188体育

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 188体育 application pages will explain whether they can come and how they can apply.

To submit a valid application, you鈥檒l need to:

• choose the correct application form on 188体育
• 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

You鈥檒l 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 it鈥檒l 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 applicant鈥檚 details into the form, not your own.

Change, vary or cancel your application

If you want to change something in your application after you鈥檝e 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. You鈥檒l 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

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

If you鈥檝e been asked to use the mobile app

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

The app is free to download. Search 鈥楿K Immigration: ID Check鈥� 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 friend鈥檚 phone. View further information on how to use the app.

You鈥檒l 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 you鈥檒l just need to take a picture of the photo page of your passport using your smartphone camera.

If you鈥檝e been asked to use the app to prove your identity and you鈥檙e unable to, you鈥檒l 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

You鈥檒l 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, you鈥檒l 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 鈥楰eep My Passport When Applying鈥� service.

Find out more about attending a VAC.

Proving you do not have tuberculosis (TB)

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

Check if you鈥檒l 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 they鈥檝e been asked to use the mobile app, and they have a compatible smartphone, they鈥檒l be able to use the UK Immigration: ID Check app to prove their identity.

If they鈥檙e unable to use the app, or if they鈥檝e been asked to prove their identity at a VAC, they鈥檒l 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 you鈥檒l 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 to聽get an eVisa. You鈥檒l 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, you鈥檒l 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 you鈥檝e been granted (for example, a Standard Visitor visa).

If the VAC kept your passport, they鈥檒l post it to you with the vignette inside.

If you kept your passport, you鈥檒l 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 online record of:

• your immigration status
• the conditions of the type of permission you have to enter or stay in the UK

For example, your conditions might say:

• 鈥楴o access to public funds鈥� - you cannot claim benefits
• 鈥楴o work鈥� - you cannot take paid or unpaid work in the UK
• 鈥楻estricted work鈥� - you can only work for your sponsor

Keep your details up to date in your UKVI account

You should update your UKVI account if you鈥檝e changed your:

• mobile phone number
• email address
• name
• identity document, such as your passport or national identity card
• home address
• postal address

It is really important that you keep your details up to date to ensure you can:

• view and prove your rights to others, for example employers or landlords
• be contacted by UKVI, for example if you鈥檙e waiting for a decision or to have documents returned
• travel with your current identity documents

If your application is refused

You鈥檒l receive a decision notice which will set out the reasons your application was refused.

Your decision will explain if you have the right to either an:

• administrative review

• immigration decision appeal

Your passport will be returned, if it was kept as part of your application.

Your immigration status

When your application is successful, you鈥檒l be told how to view your immigration status through your eVisa.

You will be able to view and share your immigration status information completely online.

This is a fully secure service and allows you to share your status with prospective employers, universities, and other organisations.

To view your status, you鈥檒l need:

• details of the identity document you used when you applied (your passport, national identity card, or biometric residence card or permit)
• your date of birth
• access to the mobile number or email address you used when you applied - you鈥檒l be sent a code for logging in

View your immigration status.

Sharing your status

You can also use the View and Prove service to share your status with people or organisations, such as employers or universities.

This is an online service which allows people with eVisas to:

• get a 鈥榮hare code鈥� to prove their status to others, for example employers
• update personal details with your UKVI account, for example their passport number or email address
• check what rights you have in the UK, for example the right to work, rent or claim benefits

Share your immigration status.

Updating your details

It鈥檚 important that you keep your details up to date.

If you have online access to your immigration status information, you can update your personal information in your UKVI account, such as your contact details.

You must tell us about any changes to your personal details, such as your name and nationality. You should also tell us if any of the information displayed on your online immigration status profile is incorrect.

You will be able to check and update your personal details and register your current passport in your UKVI account. Always give yourself plenty of time to check both your personal details are up to date and your eVisa information is correct before travelling. Not doing so may mean that you are delayed or denied boarding by carriers.

You can also use the view and prove service to update your sign in details and passport or travel document details so that you can continue to access your immigration status information online.

Update your details.

If you need help using the service

If you need help accessing your eVisa, you can contact UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI).

Help accessing your UKVI account

if you鈥檙e having problems singing in.

Contact UKVI for help with:

• accessing your account
• updating your personal details
• sharing your status on your behalf, if you are unable to do so yourself

How we protect your data

You can find information on how we protect your personal data by reading our privacy notices:

• Borders, immigration and citizenship