Some helpful information about UK visas and immigration
If you’re planning to come to the UK or remain here, the immigration system offers different routes depending on your purpose of travel. Here are some of the key points:
Common types of UK visas
- Visitor visas – for tourism, visiting family, certain business activities, or short courses
- Work visas – including the Skilled Worker route and other specialist work categories.
- Student visas – for people studying at licensed educational institutions.
- Family visas – for joining a spouse, partner, child, or other eligible family member in the UK.
- Settlement and citizenship routes – for those eligible to live permanently in the UK and eventually apply for British citizenship.
Before applying
You should:
- Check whether you need a visa or an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA).
- Ensure you meet the eligibility requirements for your chosen route.
- Prepare supporting documents such as your passport, financial evidence, sponsorship documents (if required), and proof of English language ability where applicable.
- Pay the application fee and, for many long-term visas, the Immigration Health Surcharge.
eVisas
The UK is moving to a digital immigration system. Many people now prove their immigration status using an eVisa, which is linked to their UKVI account rather than relying on physical immigration documents.
Processing times
Processing times vary depending on:
- The visa category.
- Whether the application is made inside or outside the UK.
- Whether priority services are available and purchased. Official guidance provides estimated processing times for each visa type.
Official information
The safest place to check eligibility, fees, and submit applications is the UK government’s official visa portal:
UK Visas and Immigration (GOV.UK)
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?
Apostille.co.uk
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.
Schengen Visas
