How to make a Subject Access Request (SAR) under the Data Protection Act (DPA) 1998 

The Data Protection Act 1998 governs the processing of personal data (information relating to living individuals).  This legislation makes it possible for you to request access to personal data that the UK Border Agency may hold on you.  This is called a Subject Access Request.

If you wish to access your personal data then you will need to do the following:

• Write to the address below as we will need your original signature.  Please provide as much detail as possible including:
  
  • your full name,
  • any previous names,
  • date of birth,
  • nationality,
  • any UK Border Agency, Home Office or visa references.
  
  This information will help us to speed up the process of identifying you on our systems.
  
  
• State clearly in your letter whether you want a Full Disclosure of your Personal Data or whether you want specific documents to be sent to you.
  Please note that all these will be supplied in photocopies.
  
  
• If the request is made on your behalf by a solicitor or other representative we will also need an original signed letter of authority from you enabling us to make the disclosure on your behalf to a third party.
  
  
• A £10 administration fee in the form of a cheque or postal order made payable to: The Accounting Officer - Home Office. 

Where possible, payment in the form of a postal order is preferable as there is no delay in the processing of payment.  

Please send all correspondence together with your payment to:

Data Protection Unit
UK Border Agency
Lunar House
40 Wellesley Road
Croydon
CR9 2BY

Please note that if you do not provide the relevant information above, this may result in a delay in processing your request.  We will not be able to process any requests without the administration fee.