UK visa travel history requirements: what you need to provide

When you apply for a UK visa or settlement, you will usually need to provide details of your travel history, including arrival and departure dates, destinations and information on previous visas. Submitting this information accurately can help you avoid delays, refusals or facing the need to re-apply. The type of application and visa route will determine exactly what information you need to provide.

What kind of travel history do I need to provide?

Generally, UK immigration application types fall into three categories: permission to enter, permission to stay and indefinite leave to remain (also referred to as settlement).

When applying for permission to enter, i.e. a visa applied for from outside the UK, you will usually need to provide details of your travel history outside your current country of residence for the 10 years prior to the application submission. This is to enable the Home Office to verify that you have not overstayed in the UK, or in any other country.

When applying for permission to stay, i.e. a visa renewal made from within the UK, or indefinite leave to remain, you will generally need to provide details of your trips outside the UK since your initial arrival. This is to enable the Home Office to verify that you satisfy the residence requirements for visa renewal or settlement.

Which documents can I use to show my travel history?

You can use your current or previous passports, if these contain entry and exit stamps, to evidence your travel history. If you do not have these documents because you have lost them, or you use e-Gates when crossing borders, you can apply to the Home Office for a Subject Access Request (“SAR”). Via a SAR, you can receive all Advance Passenger Travel information that is linked to your passport(s) and held on the Home Office computer systems. Requesting a SAR is free of charge.

Why is it important to be accurate in my travel history?

Providing a complete and accurate travel history can help your visa or settlement application progress more smoothly and improve the likelihood of a positive decision. At the same time, if you conceal or alter parts of your travel history, this can lead to very serious consequences, including your application being refused, your existing visa being cancelled or you being banned from entering the UK.

Gherson Insights

At Gherson, we regularly help clients with complex travel histories, including missing records and frequent international travel, to apply for UK visas or settlement. Start gathering your passports, travel records and supporting documents as early as possible and consider professional guidance if your travel history is difficult to reconstruct or your case raises unusual issues.

Frequently Asked Questions

How far back does my travel history need to go?

Depending on your visa type, you may need to provide up to 10 years of travel history.

What if I have lost my old passport?

You can make a free Subject Access Request to the Home Office to request copies of your immigration and travel records, as well as previous visa applications.

Can inaccurate travel history affect my application?

Yes. Inaccurate or incomplete information can lead to refusal or, if it is deemed to amount to deception, even a visa cancellation or a ban on entering the UK.

How Gherson can assist

Gherson’s Immigration Team are highly experienced in advising on all UK visa and immigration matters. If you have any questions arising from this blog, please do not hesitate to contact us for advice, send us an e-mail, or, alternatively, follow us on X, Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn to stay-up-to-date.

The information in this blog is for general information purposes only and does not purport to be comprehensive or to provide legal advice. Whilst every effort is made to ensure the information and law is current as of the date of publication it should be stressed that, due to the passage of time, this does not necessarily reflect the present legal position. Gherson accepts no responsibility for loss which may arise from accessing or reliance on information contained in this blog. For formal advice on the current law please do not hesitate to contact Gherson. Legal advice is only provided pursuant to a written agreement, identified as such, and signed by the client and by or on behalf of Gherson.

This article was first published in 2023 and has been updated in August 2026. 

©Gherson 2026