As a new prisoner you’re entitled to a visit as soon as you arrive. Most prisons expect your visitor to sort the first one out directly – there’ll be a phone number for the visits booking team on the prison’s own page. After that, most establishments now use the online booking system at gov.uk/prison-visits, where your visitor books in using your name, date of birth and prison number; some prisons still take bookings by phone instead. Whoever’s visiting will usually need to be on your approved visitor list first, and will need valid photo ID on the day, so get that sorted early.
The information on this page is based on the law in England & Wales. If you’re in Scotland, click here for the guide for your jurisdiction. If you’re in Northern Ireland, click here for that guide.
You’re normally entitled to at least 2 visits a month, rising if you’ve got Enhanced status, and some prisons allow more – check the individual prison pages for details. Visits are for a set length, usually an hour, and that tends to increase as you move up from Standard to Enhanced status.
On the day, you’ll be searched and then held in a waiting area until you’re called into the visits hall. You’ll likely be given a brightly coloured bib to wear so you’re identifiable, and a numbered chair or table where you’re expected to sit for the visit. Your visitor is let in and joins you on the other side of the table. A welcoming kiss is fine, but too much physical contact will get the visit ended on the spot, and could mean restrictions on future visits. Your visitor can buy you a tea or coffee from the catering stand, but you can’t leave your seat to go with them.
Throughout the visit you’ll be watched by prison officers. It’s not intrusive – they can’t hear your conversation – but they’re watching for anything suspicious or signs of tension, and can end the visit at any point if they’re unhappy with your behaviour or your visitor’s.
At the end of the visit your visitor leaves and you’ll be searched again – this could be a full strip search or just a pat-down. Your visitor is searched too, both coming in and going out; many prisons use drug dogs, and depending on the circumstances your visitor could be searched more thoroughly. They’ll need to prove their identity before the visit (passport, driving licence, that kind of thing), and they can’t bring electronic equipment or mobile phones into the prison. They can bring in clothes and other items to be handed to you, but the rules on this differ between prisons.
Visits from your legal team work differently. You’ll be told about these in the same way, but they’re held in smaller, private rooms. You’re not scrutinised to the same degree as with family visits, though you are still monitored, and there’s no practical limit on how many legal visits you can have.
| Canteen & Money | Own clothing |
| Offenders with learning difficulties | |