The length of time it takes for your application to be processed can be an important factor in deciding when to apply and when to make travel arrangements. But UK visa processing times vary considerably, depending on factors such as the type of visa being applied for, the country or Embassy where the application is made and the applicant’s own individual circumstances and eligibility.
Visa applicants are advised to take guidance on the current processing timescales for their specific type of application.
UK visa processing times
UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) is the Home Office department responsible for the UK’s visa system.
The processing date is typically counted from when the applicant has attended their visa appointment and submitted their biometric information, or as soon as ID checks have been completed and the application is submitted using UKVI’s visa processing app.
Processing times for in-country applications are as follows (correct as at the date of publishing):
Category – in-country applications |
Processing time |
| Visit visa | 8 weeks |
| Student visa | 8 weeks |
| Child student visa | 8 weeks |
| Family visas | 8 weeks |
| Skilled worker visa | 8 weeks |
| Health and care worker visa | 8 weeks |
| Global talent route | 8 weeks |
| Graduate route | 8 weeks |
| Overseas domestic Worker visa | 8 weeks |
| High Potential Individual (HPI) visa | 8 weeks |
| India Young Professionals Scheme | 3 weeks |
| UK ancestry visa | 8 weeks |
| Innovator Founder | 8 weeks |
| Start-up | 8 weeks |
| Government Authorised Exchange | 8 weeks |
| Charity Worker | 8 weeks |
| Creative Worker | 8 weeks |
| International Agreement | 8 weeks |
| Religious Worker | 8 weeks |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Homes for Ukraine | As quickly as possible |
| Ukraine Family Scheme | As quickly as possible |
Category – overseas applications |
Processing time |
| Standard Visitor | 3 weeks |
| Permitted Paid Engagement | 3 weeks |
| Marriage Visitor | 3 weeks |
| Chinese tour group | 3 weeks |
| Transit | 3 weeks |
| Student | 3 weeks |
| Child Student | 3 weeks |
| Study English in the UK | 3 weeks |
| Family visas | 24 weeks |
| Skilled Worker | 3 weeks |
| Health and Care Worker | 3 weeks |
| Government Authorised Exchange | 3 weeks |
| Charity Worker | 3 weeks |
| Creative Worker | 3 weeks |
| International Agreement | 3 weeks |
| Seasonal Worker | 3 weeks |
| Religious Worker | 3 weeks |
| Global Talent | 3 weeks |
| Youth Mobility Scheme | 3 weeks |
| India Young Professionals Scheme visa | 3 weeks |
| UK Ancestry | 3 weeks |
| High Potential Individual (HPI) | 3 weeks |
| Innovator Founder | 3 weeks |
| Start-up | 3 weeks |
| Overseas Domestic Worker | 3 weeks |
| Graduate Trainee | 3 weeks |
| Secondment Worker | 3 weeks |
| Senior or Specialist Worker | 3 weeks |
| Representative of an Overseas Business | 3 weeks |
| Service Supplier | 3 weeks |
| UK Expansion Worker | 3 weeks |
| British National (Overseas) | 12 weeks |
| International Sportsperson | 3 weeks |
| Minister of Religion | 3 weeks |
| Scale-up Worker | 3 weeks |
| Homes for Ukraine | As quickly as possible |
| Ukraine Family Scheme | As quickly as possible |
Priority & fast-track services
Priority service and super priority services for applications being made from outside the UK are available for work, business and family visa routes.
Where available, priority processing allows applicants for certain work and settlement routes such as the Skilled Worker visa to pay an additional fee for fast-tracked processing. Priority processing provides a decision within 5 working days, while super-priority is for a decision by the end of the next working day
Priority processing is only available to certain applicants, notably those proving their identity by attending an appointment at a UKVCAS centre or those using the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app. If available to you, you will be notified when making your application and given the option to purchase faster processing.
The family visa priority processing service is now available after a temporary suspension to new visa applications made outside the UK from 20 February 2023. It provides a three-week turnaround from the date of biometric enrolment for a fee of £573 per priority visa.
The fees for priority and super-priority processing are as follows:
Application type |
Fee |
|---|---|
| Priority settlement visa service – out of country | £573 |
| Priority non-settlement visa service – out of country | £250 |
| Super priority visa service – out of country | £956 |
| Super priority service – in-country | £800 |
| Expedited processing – Priority service – in-country | £500 |
Priority processing times for Certificate of Sponsorship requests & Changes of Circumstances
Priority processing remains available to A’ rated sponsors for fast-tracked CoS allocation and other Change of Circumstances requests, for a fee of £200 per application. The priority requests are generally processed within 5 working days.
What is the difference between UKVCAS and Home Office processing?
One factor that may affect the UK visa processing time is whether the application has to be made through UKVCAS.
UKVCAS (UK Visa and Citizenship Application Service) was introduced in November 2018 to handle certain UK visa, settlement and citizenship applications made be applicants already in the UK.
