Police Registration Information

What is Police Registration?

Police Registration means that you need to make and attend an appointment with the British Police as soon as possible after you arrive in the UK. You need to register yourself and the address where you will be living while you are in the UK. When you have registered you will receive a Police Registration Certificate – a document which is as important as your passport is. It is very important that every time you change address you inform the Police at your nearest police station. Take your Police Registration Certificate with you and it will be updated.You need to make sure that your Certificate always has your current address.

Do I need to register with the Police?

The British Government requires that certain foreign nationals aged 16 years or over from some non- EEA countries and non -Commonwealth countries need to register with the Police. When you come to the UK, UK immigration will stamp your passport to tell you if you need to register. If you are given such a stamp you must register with the police upon arrival in the UK.

Since May 1998 the list of countries/territories whose nationals must register with the UK Police is:

Please note this list may change at any time. This means they might still ask you to register even if you are not from one of the countries on the list. If you are from a country which is not included on this list and your passport states that you should “register with the police” please contact the Nationality Office to check.  Always check your visa stamp carefully as this is the best way to tell if you are required to register.

When should I register?

You need to register within 7 days after your arrival in the UK. Make sure that you book your appointment as soon as possible with the Police Headquarters. However if you choose to register on campus and the date of registry takes place more than 7 days after your arrival do not worry, you are then allowed to wait longer than 7 days. You must book your campus registration appointment in the first 7 days after your arrival in the UK.

Important

Remember –you need to register with the Police only once! You don’t register again when you change your address but you do need to inform them that you have changed address.

However you do need to register again if: