially accepted that you have a fear of your country's national authorities  
• you are not recognised as a citizen of any country (a 'stateless person') and you have permission to stay (known as 'leave to remain') or are settled in the UK (known as 'indefinite leave to remain') 
• you have permission to stay (known as 'leave to remain') or are settled in the UK (known as 'indefinite leave to remain'), but you cannot get a passport or travel document from your country's national authorities 

You must be in the UK when you apply.

How to apply (external link)  

Report and replace your travel documents (external link)  

Refugee travel document (external link)  

Travel Documents Assistance

Book an appointment for travel document assistance here, before applying for a travel document:.

This service is provided for individuals with refugee status only.

Before your meeting prepare 2 passport sized photos and your BRP (Biometric Residence Permit).

Please ensure your bank account has the sufficient funds to make the transaction, as all payments are made online.

Preparation Guides before your Travel Document meeting

Before completing your travel document, you will need to have the following checklist of documents. Please download a checklist below and bring these documents to any meetings about applying for a travel document.

• English Travel Document Checklist
• Farsi Travel Document Checklist
• Arabic Travel Document Checklist

If your travel document is late:

Please be aware, travel documents are taking 6 months to process by the Home Office during the pandemic. If you have a compassionate reason to travel, such as illness of a relative, please bring medical evidence to the drop in and we can help you in contacting the home office to speed up your application.

Applying for a travel document from home:

In order to assist individuals with completing applications for travel documents, we have created a helpful How to Guide in order that you can do this from your own home.

Please click below to download your How to Travel Document Guide in English.

Travel Doc How to Guide

Please click below to download your How to Travel Document Guide in Farsi.

Farsi Travel Document Guide

Please click below to download your How to Travel Document Guide in Arabic.

Arabic Travel Document Guide

Completing a Travel Document Part 1

Completing a travel document part 2, how to get help:.

For assistance with completing this, please book an appointment using the link below. Appointments for travel documents take place between 2pm and 4pm on Wednesdays at 129 Princess Road, Moss side, M14 4RB

Privacy Overview

404 Not found

Cookies on GOV.UK

We use some essential cookies to make this website work.

We’d like to set additional cookies to understand how you use GOV.UK, remember your settings and improve government services.

We also use cookies set by other sites to help us deliver content from their services.

You have accepted additional cookies. You can change your cookie settings at any time.

You have rejected additional cookies. You can change your cookie settings at any time.

• Organisations

Home Office

• Ukrainian nationals - get UK visa support
• Get a UK visa
• Get a passport
• Get a DBS (criminal records) check
• Report online terrorist material

Net migration package delivered as family visa tightened

11 April 2024 — News story

Income required to bring family to the UK increased as final measure of package to reduce legal migration comes into force.

Update on passport application fees

The government will introduce new passport fees for all applications on 11 April 2024.

Prime Minister launches retail crime crackdown

10 April 2024 — News story

Assaulting a retail worker to be made a standalone criminal offence.

Nearly 100,000 drug tests carried out to tackle root causes of drug driven crime

3 April 2024 — News story

The expansion of testing on arrest across England and Wales has seen nearly 100,000 drug tests on suspects whose behaviour was believed to have been driven by their drug abuse.

Government accepts all recommendations made by Angiolini Inquiry

25 March 2024 — News story

Government led recommendations made by Part 1 of the independent Angiolini Inquiry have been accepted.

International social media campaign launched to stop the boats

Today marks the launch of the latest phase of the government’s global campaign to warn migrants of the consequences of entering the UK illegally.

Latest from the Home Office

• 14 April 2024
• Transparency data
• 12 April 2024

See all latest documents

Subscriptions

The first duty of the government is to keep citizens safe and the country secure. The Home Office plays a fundamental role in the security and economic prosperity of the UK.

Home Office is a ministerial department, supported by 28 agencies and public bodies .

Read more about what we do

The following links open in a new tab

• Follow on Twitter (opens in new tab)
• Follow on Instagram (opens in new tab)
• Follow on Facebook (opens in new tab)
• Follow on LinkedIn (opens in new tab)
• Follow on YouTube (opens in new tab)
• Follow on Home Office in the Media blog (opens in new tab)
• View and prove your immigration status: get a share code
• How to apply for a visa to come to the UK

Guidance and regulation

• 11 April 2024
• 16 October 2023

News and communications

Research and statistics.

• 10 April 2024
• National Statistics
• Research and analysis

Policy papers and consultations

• Policy paper

Transparency and freedom of information releases

Our ministers.

• Secretary of State for the Home Department

• Minister of State (Minister for Security)

• Minister of State (Minister for Crime, Policing and Fire)

• Parliamentary Under Secretary of State

• Minister of State for Legal Migration and the Border

• Minister of State for Countering Illegal Migration

Our management

Contact Home Office

[email protected]

020 7035 4848

020 7035 4742

The email address above can also be used by organisations and institutions to contact the Community and Stakeholder Engagement Hub. Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. The minicom service is for members of the public with impaired hearing.

