Visa processing times: applications outside the UK

When to apply for a visa

You should allow enough time before you make a visa application.

You are not required to book any travel before you apply or before a decision is made on your application.

You should allow enough time before you plan travel to make a visa application. You will only receive a a refund of your application fee if if we have not started to process your application.

You may be able able to pay for a faster decision on 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 online using the UK Immigration: ID Check app. We’ll tell you if you can use this

• attend your appointment at a visa application centre (VAC) to provide your fingerprints and a photograph (biometric information)

Applications made in the USA

If you make an appointment at a USCIS Application Support Center to provide your fingerprints and a photograph (biometric information), you must then send your passport and documents to the VFS processing hub in New York.

If you make an appointment at a VFS premium Application Centre to provide your fingerprints and a photograph (biometric information), you can submit your passport and supporting documents at that location.

In both cases, the processing time starts when VFS receive your application.

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.

If you attended a visa application centre, you should not visit one until you have been contacted to do so.

When you might wait longer

Your visa application may take longer to process if, 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.

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). They do not include public holidays in the UK or other countries.

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

Visit visas

Category	Processing time
Standard Visitor	3 weeks
Marriage Visitor	3 weeks
Chinese tour group	3 weeks
Transit	3 weeks

Study visas

Category	Processing time
Student	3 weeks
Child Student	3 weeks
Study English in the UK: Short-term student (6 to 11 month English language courses)	3 weeks

Family visas

Category	Processing time
Partner or spouse	12 weeks
Parent	12 weeks
Child	12 weeks
Adult coming to be cared for by a relative	12 weeks

Ukraine visas

Category	Processing time
Homes for Ukraine	3 weeks

Work visas

Popular work visas

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

Temporary work visas

Category	Processing time
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

Work visas you can apply for without a job offer

Category	Processing time
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

Work visas to start a business

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

Work visas for an overseas employer

Category	Processing time
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

Other visas and permits

Category	Processing time
British National (Overseas)	12 weeks
International Sportsperson	3 weeks
Minister of Religion	3 weeks
Scale-up Worker	3 weeks