How to register

Coronavirus (Covid-19): Following the recent national lockdown announcement by the UK Government, Police Registration Services in London have been suspended and the OVRO will remain closed until further notice. If you have already booked an appointment you should receive an e-mail advising you that your appointment has been cancelled. We can confirm that you will not face any penalty action for delays in registering/reporting caused by our closure. Customers who are travelling abroad prior to registering with the OVRO should not face any difficulties at UK ports for non-registration due to the suspension of our services. We apologise for any inconvenience.

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The Overseas Visitors Records Office (OVRO) is the place to visit in London if you live in London and have been required to register with the police, an essential part of many foreign nationals’ visa conditions.

Our details

Our address is:

323 Borough High Street
London
SE1 1JL

View OVRO on map

Please see our opening times below:

Opening times

Monday to Friday: 9am to 4pm
Saturday and Sunday: closed
UK public holidays and bank holidays: closed

When to attend

You must book online within seven days of arriving in London to visit the OVRO to register and get your police registration certificate (PRC). This is important, because if you don’t you may face:

a £5,000 fine
a prison sentence
recommendation of deportation
a ten-year ban on entering the UK

Unsure if you need to register? Read our advice for first time visitors.

What to expect

You will generally expect to be registered within 30 minutes of your appointment time at the OVRO. A registration takes about 15 minutes. We’ll scan your registration form and record:

your full name
your gender
your marital status
your date of birth and country of birth
your nationality
your address in the UK
the address of the last place you lived outside the UK
the date and place you arrived in the UK
your passport details
your visa requirements, including how long you can stay
if you’re a student or working

Once we’ve checked your documents we’ll register you and issue you with a police registration certificate on the same day.

Please see our full checklist of what to bring with you when you visit the OVRO.

Facilities

A portable ramp and assistance bell are available for wheelchair users.

The OVRO has no toilets or baby changing facilities.

The OVRO has no printing, copying or photo facilities.

We don’t allow pets inside the OVRO, except guide dogs.

Please note

It is a criminal offence in the UK to carry guns, knives, CS gas, offensive weapons and classified drugs such as cannabis, marijuana or hashish.

If you’re found carrying any of the above items at the OVRO you could face criminal charges.

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