• ECB17.1 Visa transfer or visa replacement?
• ECB17.2 Transferring or replacing a visa
• ECB17.3 Visa endorsement
• ECB17.4 Dealing with unused visas

See other guidance information ECB01 - Immigration legislation and powers ECB02 - Human rights and Race Discrimination considerations ECB03 - What is entry clearance? ECB04 - Who needs an entry clearance? ECB05 - Where to apply - the policy ECB06 - Entry clearance fees ECB07 - Returnability ECB08 - What are acceptable travel documents for entry clearance? ECB09 - Types and validity of entry clearance ECB10 - Making a decision on an application ECB11 - Significance of information from a sponsor ECB12 - Undertakings ECB13 - Visa endorsements and conditions ECB14 - ID cards and leave to remain ECB15 - Arriving in/Departing from the UK ECB16 - Police registration ECB18 ECO revocation of an entry clearance ECB19 - Correcting an incorrect endorsement ECB20 - Unresolved applications ECB21 Risk and Liaison Overseas Network  

ECB17.1 Visa transfer or visa replacement?

Where an applicant's passport expires during the validity of a multi-entry visa the visa may be transferred to the new passport at their request.  The transfer fee will therefore apply. If, however, the applicant loses or has their passport and visa stolen, we are issuing a replacement visa and the full fee is required. If the applicant applies for a replacement visa you will need to see a Police report and all supporting documentation. This also applies to replacement 'leave to remain' granted in the UK.

See Referrals/Deferrals (RDF) section on obtaining information on an applicant's leave validity granted in the UK.

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ECB17.2 Transferring or replacing a visa

There will be a fee for the transfer or replacement service. (Please check our visa fees page for fee updates).

For transfers, the visa vignette in the expired passport should be cancelled without prejudice by placing a diagonal line through it (to prevent any misuse). PROVISO should be updated to indicate that the remaining validity of the visa has been transferred to passport number xxxxx.

For replacement visas, PROVISO and other records should be updated to take account of the lost or stolen passport and visa.
 
The Immigration (Provision of Physical Data) Regulations 2006 enables an ECO to require a person who applies for entry clearance to provide a record of his fingerprints and a photograph of his face as part of the application. Any visa holder seeking to transfer an existent visa to a new passport is not making a fresh application for entry clearance so cannot be compelled to provide biometrics as part of the transfer process, regardless of whether their initial application was accompanied by biometric enrolment. However, posts should encourage visa holders to enrol their biometrics when seeking to have a visa transferred to a new passport.

 

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ECB17.3 Visa endorsement

Transferring or replacing leave is not a fresh application.

You should endorse the vignette 'TO COMPLETE STAY WHICH EXPIRES ON XXXX'

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ECB17.4 Dealing with unused visas

If the holder has not entered the UK by the visa's expiry date, the holder should re-apply. If there are compelling compassionate reasons why the visa was not used, the visa may be extended by up to 3 months provided there has been no change in circumstances. (In such cases no fee should be charged).

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