Some helpful information about UK visas and immigration
UK Visas and Immigration is responsible for making millions of decisions every year about who has the right to visit or stay in the country.
UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) is responsible for deciding who has the right to visit, study, work and stay in the United Kingdom.
Check if you need a UK visa
- You can check here if you need a UK visa
- How to apply for a visa to come to the UK
- Getting a decision on your application
Check if you’re a British citizen
- Overview
- Born in the UK or a British colony before 1 January 1983
- Born in the UK between 1 January 1983 and 1 October 2000
- Born in the UK between 2 October 2000 and 29 April 2006
- Born in the UK between 30 April 2006 and 30 June 2021
- Born in the UK from 1 July 2021 onwards
- Born outside the UK or stateless
- Your parents’ immigration status when you were born
Citizenship ceremonies
You need to attend a citizenship ceremony if you’re 18 or over and have successfully applied to become a British citizen.
- Who should attend a ceremony?
- What will happen at the ceremony?
- Where will the ceremony take place?
Visiting the UK
- Visit the UK as a standard visitor
- Visit on business
- Visit to study
- Visit as an academic
- Visit for a paid engagement or event
- Visit for medical reasons
- If you’re under 18
- Apply for a Standard Visitor visa
- When you can extend your stay
- Visiting the UK: guide to supporting documents
- Demonstrating personal circumstances
Marriage Visitor visa
- Overview
- Eligibility
- Documents you’ll need
- Apply from outside the UK
Innovator Visa
- Who can apply for the innovator visa
- Eligibility
- Knowledge of English
- Documents you’ll need to apply
- Apply from outside the UK
- Your partner and children
- Extend your visa
- Switch to this visa
Popular work visas
Health and Care Worker visa
- Overview
- Your job
- If you’ll need to meet different salary requirements
- Knowledge of English
- How much it costs
- Documents you’ll need to apply
- Apply from outside the UK
- Your partner and children
- Extend your visa
- Update your visa if you change job or employer
- Switch to this visa
- Taking on additional work
Skilled Worker visa
To qualify for a Skilled Worker visa, you must: work for a UK employer that’s been approved by the Home Office. have a ‘certificate of sponsorship’ ( CoS ) from your employer with information about the role you’ve been offered in the UK. do a job that’s on the list of eligible occupations.
- Overview
- Your job
- When you can be paid less
- If you work in healthcare or education
- Knowledge of English
- How much it costs
- Documents you’ll need to apply
- Apply from outside the UK
- Your partner and children
- Extend your visa
- Update your visa if you change job or employer
- Switch to this visa
- Taking on additional work
UK Ancestry visa
- Overview
- Eligibility
- Your partner and children
- Documents you must provide
- Apply from outside the UK
- Extend your visa
- Apply for indefinite leave to remain (‘settlement’)
International Sportsperson visa
- You can apply for an International Sportsperson visa if you meet the eligibility requirements
- Knowledge of English
- Documents you’ll need
- Apply from outside the UK
- Extend your visa
- Switch to this visa
- Your partner and children
- Taking a second job
Prove your English language abilities with a secure English language test (SELT)
- Applications that require an English language test
- Approved test providers
- Find an approved test
- Book an English language test
- Prove your identity on the day of the test
- After the test
- Reasonable adjustments
View and prove your immigration status: get a share code
You can use this service to:
- get a ‘share code’ to prove your status to others, for example employers
- update personal details in your UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account, for example your passport number or email address
- check what rights you have in the UK, for example the right to work, rent or claim benefits
Get a faster decision on your visa or settlement application
- Applying for a faster decision
- Eligible visas when applying from inside the UK
- Getting a refund of your priority or super priority fee
Cancel your visa, immigration or citizenship application
UK visa fees
Immigration and nationality fees for all applications made from outside and within the UK.
Visa decision waiting times
Information on visa decision waiting times for applications outside and inside the UK.
Contact UK Visas and Immigration for help
You can contact UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) from inside or outside the UK.
Immigration Solicitor
Ana Gonzalez, an immigration solicitor and Partner at Wilson Solicitors LLP has extensive expertise in all aspects of UK Immigration and Asylum Law.
Ana has also done some informative webinars and the recordings can be viewed here.
