Frequently Asked Questions
We often get asked questions about registration, or changing address.
Read some of the answers to the 8 most frequently asked questions below:
Question: Can I register at any Police station?
Answer: No, if you intend to live in the Metropolitan Police area in London , you must register at the Overseas Visitors Records Office (OVRO), Brandon House, 180 Borough High Street, London SE1 1LH.
Question: Do I have to attend the OVRO building when I want to change address?
Answer: No, this can be done at any Metropolitan Police Station within 7 days of change of residential address or indeed change of work/school/university address. Just bring your registration certificate with you. There is no requirement to provide proof of address.
Question: Do my parents have to register when they come over to visit me or watch me graduate?
Answer: Unlikely if they are coming to the UK for a short time, but they should check their visa.
Question: If I leave the UK to visit my home country, do I have to register again upon my return to the UK?
Answer: You must check your visa, if a requirement to register is endorsed in your new visa, you will need to attend OVRO again with your previous certificate.
Question: If I leave the country do I have to hand my certificate in.
Answer: No, you are advised to keep the certificate in a safe place and bring it with you next time you visit the UK.
Question: My visa in my passport does not show a requirement to register with the police, can I register anyway?
Answer: No, you will need to wait until you receive a requirement to register which can be imposed in your passport /travel document or Identity Card for Foreign Nationals (ICFN) when you apply for a new visa in the UK or abroad.
Question: I have not changed my address but have been granted a new visa; do I need to report this to the police?
Answer: You must check your new visa, if it requires you to report/register with the police you must do so within 7 days of receiving the new visa regardless of whether or not you have changed your address.
Question: I do not have an Identity Card for Foreign Nationals (ICFN), how and when do I get one?
Answer: ICFN’s are issued by the UK Border Agency in the UK to certain types of visa categories. Information on whether or not you need one will be contained within your application form if you apply to extend your stay in the UK.
- Frequently Asked Questions