June 2023 update on UK Visa processing times
- 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.
- UK visa processing times are to pre-COVID levels, although processing across many in-country and out of country applications remains delayed. Visa applicants are therefore advised to take guidance on the current processing timescales for their specific type of application.
- The Home Office has recently published an updated list of standard processing times for UK visa applications made outside and inside the UK. Most applications for work, study and visit visas are currently being processed within 3 weeks for overseas applications, or 8 weeks for in-country applications.
- Processing times start after you have submitted your application and verified your identity either using the UK Immigration: ID Check app or by attending an appointment at a Visa Application Centre (VAC), and end once you have received a letter or email from the Home Office containing a decision on your application.
- The below processing times are based on the current volume of visa applications and are subject to change.
Applications made outside the UK
- If you are applying for your UK visa from overseas, you are advised not to book any travel until a decision on your application has been made.
- The current standard processing times per category are as follows.
| 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 |
Applications made inside the UK
- If you are applying to extend your visa or switch to another visa category from within the UK, processing times are usually longer than for overseas applications. You can stay in the UK until you’ve been given a decision, as long as you applied before your last visa expired.
- Below is an overview of current waiting times for in-country applications per category.
| 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 |
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 |
Updates on your application
- In some cases, your application may not be decided within the standard processing times outlined above. The Home Office will contact you to let you know if you are required to provide further evidence or attend an interview.
- For updates on your submitted visa application, you should contact UKVI directly. You should not contact UKVI to track your application if you’ve already made a visa application and it is still within the current processing times.
