Police registration
Do I need to register with the Police?
If you come from one of the following countries then you will have a stamp in your passport that says you must register with the police within 7 days of arriving in the UK:
| Afghanistan | Bolivia | Iran | Lebanon | Peru | Tunisia |
| Algeria | Brazil | Iraq | Libya | Qatar | Turkey |
| Argentina | China | Israel | Moldova | Russia | Turkmenistan |
| Armenia | Colombia | Jordan | Morocco | Saudi Arabia | U.A.E. |
| Azerbaijan | Cuba | Kazakhstan | North Korea | Sudan | Ukraine |
| Bahrain | Egypt | Kyrgyzstan | Oman | Syria | Uzbekistan |
| Belarus | Georgia | Kuwait | Palestine | Tajikistan | Yemen |
Why is is important to register with the police?
Registering with the police is a legal immigration requirement of your permission to enter and remain in the UK. If you fail to register with the police you could be prosecuted and a note of this will be placed on your immigration record. This may negatively affect any visa applications you make in the future.
Where do I have to go to register?
From Monday 4th February 2013 for a trial period of two months police registration can only be done in the International Student Lounge on the 3rd floor of Cardiff University Students' Union.
When can I register?
On Mondays and Wednesdays between 9am and 2.45pm.
You can book an appointment to register with the police by using an on-line booking system. Details of this are available here.
People with appointments will be given priority over those who do not.
Appointments usually take about 20 minutes and you should arrive for your appointment at least 10 minutes before the scheduled time.
What do I need to take with me?
If this is the first time you are registering with the police then you must take all of the following with you, otherwise you will not be able to register:
- Your passport
- 2 passport photographs
- £34 registration fee - must be paid in cash and you should have the correct money available
- Proof that you are a student - this can be either your Student ID card, offer letter or your University enrolment papers
- Completed Questionnaire
What if I have already registered but my circumstances change?
If you have previously registered but your circumstances have changed then you must report this to the police within 7 days and your certificate will be updated. There is no charge for updating your certificate. Please report any of the following changes and provide relevant documents as evidence:
| What’s changed? | What documents/evidence required? Your current Police Registration Certificate, your passport and only 1 of the following documents |
| Change of address | Cardiff University Accommodation = Residences Card only. Private Accommodation = tenancy agreement, or Accommodation contract, or Gas/Electric/Water bill that shows your new address |
| Change of University | Cardiff University student ID card or a print out of your CAS email from Cardiff University |
| Change of marital status | Marriage certificate, or Divorce certificate |
| Extension to visa granted by UKBA | Biometric and Passport |
| Change of passport | New passport |
What do I do if I've lost my Police Registration Certificate?
You will need to re-register with the police as if it is the first time you have done so. Please see the section "What do I need to take with me" above. You will be charged £34.
What should I do when I leave the UK?
When you finally leave the UK at the end of your studies you must return your Police Registration Certificate to the Nationality Office using the following address:
The Nationality Office,
Rumney Police Station,
Newport Road,
Cardiff,
CF3 4FD