A Transfer of Conditions application (sometimes referred to as a TOC application) is an administrative process that allows people with a limited leave (a temporary visa) to update their immigration record where their existing status document is no longer usable. This most commonly arises when the passport in which a visa was endorsed has expired, when personal details such as a name have changed, or when their immigration status needs to be evidenced in a format compatible with current Home Office verification system.
Since the UK moved to an eVisa system, the way TOC applications work has changed. If you are inside the UK, you may need to update the way your immigration status is recorded and evidenced through the Home Office’s eVisa system, depending on your circumstances. update the way your immigration status is evidenced. If you are outside the UK and need to transfer your visa to a new passport, the original process of applying to have your visa transferred to the new document still applies. We advise on the correct route depending on your circumstances.
You can contact us through the Reeds Solicitors contact page on our website, by calling 0333 240 7373 , or by emailing [email protected].
How Reeds Solicitors can help
TOC applications can be more complicated than they appear, particularly where a name change needs to be evidenced, where there is a question about whether leave is still valid, or where the underlying immigration history involves multiple visa categories. Getting the application right from the outset avoids unnecessary delays.
At Reeds Solicitors, we identify the correct route for your circumstances, whether that is replacing your visa with an eVisa from within the UK or making a transfer application from outside, and we prepare the supporting documentation carefully.
Our clients can expect:
- Route assessment
We identify whether a TOC application is the right process for your situation, whether it should be made from inside or outside the UK, and whether there are any complications, such as questions about the validity of your existing leave or upcoming expiry dates, that need to be factored in.
- eVisa replacement from inside the UK
For clients inside the UK, we advise on replacing an existing visa with an eVisa, setting up a UKVI account, and generating share codes to prove status to employers and landlords. We identify any evidence requirements and manage the process.
- Transfer applications from outside the UK
For clients outside the UK, we prepare the transfer application, advise on the visa application centre appointment, and manage the process. We advise on processing times and what to do in the meantime if you need to travel.
- Name change and personal detail updates
Where personal details have changed, we advise on the evidence needed to support the update and whether any exceptions apply that allow an application to be made without the new passport already reflecting the change.
- Broader immigration support
TOC applications often arise at the same time as leave extensions or other immigration matters. We provide joined-up advice so that your documentation issues and any other immigration needs are handled together efficiently.
Getting Legal Help
If you are unsure whether you need a TOC application or which route is right for your circumstances, our immigration team at Reeds Solicitors can advise.
You can contact us through the Reeds Solicitors contact page on our website, by calling 0333 240 7373, or by emailing [email protected].
Contact:
[email protected]
More Information
You may need a TOC application if your passport has expired and your visa was endorsed in it as a vignette sticker or ink stamp, your name or personal details have changed, and you need your immigration record updated to reflect this, or you need to prove your right to work in the UK but cannot do so using an expired passport.
You must have valid leave remaining to make a TOC application. Leave that has already expired cannot be transferred. You also need to continue to meet the conditions of your existing leave. A TOC application is not an opportunity to extend your leave or change its conditions: it is purely an update to the documentary evidence of the leave you already hold.
If you hold Indefinite Leave to Remain rather than limited leave, you do not need a TOC application. The correct process in that case is a No Time Limit (NTL) application.
If you are inside the UK and need to update your status record, the current route is to update the way your immigration status is evidenced. An eVisa is a digital record of your immigration status, held through a UKVI account. This can be done if your visa is in an expired passport, your details have changed, or you cannot use your existing document to prove your right to work.
A visa contained in an expired passport may not provide a straightforward way of evidencing your right to work. In many cases, it is preferable to ensure your status is available through the Home Office’s digital checking systems. If this applies to you, you need to update the way your immigration status is evidenced and generate a share code through your UKVI account to prove your right to work to an employer.
If your stay in the UK is less than six months and your passport has simply expired, you do not need to replace your visa or update your details. You can continue to travel with both your expired and new passports, showing both documents.
If you are outside the UK and want to transfer your visa to a new passport, you can apply to have it transferred. At the time of writing, The fee for this service is £154. You will need to prove your identity at a visa application centre as part of the process. Processing times vary depending on Home Office workloads and local visa application centre arrangements If you are outside the UK and your personal details have changed, you should contact UKVI for advice on the correct process before submitting an application.
If your name, nationality, facial appearance, date of birth, or the gender recorded on your passport has changed and your overall stay in the UK is longer than six months, you will generally need to update the Home Office record of your immigration status and personal details.” update the way your immigration status is evidenced. You will normally need to show that your passport has your updated details when you apply.
There are exceptions where you can still apply even if your new passport does not reflect the change, for example, where you are a victim of crime, a recognised refugee, or a dual national who cannot amend a non-British passport. We advise on whether an exception applies in your situation.
Important: Home Office procedures relating to eVisas, digital status records, identity verification, application fees and processing times may change. Applicants should refer to current GOV.UK guidance before making an application.
Frequently Asked Questions
A Transfer of Conditions (TOC) application is an administrative process that allows a person with valid limited leave to remain to update their immigration status documentation. It is used when the passport containing their visa has expired, their personal details have changed, or they need a digital record of their status. It does not extend leave or change its conditions.
If you are travelling to and from the UK, you can generally use a valid visa in an expired passport, provided you also carry your new passport, subject to carrier requirements.. However, you cannot use a valid visa in an expired passport to prove your right to work in the UK. If you need to prove your right to work, you need to update the way your immigration status is evidenced.
depending on your circumstances, you may be able to create or update a UKVI account so that your immigration status can be accessed digitally update the way your immigration status is evidenced Once your eVisa is set up, you can use a share code to prove your immigration status to employers, landlords, and anyone else who needs to check it.
The fee for transferring a visa to a new passport from outside the UK is £154. You will need to attend a visa application centre to prove your identity as part of the process. Processing normally takes around three weeks from the date of your appointment.
No. A TOC application can only be made if you have valid leave remaining. Leave that has expired cannot be transferred. If your leave has expired, you would need to consider whether to make a fresh application for leave if you are eligible.
If your overall stay in the UK is longer than six months and your name or other personal details have changed, you must update the way your immigration status is evidenced. You normally need to show that your new passport already reflects the updated details. There are limited exceptions, for example, for victims of crime or recognised refugees. We advise on whether an exception applies in your case.
There is no Home Office fee for replacing a visa with an eVisa from inside the UK if the reason is an expired passport. The transfer from outside the UK costs £154.
Transfer applications from outside the UK are generally decided within three weeks of attending a visa application centre appointment. The timescale for replacing a visa with an eVisa from inside the UK depends on the circumstances and how quickly the UKVI account is set up and verified.
Get in touch
Information is processed inline with UK GDPR and our Privacy Policy