Digital reporting
Guidance on what digital reporting is and what to do if you have been given a digital reporting condition.
What digital reporting is
Digital reporting is a reporting condition that requires you to report to the Home Office using a mobile phone or other device.
You may be required to use digital reporting:
- as a condition of immigration bail
- as a reporting requirement if you are not on immigration bail
If you’re on immigration bail, digital reporting may be one of several conditions you must follow.
You may also have other conditions, such as attending face-to-face reporting events or restrictions on working or studying.
You must follow all the conditions you have been given.
Digital reporting does not change your immigration status or mean that you have been given permission to stay in the UK.
How digital reporting works
Each time you need to report, we’ll send you a digital reporting message.
You’ll receive these messages regularly. How often you receive them will depend on your reporting condition. Most people receive messages every 2 weeks or every month. Each message will tell you when you need to respond.
How you will receive digital reporting messages
You’ll receive your digital reporting messages:
- by text message if we have your mobile phone number
- by email if we have your email address
- by both text message and email if we have both
- in the UK IEC app if you have downloaded the app
Receiving messages in the UK IEC app
You can receive your digital reporting messages through the UK Immigration Engagement and Compliance (UK IEC) app.
You can download the app from the Apple or Google app stores.
When you receive a digital reporting message in the app, a notification will appear on your device. Open the notification and follow the instructions.
Once you start using the app, you’ll no longer receive digital reporting messages by text message. If we have your email address, you’ll continue to receive them by email.
You can respond to your digital reporting message using the app or through the link in your email.
Make sure notifications for the UK IEC app are turned on in your device settings.
Download the UK IEC app
How to respond to a digital reporting message
You’ll need a device with internet access and a web browser to respond to a digital reporting message.
If you receive a text message, it will contain a link that opens in your device’s web browser.
You’ll need to:
- open the message
- select the option ‘Acknowledge digital reporting’
- allow your device to share your current location if you are asked to
The message will also include an option to tell us if there is a reason you should not be on digital reporting.
You must respond to each digital reporting message yourself. Nobody else, including a legal representative or immigration adviser, can respond for you.
Sharing your location
You may be asked to share your current location as part of your digital reporting condition.
If you’re asked to share your location, you must allow your device to access your location. You may need to turn on location services in your device settings.
To enable location sharing, you may need to:
- open the settings on your device
- turn on ‘Location’ or ‘Location Services’
- click ‘Allow’ if your device asks to access your location
The wording and location of these settings may vary depending on your device.
For more help, find out how to turn on location services on:
The Home Office only receives your location at the time you share it. Sharing your location does not allow the Home Office to continuously track your device.
We ask for this information to support any enforcement action we may undertake if bail conditions are breached, or in an anonymised format to support compliance with UK immigration laws.
This information will help inform any further actions we may take in relation to your immigration status in the UK, including enforcement action.
We’ll store your location data for up to 90 days.
If you do not respond to digital reporting messages
You must respond to your digital reporting messages and any reminders we send.
If digital reporting is a condition of your immigration bail, not responding may mean that you’ve breached your bail conditions. If you’re not on immigration bail, it may mean that you have not met your reporting requirement.
Updating your contact details
You should make sure we have your current email address and mobile phone number.
These should be personal contact details that only you use and can access.
Each digital reporting message includes an option to update your contact details. Use this option if your email address or mobile phone number changes.
Accessibility
You can use accessibility features on your device when viewing and responding to digital reporting messages.
Accessibility settings on your device can include:
- making text larger
- changing the screen colours or contrast
- using voice controls
- having the content read aloud
You may also be able to use the language or translation settings on your device or internet browser to view digital reporting information in another language.
Problems responding to digital reporting messages
Email hoimmigrationbaildigitalreporting@homeoffice.gov.uk if:
- a technical problem prevents you from opening or responding to a digital reporting message
- you’re unable to manage your Home Office communications and someone else does this for you
Cookies
Digital reporting uses essential cookies. These are needed for the service to work and help us identify possible misuse, such as one device being used to respond for more than one person.
Cookies may also help us identify people who have not met their reporting conditions or requirements.