UK Visa Processing Times

UK visa processing times

In order to assess whether your visa or immigration application has been delayed, it is important to understand what the current visa decision waiting times are.

Your UK visa processing time begins when you submit your application online and ends when you have received a letter or email which outlines the decision. Some applicants will only need to submit an application form, however, others may be required to either:

1. Attend an appointment to provide both fingerprints and pictures at a biometric centre either within the UK or at an approved partner centre outside of the UK.

2. Verify identity and submit documents using the UK Immigration ID Check app (ID check app).

If applicable, your UK visa processing time begins once you have either attended a biometrics appointment or have submitted the relevant documents to the UK ID Check app.

It is worth noting that a priority visa service is available for in-country and out-of-country applications. The priority visa service means that decisions on visa applications can be received within 1 and 5 working days (depending on the service purchased). Unfortunately, the priority visa service is not available for every visa route - where it is available you will be able to purchase it either upon submission of an application or during the process of booking the biometric appointment.

UK visa processing time: Applications made inside the UK

Below is a summary of how long the UKVI expects decisions to be made on the various types of UK immigration and visa applications. The UK visa processing time starts after you have submitted your biometric details, either through the ID Check App or by attending an in-person appointment.

According to UKVI, applicants who have made a visa application (and haven’t paid to receive a priority service) can expect to receive a decision within 8 weeks when switching to, or extending any of the following visas:

Applicants who have applied to either switch to, or extend either a Health and Care Worker visa or a Start-up visa, can expect to receive a decision within 3 weeks. 

Applicants who have submitted a settlement application, can expect to receive a decision within 6 months. 

Please be aware that the standard visa processing times outlined above have been impacted by the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. As a result of this, decisions on visa applications are taking more than 11 weeks to be made. However, UKVI is continuously working and aiming to return their decision timelines back within their standard service times.

UK visa processing time: Applications made outside of the UK

Below is a summary of how long the UKVI expects decisions to be made on the various types of UK immigration and visa applications. The processing time refers to the period after an individual has attended a biometric appointment or has verified their identity through another means. 

According to UKVI, applicants who have made a visa application can expect to receive a decision within 3 weeks when making an application for one of the following:

• Visit visas (this includes Standard Visit visas)

• Transit visas

• Student visas

• Short term study visa

• Commonwealth citizen visas (including Ancestry visas)

• Returning resident visa

• Work and investment visas, including:

  • Entrepreneur visa

  • Global talent visa

  • Skilled worker visa

  • International sportsperson visa

  • High potential individual (HPI) visa

  • Innovator visa

  • Intra-company transfer visa

  • Domestic Workers in a Private Household visa

  • Investor visa

  • Representative of an Overseas Business

  • Minister of religion visa

  • Temporary Worker Visa

  • Scale-up worker visa

If you have made a visa application to join family in the UK (i.e. partner visa, spouse visa, parent visa, child visa, adult dependent relative visa, private life applications) then visa decisions take around 24 weeks. However, if you are applying for family reunion to join a  refugee or an individual with humanitarian protection, then decisions will take around 12 weeks (but there are currently delays in visa processing times).

The decision waiting time for the Hong Kong BNO visa and Turkish Businessperson visa is around 12 weeks.

If you are applying for an EU Settlement Scheme family permit, you will get a decision soon after you have proved your identity and provided the required documents.

What is the waiting time after biometrics?

The waiting time after biometrics depends on a range of factors including:

• What visa you applied for.

• Whether you applied from inside or outside the UK.

• Whether you paid to receive a priority service.

• The complexity of the case.

• The evidence presented.

For a general overview of the waiting times after biometrics head over to these links (applying from outside the UK or applying from inside the UK).

What are some of the factors which affect immigration and visa application processing times?

The delays to the visa and immigration processing times are currently largely caused by Covid and the Ukraine crisis. However, other factors which can affect processing times include:

• The complexity of the case.

• Concerns about an individual meeting the eligibility requirements (e.g. having a criminal record or an adverse immigration history).

• Concerns about the documents presented with the application (e.g. issues with authenticity or not many have been provided).

• If the applicant is required to attend an interview.

• The capacity of the caseworkers at UKVI.

Can I speed up the processing time of my visa?

Yes certain UK visa applications enable you to pay to receive either a priority service or a super priority service.

If you are eligible to benefit from the priority service then a decision on your visa application will be made within 5 working days of attending your appointment at the visa application centre or uploading your documents on the UK Immigration: ID Check app. 

If you are eligible to benefit from the super priority service then a decision on your visa application will be made within 1 to 2 working days of attending your appointment at the visa application centre or uploading your documents on the UK Immigration: ID Check app. 

Please note that priority and super priority services have been suspended for new family visa applications and there is a reduced availability for these services amongst visitor visa applications.