Belfast public enquiry office

Facilities:

• wheelchair access
• public pay phones
• accessible toilets for disabled customers
• induction loops at all desks
• multi-denominational prayer room
• unisex baby-changing room (but we do not have facilities for children, who must be supervised by a parent or guardian at all times)

How to find Belfast public enquiry office

Map to Belfast public enquiry office

By bus

The nearest bus stop is at Forestside shopping centre, 1 minute's walk from the public enquiry office. The following bus services to and from Belfast city centre call at Forestside:

6A, 7A, 7B, 7C, 7D, 29, 30A, 31, 78, 79, EB5, EB6, EB7

By car

There is no public car parking at the public enquiry office, so we recommend that you use public transport or arrange to be dropped off at the office.

By air

The nearest airport to the office is Belfast City George Best Airport (approximately 6 miles away). Belfast International Airport is approximately 22 miles from the office.

Payment

The office accepts payment by credit or debit card, banker's draft or postal order.

Contact details

Book an appointment for our premium service

Address:  Drumkeen House, 1 Drumkeen Complex, Upper Galwally, Belfast BT8 6TB

Opening Hours:  9:00 to 15:30 on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays - by appointment only

Cardiff public enquiry office

Cardiff public enquiry office is situated in Cardiff city centre.

Facilities:

• unisex baby changing room (but children must be supervised by a parent or guardian at all times, as there are no creche facilities)
• private rooms and booths available on request
• cafes, shops, restaurants, hotels and the city centre within 5 minutes' walk

Facilities for disabled customers:

• induction loops at caseworking counters
• disabled access to building and toilets

If you arrive before your appointment time, our staff will be able to advise you whether your application can be processed early.

Seating in our waiting area is limited, so please do not bring unnecessary baggage. You cannot bring laptop computers or loads of shopping bags into the building. All baggage is searched before you are allowed to enter the building. At peak times, non-dependent adults who do not need to accompany you may be refused entry. We will ask you to switch your mobile phones off while in the building.

When we carry out our 'pre-assessment' of your application, we will tell you the estimated completion time for the application. When you have enrolled your biometric information, you will be able to leave the building. We will phone you when we have finished considering your application - if we do not phone you or you do not have a mobile phone, please return at your estimated completion time or by 16:00 at the latest.

Completion times vary, depending on the circumstances and complexity of your case. You can expect to wait between 3 and 3.5 hours from your appointment time before we make a decision, but this time can vary and your caseworker might want to speak to you in person. Please do not book any return public transport for the day of your appointment.

How to find us

Map to Cardiff biometric enrolment centre

We do not have car parking facilities at our Cardiff office. On-road parking is available on a first-come-first-served basis at a cost of £3.50 for 5 hours. There are also private car parks situated on Dumfries Place and Knox Road, both within 5 minutes' walk of the office.

Bus stops are also nearby.

The office is 5-10 minutes' walk from Cardiff Queen Street train station, and 20-30 minutes' walk from Cardiff Central train station. The journey time from London Paddington is approximately 2 hours, with train services every 30 minutes.

Payment

If you want to pay for your application on the day of your appointment, you must pay by credit or debit card.

Alternatively, you can pay by post at least 6 working days before your appointment using a banker's draft, postal order, or credit or debit card. To make your payment, you should complete the relevant payment form(s) for your application(s), and send the form(s) with your payment to the address shown on each form. You can download the payment forms from the How much does it cost? page. Do not include your application form and supporting documents - you must bring these to your appointment.

If you pay by post using the payment form, please tick the relevant box for the Cardiff public enquiry office. When we have processed your payment, we will send you an acknowledgement letter containing a unique payment reference number. You must bring this letter when you attend your appointment, as proof that you have already paid your application fee.

Contact details

Book an appointment for our premium same-day service

Address:  General Buildings, Ground floor, 31-33 Newport Road, Cardiff, Wales CF24 0AB

Opening Hours:  By appointment only. The public entrance closes at 16:00 daily.

Croydon public enquiry office

Facilities:

• coffee shop selling hot and cold drinks and snacks
• vending machines dispensing cold drinks, crisps and chocolates
• photograph booths (but please bring photographs with you as specified for your type of application)
• male and female multi-denominational prayer rooms
• unisex baby changing room (but we do not have facilities for children, who must be supervised by a parent or guardian at all times)
• public pay phones. Mobile phone use is permitted, but we also have a designated area for mobile phone use for customers requiring privacy, while making and receiving mobile calls. Please ask a member of staff who will direct you to this area.

Facilities for disabled customers:

• induction loops at all desks
• lifts
• accessible toilets
• parking for disabled badge holders in the public car park across the road next to the Whitgift Centre

How to find Croydon public enquiry office

Map showing Croydon public enquiry office

By road 

See the map above. You can park in one of the car parks in central Croydon, which are shown on the NCP website.

By train

There are trains to East Croydon from London Victoria and London Bridge. Change at Clapham Junction for connections to London Waterloo from East Croydon and West Croydon. Both stations are in Travelcard zone 5.

By bus

There are buses to Croydon from locations including Brixton, Bromley, Crystal Palace, Heathrow, Streatham and Tottenham Court Road.

By tram

Tramlink is a light railway linking Croydon with Wimbledon, Beckenham and New Addington.

Payment

The office accepts payment by credit or debit card, banker's draft or postal order.

Contact details

Book an appointment for our premium service

Address:  Lunar House, 40 Wellesley Road, Croydon CR9 2BY

Opening Hours:  08:00 to 16:00, Monday to Friday (except public holidays). Private appointments are not available. Private rooms are available at other public enquiry offices, or you can make your application by post.

