Application registration card
This page explains what an application registration card is, and why it is important.
You will be given your application registration card at your asylum screening interview (see Screening for more information about this). You may hear it called an ARC or 'arc card'.
The card is an important document that shows you have made an application for asylum. Your ARC contains your personal details and photograph. You are the only person who may use it.
In some circumstances, it may not be possible to give you an ARC. In these cases, we will give you a standard acknowledgement letter, often known by its abbreviation - an SAL. The letter will say you have made an application for asylum and can be used in the same way as an ARC.
You will need your ARC to prove your identity when you obtain financial support, if you qualify for it. Without it, you will not be able to collect any money. You must also show it each time you report to us.
Keep your ARC safe. If it is stolen, you must report this to your nearest police station immediately. If you lose it, you must tell your case owner immediately. Your case owner will decide whether the loss must be reported to the police.
Your case owner may arrange an interview for you so your ARC can be replaced.
If you do not have a case owner and your ARC is lost or stolen, you should report it to your nearest police station. You should also send us a fax, telling us that your card has been lost or stolen and giving us the:
- crime reference number provided by the police station (if you were given one);
- the name or number of the police officer who recorded your report; and
- the name of the police station where you reported it.
Send the fax to 020 7147 5664. You should not phone the Asylum Support Customer Contact Centre to report a lost or stolen ARC.
