Transferring your visa to a new passport can be a complex process, please ensure you read this section carefully.

If your old passport contains a residence permit (known as 'leave to remain'), you can apply for the UK Border Agency to transfer that residence permit to your new passport when the old one expires.

You can choose not to have the residence permit transferred to your new passport. In that case, you should carry both your old passport and your new passport when you travel to the United Kingdom, as evidence of your resident status. If you cannot produce your original permit, you may not be allowed to enter the country.

Transferring your indefinite leave to remain visa stamp can only be done in the United Kingdom. If you are entering the UK, and you have your old passport along with your new passport, the immigration officer will allow you to enter the United Kingdom.

Making an application can be done on a fast track process, ICS Legal are able to process this on a same day service. The fees are higher; however you can get the stamp completed on the same day. When you are issued with a new residence permit, it may look different from your old stamp, because a United Kingdom residence permit has replaced all former stamp and ink endorsements for permission to stay in this country for longer than six months.

The procedure is the same if you have permission on a limited basis, usually referred to as limited leave to remain. You must make the application from the United Kingdom.

The Home Office will require supporting documents including police crime reference number if your passport is lost or stolen. You would need to produce documentary evidence to prove that you have been in continuous residence in the United Kingdom.

You should send the original documents, not a copy. In exceptional circumstances, the Home Office may accept a photocopy that is certified as an accurate copy by the body or authority that issued the original (for example a copy of a savings book certified by the bank) or by a notary. You must include a letter explaining the reasons for providing a certified copy rather than the original document.

Photographs

You should provide two recent passport-sized photographs of yourself and two of each dependant applying on the same form. All the photographs should have the name of the person in the picture written on the back.

The photographs should:

·         measure 45mm high by 35mm wide;

·         be in colour;

·         be taken against a white background;

·         be clear and of good quality;

·         not be framed or backed;

·         show your full face, and be without sunglasses, hat or head covering unless you wear this for religious reasons.

Passports

You should provide your current passport or other travel document and the passport or travel document of all dependants who are applying on the same form. If anyone included in the application last entered the United Kingdom with a different passport or document, you should also send these documents if you have them.

If your passport or a dependant's previous passport or other document has been stolen, you should provide a police report confirming this, together with the original of any UK Border Agency letter telling you, or your dependant, you had been given limited or indefinite leave to remain.

Police registration certificates

If you are applying to transfer a stamp confirming limited leave to remain, you should provide your police registration certificate if you were asked to register with the police when you came to the United Kingdom. If any of the dependants included on your application were asked to register with the police you should provide their police registration certificates.

Evidence of residence

If you are applying to transfer a stamp confirming indefinite leave to remain, you should provide evidence that you and any dependant included in the application have lived continuously in the United Kingdom since being given indefinite leave.