Visit someone in prison
Because of coronavirus (COVID-19), there are restrictions around visiting someone in prison in England or Wales. Check which prisons are open for visits and what you need to do.
There are other ways to stay in touch with someone in prison.
There are different rules if you’re in Scotland or Northern Ireland.
If you’re eligible to visit
Contact the prison to arrange a visit.
When you must not visit
You cannot visit someone in prison, even if you’re eligible, if:
- you or someone you live with has coronavirus symptoms
- you know or you’ve been told by the NHS Test and Trace service that you’ve been in contact with a person who has coronavirus
- you’re self-isolating because you recently entered the UK
Who can visit
To visit someone in prison you must be aged 18 or over, or under 18 and accompanied by an eligible adult.
You must also be either:
- a partner, parent, sibling, child, foster-parent, grandparent
- a carer or someone who the prisoner relies on for emotional support
If you’re visiting a young offender institute or secure training centre, you can also visit if you’re a social worker for looked after children.
If you’re visiting in a group
You can visit a prison with:
- up to one other adult and one child from your household
- 2 children from your household, if you’re visiting without another adult
- the other parent of your child in custody, if you live apart