How to Apply for a UK Visa (Work, Study, Family)
Apply online on gov.uk, pay the fee plus the immigration health surchargeIHS — The fee most UK visa applicants pay upfront to use the NHS — £1,035 per year for most adults (2025 rate).Click for official info ↗, book biometrics at a visa application centre (VAC), and wait for a decision. Most decisions come back within 3 weeks; you get a vignette in your passport or an eVisaUK eVisa — The digital record of UK immigration status, accessed through a UKVI account. Replaces BRPs.Click for official info ↗.
The Steps
Follow these in order
Each card shows the phase, expected time, and any cost. Data checked against official UK sources(2025-Latest).
0 of 8 steps
- Before You Go 1–2 hours
Pick the correct visa route
The main routes: Skilled Worker (job offer from a licensed sponsor), Student (CASConfirmation of Acceptance for Studies — The electronic number a UK licensed sponsor (university) issues so you can apply for a Student visa.Click for official info ↗ from a licensed education provider), Family/spouse (partner or parent settled in the UK), and Standard Visitor. Each has its own eligibility rules — check the route page before spending money.
Click to mark as done
- Before You Go 1–2 weeks
Translate your non-English documents
Every document that is not in English or Welsh — passports are fine, but birth certificates, marriage certificates, bank statements, or police clearances from your home country — must arrive with a full English translation. If the document cannot be translated in your country, the Home OfficeUK Home Office — The government department responsible for visas, immigration, and citizenship in the UK.Click for official info ↗ guidance allows the translation to be done in the UK, but it must include the translator's contact details and certification of accuracy. Certified services charge £20–£50 per page with 2–5 day turnaround. Read this whole guide in Hindi, Nepali, Português (Brasil), or Español with the language dropdown at the top of the page.
Click to mark as done
- Before You Go 1–4 weeks
Gather evidence for the rules you must meet
Work visas need a Certificate of Sponsorship from a Home OfficeUK Home Office — The government department responsible for visas, immigration, and citizenship in the UK.Click for official info ↗ licensed employer. Student visas need a CASConfirmation of Acceptance for Studies — The electronic number a UK licensed sponsor (university) issues so you can apply for a Student visa.Click for official info ↗. Family visas need proof of relationship and a £29,000 minimum income (2025) or savings. Most routes require bank statements showing money held for 28 days.
Click to mark as done
- Fill / Prepare 1–2 hours
Complete the online application
Apply at gov.uk (or visas-immigration.service.gov.uk) and pay online. 2025 fees: Skilled Worker up to 3 years £719 (outside UK), Student visa £524, Standard Visitor 6-month £115. Pay the immigration health surchargeIHS — The fee most UK visa applicants pay upfront to use the NHS — £1,035 per year for most adults (2025 rate).Click for official info ↗ on top — usually £1,035 per year for most applicants (£776 students and under-18s).
Click to mark as done
- Go Appointment: 30 min
Give biometrics at a visa application centre
After paying, book an appointment at a VAC (VFS Global or TLScontact, depending on country). Fingerprints and photo are taken; pay extra for priority service (5 working days, typically £250–£500) if offered on your route. Keep the receipt.
Click to mark as done
- Wait 3 weeks (typical)
Wait for the decision
Standard processing: 3 weeks for most work/study visas applied for outside the UK, 8 weeks for family visas, 15 working days for visitors. You may be asked for an interview or more documents — respond quickly or risk refusal.
Click to mark as done
- Receive 1–2 weeks
Get your vignette or eVisa
Successful applicants get a 90-day vignette (entry sticker) in their passport, then collect a BRPBiometric Residence Permit — The card proving your UK immigration status, permission length, and right to work. Being replaced by eVisas.Click for official info ↗ or receive an eVisaUK eVisa — The digital record of UK immigration status, accessed through a UKVI account. Replaces BRPs.Click for official info ↗ on arrival. From 2025 the UK is moving fully to eVisas — create a UKVI account to view and prove your status online.
Click to mark as done
- Follow Up Ongoing
Comply with your visa conditions
Check what your visa allows (work hours, employer changes, no recourse to public funds). Report changes of circumstances. Track your visa expiry and any extension rules before the deadline — overstaying risks bans.
Click to mark as done
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I speed up my visa decision?
Priority services (5 working days) and super priority (next working day, where offered) cost extra — typically £250–£500 and £1,000. They speed the decision, not the biometrics queue, and are not refundable if the decision is a refusal.
What is the immigration health surcharge?
A prepaid NHSNational Health Service — The UK's publicly funded healthcare system. Most services are free at the point of use; access depends on immigration status and the immigration health surcharge.Click for official info ↗ fee: £1,035 per year of visa for most adults, £776 for students and children, charged for the whole visa length up front. You get a refund of unused years if your visa is refused.
What happens if my visa is refused?
The refusal letter explains why and lists your options: administrative review (£80, for casework errors), appeal (limited routes like family/human rights), or a fresh application fixing the stated reasons. Get advice before re-applying — refusals can compound.
Related