When can I visit Dovegate?
Booking, ID, first-visit waits, what to take, video calls, local rules, and how visiting actually works.
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Send on WhatsAppWhat the prison says
Official facts for this prison
Uses Purple Visits
Source: Prisoners’ Families Helpline · Which prisons use Purple Visits · Last checked: September 2026
IMB: 12 applications about letters, visits and phones (2024–25)
Source: IMB annual report, HMP Dovegate, 2024–25 · Last checked: February 2026
Visiting someone in prison
- You must be on the prisoner’s visitor list before you can book.
- Getting on the visitor list can take up to 2 weeks. At least one visitor must be 18 or over.
- Bring acceptable photo ID. Expired ID is not accepted.
- If you get certain benefits you may be able to claim help with travel, overnight stay and meals.
- Each prison sets its own visiting times and local rules.
- You can email using Email a Prisoner (Unilink). Staff print the email and give it to them.
- Secure video calls use Prison Video or Purple Visits. Which app depends on the prison — check that prison’s GOV.UK page.
What families reported
At a glance
- Arrive: 30 minutes · 1 family · last 15 Sept
- ID: Photo ID · 1 family · last 15 Sept
“First visit took around 10 days.”
First visit · 10 days · 3w ago
“First visit took around 10 days.”
First visit · 10 days · 3w ago
“First visit after about 2 days.”
First visit · 2 days · 1mo ago
“Visit ok aren't that strict on clothing”
Arrive: 30 minutesID: Photo IDVisit rules · 1mo ago
“First visit after about 3 days.”
First visit · 3 days · 1mo ago
“When I first arrived. Out of all the staff you encounter only 1 was there to explain to me. Was late going into the visit, very slow process. Alot of the staff are rude. Once you have been once it’s a straightforward. Weekday visits are very quiet. Haven’t been on a weekend visit as been advised this Is very busy and waiting to get into the visiting can take anywhere up to a hour to get in and out and then you don’t get your full visit time.”
First visit · Same day · 1mo ago
What to do next
What this actually means
Nobody can book a visit until the prisoner has added you to their visitor list. That list is a security process, not a reception desk favour.
First visits are often slower than later ones. Once you are approved, booking is usually the constraint — not the relationship.
Dress codes and ID rules are local and strictly applied. Read the prison’s own page the night before. Do not improvise.
Video calls are a visit, not a PIN phone. The Official page names Prison Video or Purple Visits. We only show an app when that prison’s GOV.UK page names it.
How visits actually workQuestions families ask
- Families at HMP Dovegate report 3 days. 5 family reports. Last report 5 October 2026. Reports agree. Official: Uses Purple Visits. You must be on their visitor list before you can book. IMB: 12 applications about letters, visits and phones, 2024–25. What people inside asked the board.
- First visits are often slower than later ones. The range above is what families typed in — not the booking diary.
- Photo ID, the Official dress list, and time to get through security. Open the first visit checklist for HMP Dovegate. Lockers usually need change. The visitor-list wait is a separate clock.
- Check Can I wear this? for hoodies, jeans, and trainers against the Official list where we have one. Staff can still refuse on the day.
- Open visiting times for HMP Dovegate. Each prison sets its own hours.
- Use Email a Prisoner (Unilink). Staff print it and give it to them. How long that then takes is what families report.