Guidance
Request copies of your personal immigration and borders information
Find out how to make a subject access request to see information held about you. You can also make a request for someone else.
Details
The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) determines how we process personal data (information relating to living people). The regulation means you can ask to access the information we hold about you. These requests are called subject access requests.
Updates to this page
Published 4 March 2014
Last updated
2527 FebruaryMarch 2025
+ show href="#full-history"> + show all updates
27 March 2025
Updated to reflect that you can use an expired biometric residence permit for 18 months after the expiry date printed on the card.
25 February 2025
Added information about EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) status automation.
2 December 2024
Updating guidance about information you cannot request.
18 October 2024
Updated Subject Access Request Unit (SARU) postal address.
17 September 2024
Guidance updated to make it clear what information you can request when submitting a Subject Access Request. You cannot use a Subject Access Request to get immigration status documents.
24 November 2023
Updated and clarified content.
21 June 2022
Updated information about subject access request processing times.
20 January 2022
Clarification that the online form provided is not mandatory.
10 May 2021
Links added to check an individual's immigration status, right to work or rent to prevent subject access requests being made when other sources of information are available.
29 April 2021
Updated as we are now able to provide personal data held on some paper records.
3 March 2021
Clarifying that users can still request personal data held on paper records but these are delayed due to coronavirus.
22 October 2020
Parts of the service previously closed to coronavirus (COVID-19) have now resumed: you can make a request by post. The service to provide paper records is still unavailable due to coronavirus.
25 August 2020
Made a minor change to the 'Make a complaint' section.
22 July 2020
Updated to show that only digital records can be provided at this time due to coronavirus (COVID-19).
2 July 2020
Removed information on providing written confirmation from a third party that your photo identification is a true likeness of you.
24 March 2020
Coronavirus (COVID-19) update: postal requests and correspondence are not being accepted at this time.
30 January 2020
Updated process information.
20 July 2018
Specific and basic request targets updated.
23 May 2018
Guidance has been updated for GDPR.
27 February 2018
A new online form is available to request personal information held by UK Visas and Immigration. The guidance has been completely updated.
22 December 2016
Updated SAR application.
14 September 2016
New subject assess information for legal representatives.
7 July 2016
Updated standard subject access request form.
11 February 2016
Updated fast track application details.
23 November 2015
Updated guidance to highlight that the pilot will run until 31 January 2016
3 September 2015
Updated information to highlight that the fast track pilot will run until 31 October 2015.
7 August 2015
Fast Track IT service added.
15 June 2015
Updated subject access request form.
5 January 2015
Added new forms and survey, updated information
4 March 2014
First published.