TLS Manchester

TLS Manchester 

TLS has moved to central Manchester

There is NO photo-booth at Manchester

Be aware that there is no photobooth at the Manchester Office. If you need replacement photos you are redirected to the Max Speilman across the road.
You can reduce the risk of needing new photos by reading the photos page here.

Getting There

TLS has moved from Salford Quays to the city centre. The address is 1, Portland Street. This is a modern office building on the corner of Portland Street and Piccadilly (that's the road named "Piccadilly", not the Gardens or the railway station).

The office block is branded ONE, which is confusing because there is another office almost directly opposite also branded ONE. It turns out that is 1, Piccadilly Gardens, which is a totally different address.

The centre is a 400 yard walk from Piccadilly railway station, a slightly longer walk from Victoria railway station (or you could get the tram), a very short walk from the tram stop at Market Street, and is almost adjacent to the tram stop at Piccadilly Gardens.  From Manchester Airport there’s a simple 20-minute train to Piccadilly Station.  There’s also a direct tram from the airport but it takes a lot longer.

Driving to your appointment

If you're driving but don't want to go into the city, park at one of the free Tram Park & Ride car parks and take the tram. Be sure to use a Metrolink P&R, not one for the train. Pick one which is large - the smaller ones get filled up very quickly.  Large P&Rs include East Didsbury which is huge, but does get busy, Hollingwood, and Sale Water Park, which is ideal if you're coming in from the west and which almost never fills up.

If you want to drive all the way, you can use any of the car parks near the city centre. Don't try to drive to Piccadilly Gardens - you might get lost in the one-way systems. If you stray into a Bus Gate, you will be fined.

From the P&R, get a tram to Piccadilly Gardens or Market Street, either direct or changing where necessary. You don't need to buy a paper ticket - just use your contactless credit or debit card.  Tram travel is cheaper after 09:30.  Tap before you get on the tram and tap at the end of your journey (not when changing trams). The system will work out the best price for your travel across the day.

What happens when you get there

At the centre, a person in the lobby may ask to see the TLS appointment letter.  Take the lift to the 1st Floor and the centre is immediately there. There are toilets near the lift which seem to be unlocked during the day.  There's a guard who scans big bags in a large safe-like box and may ask to see your phones fully turned off.  Then you walk through a detector arch.

There's a sort of pre-vetting desk at the end of the first queue. They take your passport and the application form, put them in a folder and send you in.

The room is very similar to the old centre. There are plenty of reasonable plastic chairs and a lot of modern benches with thick cushions. The room is much lighter and more airy than the old centre with big windows onto Portland Street.  You sit and wait for your reference number to come up on the big screen – if you are applying as a couple then you both go up to the desk indicated as soon as either one of your numbers was indicated - there's a big bong from the TVs when the numbers change.

The desks have a very narrow ledge and a curve at the front which means your papers can easily fall off. You have to stand, although there is at least one desk for people who can't stand.  It’s not clear if there’s still a VIP room at the new centre.

Biometrics has a separate waiting area with the same chairs and benches with cushions, and a different TV screen with your numbers.  Each person goes into the booth separately to have photo and fingerprints taken. 

Passport Collection

Passport collection is only in the afternoons and there’s no need to make an appointment.  You must take personal ID (and a photocopy of that ID to leave with the agent.  A copy of your passport or your driving licence are both acceptable.