When to apply for a visa

You should allow enough time before you make a visa application. Processing times are different depending on the route you are applying for.

You areshould not required to book anyyour travel beforeuntil you applyget or before a decision is made on your visa application.

You will only receivebe eligible for a refund of your application fee if we have not started to process your application.

You may be able to pay for a faster decision on a visa application.

When your application processing time starts

UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) starts processing your application once you either:

• verify your identity and submit your documents and application using the UK Immigration: ID Check app. We’ll tell you if you can use this

• attend your appointment at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Service (UKVCAS) centre or a Service and Support Centre (SSC) to provide your fingerprints and a photograph (biometric information)

When your application processing time ends

You’ll get a letter or email to let you know that a decision has been made on your application. It will tell you what to do next.

You can stay in the UK until you’ve been given a decision, as long as you applied before your last visa expired.

When you might wait longer

Your visa application may take longer to process, for example:

• the information in your application is not accurate or requires further consideration
• you need to provide further evidence, for example evidence of funds
• your supporting documents need to be verified
• you need to attend an interview
• further information is required on your personal circumstances (for example if you have a criminal conviction)
• UKVI is experiencing increased visa demand
• there is an unexpected technical outage affecting visa systems

You will be contacted within the current processing times if your application will take longer.

UKVI will not reimburse any travel costs or other expenses if your application is refused or takes longer than expected.

If your application has taken longer than the current processing times and you haven’t been contacted by UKVI about your visa application, you should contact UKVI.

Current processing times

The processing times listed below are based on the current volume of visa applications. The processing times are different if you paid for a faster decision.

Processing times are based on the UK working week (Monday to Friday).Friday) and include public holidays in the UK. They do not include public holidays in the UK or other countries.

All UK processing times are measured against agreed customer service standards.

Visit visa

Category	Processing time
Standard Visitor	8 weeks

Study visas

Category	Processing time
Student	8 weeks
Child Student	8 weeks

Family visas

Category	Processing time
Partner or spouse (meeting minimum income and English language requirements)	8 weeks
Partner or spouse - private life (minimum income and English language not required)	12 months*
Parent	12 months*
Child	8 weeks
Adult coming to be cared for by a relative	8 weeks

*There is no service standard for applications in the UK on the basis of your private life - Partner or spouse - private life (minimum income and English language not required) or applications as a parent. The processing times listed are based on the current volume of visa applications.

Ukraine visas

Category	Processing time
Ukraine Permission Extension scheme	8 weeks

Work visas

Popular work visas

Category	Processing time
Skilled Worker	8 weeks
Health and Care Worker	3 weeks

Temporary work visas

Category	Processing time
Government Authorised Exchange	8 weeks
Charity Worker	8 weeks
Creative Worker	8 weeks
International Agreement	8 weeks
Religious Worker	8 weeks

Work visas you can apply for without a job offer

Category	Processing time
Global Talent	8 weeks
Graduate	8 weeks
Overseas Domestic Worker	8 weeks
High Potential Individual (HPI)	8 weeks
UK Ancestry	8 weeks

Work visas to start a business

Category	Processing time
Innovator Founder	8 weeks
Start-up	3 weeks

Work visas for an overseas employer

Category	Processing time
Overseas Domestic Worker	8 weeks
Secondment Worker	8 weeks
Senior or Specialist Worker	8 weeks
Representative of an Overseas Business	8 weeks
Service Supplier	8 weeks
UK Expansion Worker	8 weeks

Other visas and permits

Category	Processing time
British National (Overseas)	12 weeks
Entrepreneur	8 weeks
International Sportsperson	8 weeks
Investor	8 weeks
Minister of Religion	8 weeks
Scale-up Worker	8 weeks
Turkish Businessperson	6 months
Turkish Worker	6 months