• Media enquiries

Contact: Media enquiries

News desk - Monday to Friday, 7am to 7pm

The Home Office Press Office only deals with enquiries from the media.

UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI)

Contact: UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI)

Report an immigration crime

Contact: Report an immigration crime

Immigration Enforcement hotline

0300 123 7000

In an emergency, dial 999 and ask for the police.

CCTV footage requests (from Home Office cameras)

Further information about making a request

020 7035 4646 / 020 8196 3757

Make an FOI request

• Read about the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act and how to make a request .
• Check our previous releases to see if we’ve already answered your question.
• Make a new request by contacting us using the details below.

Freedom of Information requests

[email protected]

High profile groups within Home Office

• Accelerated Capability Environment
• Border Force
• HM Passport Office
• Immigration Enforcement
• Office for the Independent Examiner of Complaints
• UK Council for Internet Safety
• UK Visas and Immigration

Corporate information

• Our organisation chart
• Complaints procedure
• Research at Home Office
• Accessible documents policy
• Office access and opening times
• Equality and diversity
• Modern slavery statement
• Statistics at Home Office
• Our governance

Jobs and contracts

• Procurement at Home Office
• Working for Home Office

Read about the types of information we routinely publish in our Publication scheme . Find out about our commitment to publishing in Welsh . Our Personal information charter explains how we treat your personal information. Read our policy on Social media use .

Is this page useful?

• Yes this page is useful
• No this page is not useful

Help us improve GOV.UK

Don’t include personal or financial information like your National Insurance number or credit card details.

To help us improve GOV.UK, we’d like to know more about your visit today. We’ll send you a link to a feedback form. It will take only 2 minutes to fill in. Don’t worry we won’t send you spam or share your email address with anyone.

• Remember me Not recommended on shared computers

Forgot your password?

Or sign in with one of these services

• US Immigration & Visa Guides

USCIS Travel Documents

What documents do I need to travel outside the United States? Form I-131, Application for Travel Document, is used to apply for three different types of travel documents: --o Advance Parole --o Refugee Travel Document --o Re-Entry Permit WARNING:   If you have been in the United States illegally, then you may be subject to a bar to admission if you depart the United States, even if you have been issued a travel document. For more information please see Section 212(a)(9) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). If you are an asylee who applied for asylum on or after April 1, 1997, then your asylum status may be terminated if you return to the country from which you were seeking protection. Advance Parole Advance parole is issued solely to authorize the temporary parole of a person into the United States. The document may be accepted by a transportation company (airlines) instead of a visa as an authorization to travel to the United States. Please note that an advance parole document does not replace your passport. Advance parole is most commonly used when someone has Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or to Adjust Status, pending. If you depart the U.S. while your I-485 application is pending without first obtaining advance parole, your case will be denied unless you fit into a narrow exception for those maintaining certain nonimmigrant statuses. Advance Parole for Asylees An asylum applicant who has a pending Form I-589, Application for Asylum and for Withholding of Removal, and has not received a final decision may be allowed to travel outside the United States. If you are an asylum applicant and you intend to travel outside the United States and return you must apply for and receive advance parole. If you leave the United States without first obtaining advance parole, USCIS will presume you abandoned your asylum application. Advance parole does not guarantee that you will be allowed to reenter the United States, rather, an immigration inspector from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) must inspect you and determine whether you will be allowed to reenter the United States. Refugee Travel Document A refugee travel document is issued to a person who has been granted refugee or asylum status, or to a permanent resident who obtained a green card because they were a refugee or asylee. If you hold refugee or asylee status and are not a permanent resident, you must have a refugee travel document to return to the United States. Derivative asylees and refugees must also obtain a refugee travel document before leaving the United States. If you do not obtain a refugee travel document in advance of departure, you may be unable to re-enter the United States, or you may be placed in removal proceedings before an immigration judge. Re-entry Permit A re-entry permit allows a permanent resident or conditional resident to apply for admission to the U.S. upon returning from abroad during the permit’s validity, without having to obtain a returning resident visa from a U.S. Embassy or consulate. Permanent or conditional residents should apply for a re-entry permit if they will be outside the United States for one year or more.

Edited November 13, 2019 by Captain Ewok

NOTE: The above information does not address the specific requirements for any given case and is not a substitute for the advice of an attorney.

• advance parole

User Feedback

Recommended comments.

There are no comments to display.

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Already have an account? Sign in here.

• Existing user? Sign In
• Immigration Guides
• Immigration Wiki
• Example Immigration Forms
• Form Downloads
• K1 Fiancé Visa
• CR1 & IR1 Spousal Visa
• US Visa FAQs

Office Reviews & Info

• Consulate & USCIS Office Reviews
• US Port of Entry Reviews
• US Consulate Information
• Processing Times
• Immigration Timelines
• VJ Partners
• Ask a Lawyer
• All Activity
• Popular Topics
• Create New...