You will be advised when making your application if you must go through UKVCAS in order for your application to be processed.
How might the time of year and other factors affect your UK visa processing time?
There are other factors that may affect the processing time of your UK visa application. These include:
Caseload
Summer is generally the busiest time for UKVI, and other factors such as Home Office priorities may impact processing.
Where you apply from
The country that you apply for your UK visa from may affect the processing time for several reasons, including the relationship and arrangements between the UK and your country, the administrative systems within each country, current conditions within either country, endorsing documents from your country or finding their equivalent in the UK, whether that country is part of the EEA and so on.
It is always advised to check with the UK embassy or consulate in your country for any such issues that could lead to visa processing delays.
Insufficient or incorrect information
If your application includes incorrect information or the documentation you supply is insufficient, the processing time may be longer than expected if UKVI suspend processing to request further information from you in order to make a decision.
The best way to avoid this is to check your application thoroughly and ensure that you have all the necessary documentation to hand before you apply.
What are the different types of UK visa applications?
The type of UK visa that you apply for will be the main deciding factor in how long it takes to process your UK visa application. The UK visa that you choose will depend on your reason for visiting the UK and how long you wish to stay.
Work in the UK
There are many types of short-term and long-term work visas including:
- Skilled worker visa
- Temporary worker visas
- Global Business Mobility visas
- Domestic workers in a private household visas
- Sportsperson visa
- Graduate route
- High Potential Individual visa
- Global Talent visa
- Scale up visa
- Innovator Founder visa
Each type of visa will carry its own eligibility, conditions and application requirements.
The Skilled Worker visa, for instance, is open to non-UK residents with a job offer from a licensed sponsor for skilled employment in the UK.
The processing time for the Skilled Worker visa is generally no longer than 3 weeks once the applicant has attended their appointment.
Holiday, family visit or business trip
The Standard Visitor visa is generally suitable for tourism, holidays, visiting and to receive short-term medical treatment. It replaces:
- Business visitor and prospective entrepreneur visas
- Family visitor visa
- Child visitor visa
- Sports and entertainer visitor visas
- Private medical treatment visitor visa
- Approved destination status visa
- General visitor visa
Under the standard visitor visa, you can usually stay in the UK for up to 6 months.
Your application for a Standard Visitor visa should be made no earlier than 3 months before you intend to enter the UK, and it will generally take no more than 3 weeks for the visa application to be processed and a decision made after your appointment.
Under current processing times, visitor visa applications from outside the UK are taking six weeks instead of the usual three.
Studying in the UK
Should you wish to study in the UK, there are 3 visas available for this purpose, depending on your individual situation:
- A short-term study visa is suitable for a 6 month stay in the UK to attend a course. For students over 16 who wish to attend an English language course, it may be possible to use a Short-term study visa for a stay of up to 11 months.
- A general study visa is suitable for a longer course of study in the UK as long as the student has a confirmed place on a course and is sponsored by a licensed university or college.
- 4 to 17 years old wishing to study at an independent school should apply for a child student visa.
Apply for the appropriate student visa no earlier than 3 months before you intend to enter the UK. Once you have attended your appointment, it will generally take no more than 3 weeks to receive a decision.
Entrepreneurs & investors
The primary route for people coming to the UK to set up or run a business is the Innovator Founder visa. While no up-front investment is required under this route, there are many eligibility criteria that will need to be satisfied by both the applicant and the business. Endorsement will also be required before the visa application can be made.
Processing for business visas can take longer than other categories due to the complexity of the application documentation and evidence. Again, the earliest you can apply is 3 months before you travel.
Joining family in the UK
The Family visa will generally allow you to join certain family members who already live in the UK if you wish to remain in the country for more than 6 months, such as spouses.
If the visa application is made from outside the UK, the processing time will generally take up to 24 weeks.
To get married in the UK
If you intend to visit the UK to get married, you should generally apply for a Marriage Visitor visa. This visa is also suitable for civil partnership ceremonies in the UK.
This visa doesn’t allow you to remain or settle in the UK after the marriage or civil partnership ceremony.
Processing, once an appointment has been attended, should ordinarily take no more than 3 weeks.
Travelling through the UK
There are two types of Transit visa. If you will be passing through UK border control and staying in the UK no more than 48 hours, then you should apply for a Visitor in Transit visa. If you will not pass through UK border control, then you should apply for a Direct Airside Transit visa.
If you will be staying in the UK for longer than 48 hours, it will be necessary to apply for a Standard Visitor visa.
Need assistance?
At DavidsonMorris we have the experience to advise you on the most appropriate UK visa for your circumstances and have the insight to make the process as smooth as possible.
As a team of immigration lawyers and former Home Office employees, we have an established reputation for effective and efficient management and processing of visa applications, and for providing expert visa-related advice to suit your needs. Contact us for advice.
Last updated: 31 August 2023