GovWire

This guide covers the journey from making your application and getting a decision to then sharing information about your immigration status with others.

Make your application

You can apply and pay for your visa online.

If you have dependants who want to come to the UK with you, the relevant GOV.UK application pages will explain whether they can come and how they can apply.

To submit a valid application, youll need to:

• choose the correct application form on GOV.UK
• pay the fee
• pay the immigration health charge (if required)
• provide any required biometrics
• provide a passport or other document which proves your identity and nationality
• meet any other specific requirements that are set out by the application route

Gathering your documents

Youll need to provide documents to support your application.

For more information, check which visa you need and view the documents required for that route.

When to apply

Find out when to apply for your visa.

Get an estimate of how long itll take to process your application.

Fees

There is a fee for each visa. The fee depends on which entry route you apply for.

You may be able to choose to pay more to get a faster decision for some routes.

In addition to your visa fee, each family member who applies to come to the UK with you must also pay a fee.

Pay for healthcare

You may need to pay the immigration health charge as part of your application.

Applying for someone else

You can only apply for someone else if, for example, a relative or your child cannot apply for themselves.

Enter the applicants details into the form, not your own.

Change, vary or cancel your application

If you want to change something in your application after youve sent it, for example a spelling mistake, or a change of circumstances, contact UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI).

You can ask to cancel (withdraw) your application. Youll only get your fee refunded if UKVI has not started processing your application.

If you want to vary the basis of your application, you can do so at any time before a decision on your original application is made.

If you wish to vary your application, you will need to submit the correct specified form for the second application.

Prove your identity

Youll be asked to prove your identity as part of your application. The application process will explain how to do that.

If youve been asked to use the mobile app

If you have a biometric passport and a compatible smartphone, youll be able to prove your identity using the UK Immigration: ID Check app.

The app is free to download. Search UK Immigration: ID Check in your app store. Check if the app is compatible with your phone.

If you do not have a compatible smartphone, you can use the app on a family member or friends phone. View further information on how to use the app.

Youll need to provide supporting evidence to prove your identity. The document checklist for your application will explain what you need to provide.

If you use the app, you will not need to send your passport anywhere to be checked. Instead youll just need to take a picture of the photo page of your passport using your smartphone camera.

If youve been asked to use the app to prove your identity and youre unable to, youll need to make an appointment to attend a visa application centre (VAC) to provide your biometric information (your fingerprints and a photograph).

If you need to prove your identity at a VAC

Youll need to make an appointment to attend a visa application centre (VAC) to provide your biometric information (your fingerprints and a photograph).

At the appointment, youll need to submit documents that support your application. The document checklist in your application explains what to provide.

The VAC will normally keep your passport while we process your application. However, in some locations you may be able to use the Keep My Passport When Applying service.

Find out more about attending a VAC.

Proving you do not have tuberculosis (TB)

If youre coming to the UK for more than 6 months you might need to have a TB test.

Check if youll need a TB test.

If you do, you must provide a certificate showing you do not have TB with your visa application.

If you applied for someone else

The applicant will need to prove their identity.

If theyve been asked to use the mobile app, and they have a compatible smartphone, theyll be able to use the UK Immigration: ID Check app to prove their identity.

If theyre unable to use the app, or if theyve been asked to prove their identity at a VAC, theyll need to attend an appointment to provide their biometric information and documents.

If you applied on behalf of a child, a responsible adult will need to accompany them to their appointment.

A responsible adult means someone aged 18 or over who can help the child with their appointment, such as a family member or teacher. You will need to give their details on the visa application.

Get a decision on your application

If your application is successful, what youll need to do will depend on how you proved your identity.

If you used the mobile app

From 31 October 2024 you will receive an eVisa. An eVisa is an online record of your immigration status and the conditions of the type of permission you have to enter or stay in the UK.

You need to create an account toget an eVisa. Youll be notified by email with instructions on how to access it.

If you visited a VAC to prove your identity

If your application is successful, youll be given an entry clearance sticker (called a vignette) in your passport, which is valid for up to 90-days from the date of its issue. This shows what youve been granted (for example, a Standard Visitor visa).

If the VAC kept your passport, theyll post it to you with the vignette inside.

If you kept your passport, youll need to take it to the VAC to collect your vignette.

If you notice an error in your vignette, you should contact your VAC immediately to correct it before you come to the UK.

If you notice an error in your vignette, you should contact your VAC immediately to correct it before you come to the UK.

eVisas and the conditions that apply to you

Your eVisa will include the conditions of your grant of permission to come to the UK.

To see your conditions, you will need to access your eVisa. An eVisa is an on

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