After submitting your UK visa application, you will need to wait for UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) to process your application before travelling to the United Kingdom. This process can be frustrating and nerve-wracking for many people. One way to ease your nerves can be to check the status of your UK visa application in line with the available resources and information provided by the Home Office.
This article will explain standard processing times for UK immigration applications made inside and outside the United Kingdom, as well as priority and super priority processing options. It’s important to note that UK visa processing times are subject to ongoing change, and can vary depending on UKVI caseload, and service capacity and availability.
Current standard processing times for UK immigration applications?
UK Visas and Immigration will begin processing your application once you have submitted your online application form, supporting documentation and biometric information. Your application will not be processed until all of this required information and documentation has been submitted.
Standard processing times differ between applications submitted outside the United Kingdom and applications made within the United Kingdom. The following are standard processing times as at the time of writing:
Applications submitted outside the United Kingdom
Application category |
Processing times |
| Visitor Visa applications | You should generally receive a decision on your application within 7 weeks after attending an appointment at an overseas visa application centre (was previously 3-week standard). |
| Transit Visa applications | You should generally receive a decision on your application within 7 weeks after attending a biometrics appointment at an overseas visa application centre (was previously 3 week standard). |
| Student Visa applications | You should generally receive a decision on your application within 3 weeks after attending a biometrics appointment at an overseas visa application centre or providing all required information via the UK Immigration: ID Check mobile phone application. Please note that these applications may take longer to process due to the prioritisation of Ukraine Family Scheme applications. |
| Work Visa applications | For various categories of work visas, you should generally receive a decision on your application within 4 weeks after attending a biometrics appointment at an overseas visa application centre or providing all required information via the UK Immigration: ID Check mobile phone application. For Turkish Business Person visas, you should generally receive a decision on your application within 12 weeks after attending a biometrics appointment at an overseas visa application centre. Please note that these applications are subject to longer processing than the 3 week standard due to the prioritisation of Ukraine Family Scheme applications. |
| Family Visa applications | Family Visa applications are currently significantly delayed due to the prioritisation of Ukraine Family Scheme applications. You should generally receive a decision on your application within 24 weeks after attending a biometrics appointment at an overseas visa application centre. |
| Family Reunion Visa applications | You should generally receive a decision on your application within 12 weeks after attending a biometrics appointment at an overseas visa application centre. |
| British National (Overseas) Visa applications | You should generally receive a decision on your application within 12 weeks after attending a biometrics appointment at an overseas visa application centre or providing all required information via the UK Immigration: ID Check mobile phone application. |
| Ancestry Visa applications | You should generally receive a decision on your application within 3 weeks after attending a biometrics appointment at an overseas visa application centre or providing all required information via the UK Immigration: ID Check mobile phone application. |
| Returning Resident Visa applications | You should generally receive a decision on your application within 3 weeks after attending a biometrics appointment at an overseas visa application centre. |
| Replacement Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) applications | You should generally receive a decision on your application within 3 weeks after attending a biometrics appointment at an overseas visa application centre. |
| Vignette Transfer applications | You should generally receive a decision on your application within 3 weeks after attending a biometrics appointment at an overseas visa application centre. |
| Certificate of Entitlement applications | You should generally receive a decision on your application within 3 weeks after attending a biometrics appointment at an overseas visa application centre. |
Applications submitted within the United Kingdom
Application category |
Processing times |
| Student Visa extension or switch applications | You should generally receive a decision on your application within 8 weeks after submitting your online application. |
| Family Visa extension or switch applications | You should generally receive a decision on your application within 8 weeks after submitting your online application. |
| Parent Visa (5-year Route) applications | There are no standard processing times for this immigration route due to the complexity of applications under this category. Currently, the average waiting time for a decision stands at 11 months. |
| Family and Private Life (10-Year Route) Visa applications | There are no standard processing times for this immigration route due to the complexity of applications under this category. Currently, the average waiting time for a decision stands at 11 months. |
| Work Visa extension or switch applications | You should generally receive a decision on your application within 8 weeks after submitting your online application. |
| Graduate Visa switch applications | You should generally receive a decision within 8 weeks after attending a biometrics appointment at an overseas visa application centre or providing all required information via the UK Immigration: ID Check mobile phone application. |
| Start-up Visa switch applications | You should generally receive a decision within 3 weeks after submitting your online application. |
| Domestic Workers in a Private Household Visa extension applications | You should generally receive a decision on your application within 8 weeks after submitting your online application. |
| Representative of an Overseas Business Visa extension applications | You should generally receive a decision on your application within 8 weeks after submitting your online application. |
| Health and Care Worker Visa extension or switch applications | You should generally receive a decision within 3 weeks after submitting your online application. |
| Temporary Worker Visa extension or switch applications | You should generally receive a decision on your application within 8 weeks after submitting your online application. |
| Standard Visitor Visa extension applications | You should generally receive a decision on your application within 8 weeks after submitting your online application. You can only extend your Standard Visitor Visa in specific situations. |
| British National (Overseas) extension or switch applications | You should generally receive a decision within 12 weeks after attending a biometrics appointment at an overseas visa application centre or providing all required information via the UK Immigration: ID Check mobile phone application. |
| Ancestry Visa extension applications | You should generally receive a decision on your application within 8 weeks after submitting your online application. |
| Settlement (Indefinite Leave to Remain) applications | You should generally receive a decision on your application within 6 months after submitting your online application. |
| Replacement Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) applications | If you have a visa in the United Kingdom, you should generally receive a decision on your application within 8 weeks after submitting your online application. If you have settlement in the United Kingdom, you should generally receive a decision on your application within 6 months after submitting your online application. |
What information is required to check the status of my UK immigration application?
