If you applied for a visa from outside the UK

You will need to contact the visa application centre where you applied. You cannot use the online form to request your documents back. You can contact your overseas visa application centre by selecting your country on the country finder page.

If you have made an application from inside the UK

You can request the return of your documents by completing our online return of documents form.

You can also use this form to withdraw your application. You cannot use this form to request your documents back if you have:

• claimed asylum - see more information below; or
• applied to transfer your visa or residence permit to a new passport or biometric residence permit - see more information below; or
• received notification that your application has been refused - see more information below.

If you request your passport to be returned, delivery will normally take up to 20 working days (10 working days if you are a European national). If you have not received your documents within this time please complete the online return of documents progress request form. Do not use this form unless you have already submitted an online return of documents form. If you would like a progress update on an application, please see our enquiries page for details.

We recommend that you do not book travel until you have received your documents.

If you have sent documents to us by recorded or special delivery and would like to confirm that we have received them, you should use the track and trace facility on the Royal Mail website.

Cancelling your return of documents request

If you would like to withdraw your request to have your documents returned or your application withdrawn, please complete the online cancellation form. If your request has already been processed or your documents have already been posted to you, we will be unable to cancel your request.

More information

If you have claimed asylum and would like to request the return of your documents, you will need to contact your case owner.

If you have applied to transfer your visa or residence permit to a new passport or biometric residence permit, you will need to complete a return of documents request form. You need to email a Word document of the application to RODRequests@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk as we do not accept scanned copies.

If you have been notified that your application has been refused you should follow the instructions on your refusal notice or contact your local ICE team to arrange your departure from the UK.