Glasgow public enquiry office

Facilities:

• public pay phones
• accessible toilets for disabled customers

There is limited space in our waiting room, and we have no additional facilities. We recommend that you do not bring your children with you to your appointment, unless they are required to attend as part of a biometric enrolment application.

Staff at the office have developed and follow a code of conduct (108KB opens in a new window).

How to find us

Map showing Glasgow public enquiry office

Payment

If you want to pay for your application on the day of your appointment, you must pay by credit or debit card.

Alternatively, you can pay by post at least 6 working days before your appointment using a banker's draft, postal order, or credit or debit card. To make your payment, you should complete the relevant payment form(s) for your application(s), and send the form(s) with your payment to the address shown on each form. You can download the payment forms from the How much does it cost? page. Do not include your application form and supporting documents - you must bring these to your appointment.

If you pay by post using the payment form, please tick the relevant box for the Glasgow public enquiry office. When we have processed your payment, we will send you an acknowledgement letter containing a unique payment reference number. You must bring this letter when you attend your appointment, as proof that you have already paid your application fee.

Contact details

Book an appointment for our premium service

Address:  Festival Court, 200 Brand Street, Govan, Glasgow G51 1DH

Opening Hours:  09:00 to 15:00, Monday to Friday, except public holidays. Doors close at 15:00, but applications made before this time will be processed on the same day.

Liverpool public enquiry office

The Liverpool public enquiry office was opened in July 2011, and is located in the city centre.

Facilities:

• ground-floor access
• induction loops
• ground-floor toilet facilities
• mothers' room and baby-changing facilities
• multi-faith prayer rooms
• cold water vending machines only
• photograph booth
• cafes and shops within 50 metres

Admittance to the building is by appointment only. Please ensure that, where possible, only people included in the application attend the office. Dependent children do not need to attend the office.

The application process will take approximately 2 hours. You can leave the building during this time. For ideas of what to do in Liverpool, see the Visit Liverpool website.

How to find us

Map showing Liverpool public enquiry office (The Capital Building)

Travel to Liverpool Lime Street. Follow the pedestrian signs for the Wirral Line on Merseyrail. Travel to James Street Station, turn right on to The Strand, and take the second right at the Atlantic Tower Hotel, Chapel Street. Take the first left on to Rumford Place, then continue straight to Union Street (which is a continuation of Rumford Place).

By car

Take the M62, M58 or M53 to Liverpool. At the end of the motorway, head towards the city centre. Once in Liverpool, follow the signs for Pier Head, near the Royal Liver Building.

The Capital Building car park is situated on Fazakerley Street (off Rumford Place), L3 9DL, next to the UK Border Agency customer reception. Parking is also available at the Pier Head or Princes Dock next to the Malmaison Hotel, and at National Car Parks, Rumford Street, L2 8SZ.

By air 

John Lennon Airport is situated in the South of the city, on the A561. The airport is approximately 30 minutes' drive from Liverpool city centre. A Mersey Travel Airlink 500 bus service will bring you into the city centre, stopping at Chapel Street. (See directions above 'by train'.)

Manchester Airport is situated off junction 5, M56. The airport is approximately 60 minutes' drive from Liverpool city centre. Trains are available into Liverpool Lime Street station.

By coach 

The National Express coach station is located at North Street. Turn right out of the coach station and onto London Road.  Bus services 10, 10a, 10b, stop at India Buildings, Water Street. Walk down Rumford Street, situated directly opposite India Buildings, on to Rumford Place and Union Street.

Local travel information is available on the Merseytravel website or by calling 0871 200 2233. All of this information, and a map, can be printed at the Merseytravel Keeping Merseyside on the Move website.

Payment

The office accepts payment by credit or debit card, banker's draft or postal order.

Contact details

Book an appointment for our premium same-day service

Address:  The Capital Building, 6 Union Street, Liverpool L3 9AF

Opening Hours:  09:00 to 16:00, Monday to Friday, except public holidays. Doors close at 16:00, but applications made before this time will be processed on the same day.

Sheffield public enquiry office

Facilities:

• vending machines selling cold drinks and snacks
• public pay phones
• 2 private reflection and multi-faith rooms
• unisex baby changing room (children must be supervised by a parent or guardian at all times, as there are no creche facilities)
• photograph booth (but please bring photographs as specified for your application type)

Facilities for disabled customers:

• induction loop at all desks
• accessible toilets

How to find Sheffield public enquiry office

Map showing Sheffield public enquiry office

By train

Vulcan House is approximately 15 minutes' walk from the main Sheffield city station. There is a taxi rank outside the station. 

Parking

The nearest municipal car parks are identified on the map. Please ensure that you arrive in time to find an alternative space if your selected car park is full.

Payment

The office accepts payment by credit or debit card, banker's draft or postal order.

Contact details

Book an appointment for our premium service

Address:  Vulcan House, Riverside Entrance, 6 Millsands, Sheffield S3 8NU

Opening Hours:  09:00 to 16:00, Monday to Friday, except public holidays. Appointment times are from 09:00 to 15:30. Doors close at 16:00, but applications made before this time will be processed on the same day.

Solihull public enquiry office

Facilities:

• public pay phones
• accessible toilets for disabled customers

Map showing Solihull public enquiry office

Payment

The office accepts payment by credit or debit card, banker's draft or postal order.

Contact details

Book an appointment for our premium service

Address:  Dominion Court, 41 Station Road, Solihull, Birmingham B91 3RT

Opening Hours:  09:00 to 16:00, Monday to Friday, except public holidays. Doors close at 16:00, but applications made before this time will be processed on the same day. Appointments only.