Subject Access Request Home Office UKVI (SAR)
You can request personal information about you that is held on the Home Office’s immigration records (this is also known as a ‘subject access request’).
A subject access request Home Office can be made, UKVI to get a copy of all the documents, information, records, decisions, notes etc which the Home Office is holding about you in their database. Anyone can make a Subject Access Request (SAR) for information that the UKVI hold about them.
How To Make A Subject Access Request (SAR) To Home Office UKVI?
You can make a Subject Access Request (SAR) online to request access to personal information held by UKVI. Using the online application will reduce the time it takes to respond to your subject access request (SAR).
You can also contact the Home Office UKVI in relation to your Subject Access Request (SAR) by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you:
- have a query about making a subject access request
- have a query about a subject access request you have received
- sent a request by post before 19 March 2020 and you have not received acknowledgement of your request
Evidence To Send With Subject Access Request (SAR)
You should provide the following documentary evidence with your subject access request (SAR) to Home Office UKVI:
Photo Identification
The Home Office UKVI will match your photograph against their systems to ensure they send personal information to the right person. This helps the Home Office UKVI keep your personal information safe.
Photo identification can include a copy of your:
- passport
- driving licence
- biometric residence card
- national identity card
- travel document
If none of the above is available then you will need to send a recent photograph. You should not send original documents but a good quality clear colour photocopy is required.
Letter Of Permission
This can be a short letter or statement. The Home Office UKVI will use this to be sure that you want your records to be sent to you and, if someone is applying on your behalf, that you have given your authority for them to do so.
The letter must include:
- confirmation that you give permission for your records to be sent to you
- confirmation that you give permission for your records to be sent to a third party representative – if they are completing the application on your behalf
- your signature and the date, within the last 6 months – please note your signature as well as your photo identification is used to verify that the person making the request is entitled to do so
If you are completing the subject access request (SAR) for a child under 12; have the power of attorney for an applicant; or are a litigation friend, you can sign the letter of permission on the applicant’s behalf.
Proof Of Your Relationship
If you are making a subject access request (SAR) on behalf of a child under 12, you must provide evidence of your relationship so that the Home Office UKVI are sure that you have the parental authority to do this.
This evidence can include:
- a birth certificate
- proof of parental responsibility
Additionally, if you are applying on behalf of someone because you have the power of attorney, or are a litigation friend, you must provide evidence of this.
Types Of Subject Access Request (SAR) To Home Office UKVI
There are 3 types of request you can make. All types of request are free of charge. If multiple requests are made for the same person, the first request received will be treated as your sole application. You will receive a response within 30 days of your identity being verified by the Home Office. The 3 types of requests you can make are as follows:
Basic Subject Access Request (SAR)
Under the basic Subject Access Request (SAR), You can request a copy of:
- an electronic summary of your immigration history
- landing cards UKVI hold electronically
- visa applications you submitted from outside of the UK (as part of entry clearance)
- Workers Registration Scheme (WRS) information if you are a national of Czechia, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia
- Entry and exit into and out of the UK. Your travel history can be provided for the past 5 years if a passport or travel document is submitted for this period
Most people find that the option of basic Subject Access Request (SAR) gives them all the information they need.
Specific Subject Access Request (SAR)
You can request specific information if you need to. You should clearly describe what documents you need.
You can request copies of up to 5 single documents, for example:
- a list of your applications
- a particular decision letter
- the outcome of an appeal (appeal determination)
- a particular detention progress report
- a deportation order
- a particular interview record
If you need more information than the single documents in the above list, you will need to make a detailed subject access request (SAR).
Detailed Subject Access Request (SAR)
The detailed subject access request (SAR) allows you to request a copy of your Home Office paper file. Initially, you will be sent an electronic summary of your immigration information (as with a basic application) this gives most people what they need. However, this option also allows you to request further information from your Home Office paper file if the electronic data did not fulfil your request.
Refining your request to state clearly what paper records you need will help your application.
How Can We Help?
As specialist immigration lawyers, we can represent you in your subject access request (SAR) and carry out all the work on your subject request (SAR) until you get a response from the Home Office UKVI on your subject access request (SAR). The work to be done by our immigration lawyers on your subject access request (SAR) may entail the following:
- advising you on the the procedure to be following for making a subject access request to the Home Office UKVI;
- advising you about the documentary evidence to be submitted in support of your subject access request (SAR);
- assessing the documents to be submitted in support of the subject access request (SAR);
- completing the online application form for subject access request (SAR) to the Home Office UKVI;
- prepare a cover letter to introduce and support your subject access request (SAR) to the Home Office UKVI;
- doing all the follow up work until we receive a response from the UKVI on your subject access request (SAR);
- assessing the data received from the Home Office UKVI and discussing the same in detail to advise you on the relevant information contained with the UKVI data and how the relevant information within the SAR report can have positive or negative impact on your immigration matter.
How Much We Charge?
Unless your matter is very complicated, our fixed fees for making a subject access request (SAR) to the Home Office UKVI are as given in the fee table below:
| Our Service | Our Fee |
| Full service for subject access request (SAR) to cover all the work until response from the Home Office UKVI | From £500 + VAT To £800 + VAT |
The agreed fixed fee will depend on the complexity of the subject access request (SAR) and the volume of casework involved in the subject access request (SAR).