Before contacting the Home Office, UK Visas and Immigration, or a Member of Parliament to check the status of your UK immigration application, you need to ensure that you have the required information to track your application status. You will need to have the following information on hand in case a relevant official requests further details:
- Your Unique Application Number (UAN) – Your UAN is a 16-digit number issued by UK Visas and Immigration. The UAN will be included in all correspondence from the Home Office and UKVI, including your online application form.
- Your Global Web Form (GWF) Number – Your GWF number is a 12-digit number issued by UK Visas and Immigration to some applicants. The GWF will be included in correspondence from the Home Office and UKVI. It will be a combination of 12 characters and start with the letters ‘GWF’.
- Your Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) Fee Reference Number – Your IHS fee reference number is issued when you pay the Immigration Health Surcharge fee as part of your UK immigration application. You will receive confirmation of paying the IHS fee via email, and the IHS number will be included in this email. Your IHS number will be a combination of 12 characters and start with the letters ‘IHS’.
- Your CaseID or Case Identification Number – Your CaseID is an 8 digit number included in all correspondence from the Home Office. The Home Office and UK Visas and Immigration use this as their own reference number for internal systems.
- Your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) Number – If you are currently living in the United Kingdom, you will likely have a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP). You can find this number in the upper right-hand corner of your Biometric Residence Permit. It will be a combination of 2 letters and 6 numbers comprising 8 characters.
- Your Payment Reference Number – You should receive a Payment Reference Number after paying the application fee for your UK immigration application. It will be a combination of letters, numbers, and symbols comprising 16 characters.
Can I check my UK immigration application submitted from within the UK?
If you want to check your UK immigration application status, you can directly contact UK Visas and Immigration by telephone. You can call UKVI at 0300 790 6268 for an English-speaking helpline. This helpline is open Monday through Thursday from 09:00 to 16:45, as well as Fridays from 09:00 to 16:30. Please note that you will be charged between 16p and £3.60 per minute with the helpline, depending on the type of number from which you are calling.
Can I check my UK immigration application submitted from outside the UK?
If you submitted your UK immigration application from outside the United Kingdom, you must first ensure that you attended a biometrics appointment at an overseas visa application centre or submitted required information via the UK Immigration: ID Check mobile phone application. After attending this appointment or using the mobile phone application, all of your information is submitted to the Home Office, and UK Visas and Immigration will begin processing your application. UK Visas and Immigration will not process your application without completing this crucial step.
If you want to check your UK immigration application status, you can directly contact UK Visas and Immigration online or by telephone. However, you must pay fees to use these services. If you want to contact UKVI online, you can use the online messaging service. Please note that you will be charged £2.74 per email. If you would like to contact UKVI via phone, you can call +44(0)300 790 6268 for an English-speaking helpline. This helpline is open Monday through Friday, 24-hours per day. Please note that you will be charged 69p per minute with the helpline.
Can I use premium processing to expedite my UK immigration application?
At the point of submitting your UK immigration application, you may have been offered the option of paying for a premium processing service. There are two options for premium processing.
Priority Service allows eligible applicants to receive a decision on their UK immigration application within five working days. This five-working days countdown starts after attending a biometrics appointment at a UKVCAS visa application centre or uploading all required supporting documents on the UK Immigration: ID Check mobile phone application. Priority Service costs £500 per applicant in addition to the visa application fee.
Super Priority Service allows eligible applicants to receive a decision on their UK immigration application by the end of the next working day. This next working day countdown starts after attending a biometrics appointment at a UKVCAS visa application centre or uploading all required supporting documents on the UK Immigration: ID Check mobile phone application. If your appointment is on a weekend or bank holiday, you will receive a decision on your UK immigration application within two working days. Super Priority Service costs £800 per applicant in addition to the visa application fee.
The Home Office has indefinitely suspended Priority and Super Priority Service processing times for applications lodged outside the United Kingdom in many immigration categories. This suspension is related to prioritising Home Office resources for Ukraine Family Scheme applications. However, Priority and Super Priority Service processing times for applications lodged inside the United Kingdom are currently available for eligible immigration categories.
If you have already submitted your online application, you will need to wait for a decision on your application as per the service standard for your immigration category.
What are the reasons a UK immigration application can be delayed?
There are many reasons a UK immigration application can be delayed, and not all are reasons for concern. The Home Office experiences busy periods, and applications can often be backlogged at certain times during the year, such as summer. Your application may be delayed because you did not provide all required supporting documentation, in which case the Home Office may contact you for additional documents. Your application may also be delayed due to your circumstances or if they want to request an interview to confirm details. If you believe your application is significantly delayed, you can take steps to be proactive.
Please note that if you purchased Priority Service or Super Priority Service, the Home Office would take all available measures to ensure that your application is processed within the correct time frame. However, this is not always possible, and your application may be slightly delayed.
What should I do if my UK immigration application is significantly delayed?
If you feel that your UK immigration application is significantly delayed, you should first check the current UK Visas and Immigration service standards. If your UK immigration application is delayed substantially, you should first contact UK Visas and Immigration through one of the above routes. If they cannot provide a satisfactory answer to your concerns, take legal advice to understand your options.
How to check UK visa application status FAQs
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Legal disclaimer
The matters contained in this article are intended to be for general information purposes only. This article does not constitute legal advice, nor is it a complete or authoritative statement of the law, and should not be treated as such. Whilst every effort is made to ensure that the information is correct, no warranty, express or implied, is given as to its accuracy and no liability is accepted for any error or omission. Before acting on any of the information contained herein, expert legal advice should be sought.
Author
Gill Laing is a qualified Legal Researcher & Analyst with niche specialisms in Law, Tax, Human Resources, Immigration & Employment Law.
Gill is a Multiple Business Owner and the Managing Director of Prof Services - a Marketing & Content Agency for the Professional Services Sector.
