Transfer your visa from your passport or replace your visa

You might need to transfer or replace your visa (your physical immigration document with a wet ink stamp or vignette sticker) if one of the following applies:

  • your passport has expired
  • your name or personal details have changed
  • the 90-day sticker in your passport (called a vignette) has expired

Your passport has expired

What you need to do depends on if you use your visa to:

  • travel to and from the UK
  • prove your right to work in the UK

Travel to and from the UK

You can use the valid visa in your expired passport when you’re travelling to and from the UK. You’ll need to travel with your expired and your new passport.

If you’re inside the UK you can choose to replace your visa with an eVisa. An eVisa is an online record of your immigration status. The cost depends on your visa.

If you’re outside the UK you can choose to transfer your visa to a new passport online (it costs £154). You’ll need to prove your identity at a visa application centre to complete your application.

You’ll usually get a decision on your application within 3 weeks of proving your identity.

Prove your right to work in the UK

You cannot use a valid visa in your expired passport to prove you have the right to work in the UK.

You need to do both of the following:

Your name or personal details have changed

You must replace your visa with an eVisa if your overall stay in the UK is longer than 6 months and any of the following details change:

  • name
  • nationality
  • facial appearance
  • date of birth
  • the sex listed on your passport

You usually need to show that your passport has your new details when you apply for a visa. You do not need to do this if you’ve changed your name because you:

  • are a victim of crime, for example domestic violence
  • are a witness of crime
  • have changed gender (and the law in your country of origin does not recognise or permit a change in name or marker of gender or sex)
  • are a dual national and cannot change the name on your non-British passport
  • are a recognised refugee, stateless person, or are subject to humanitarian protection, and are unable to approach your national authorities

Contact UK Visas and Immigration if your passport does not have your new details. Your application may be refused.

You do not need to get an eVisa or report any changes if your stay in the UK is less than 6 months.

The 90-day sticker (vignette) in your passport has expired

Your vignette lasts for 90 days. It allows you to travel to the UK.

If your 90-day visa vignette expires before you travel to the UK, you’ll need to apply to replace it. It costs £154.

You’ll need to provide your fingerprints and photo (biometric information) at a visa application centre to complete your application.

You’ll usually get a decision on whether your visa can be transferred within 3 weeks of proving your identity.

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