If you plan to travel to the UK in 2024 or beyond for tourism, business, medical treatment, or short-term studies, you may need to apply for a UK Visitor visa (often referred to as a ‘Visit’ visa). Depending on your nationality, you may be able to visit the UK for up to 6 months without needing a visa. To check if you need a Visitor visa, we recommend checking the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) website.
In this comprehensive guide, we provide a detailed overview of UK Visit visa processing times in 2024.
Understanding UK Visit Visas
A Standard Visitor visa will allow you to travel to the UK for up to 6 months for the purposes of:
- Tourism
- Business
- Family
- Study
- Medical treatment
- Attending a paid engagement or event.
It is important to ensure that you can use a Visitor visa for your intended purpose. For example, you can only use a Visitor visa for business reasons to attend interviews, meetings, conferences and seminars, negotiate and sign deals and contracts, and attend trade fairs to promote your business, among other valid reasons.
If you intend to come to the UK as a visitor multiple times over many years, you can apply for a long-term visit visa lasting 2, 5 or 10 years (but you can only stay for a maximum of 6 months on each visit).
Current processing times for UK visit visas
In 2024, Visitor visa processing times are around 3 to 6 weeks. Visitor visas can take longer to process depending on where you apply from. For example, applications from the United States, Canada, and Australia usually experience shorter processing times, often within three weeks. Applications from countries with higher visa demand, such as India, China, and Nigeria, may take longer, sometimes up to six weeks or more.
Priority & fast-track services
For applicants who require a faster decision, UKVI offers priority and super-priority services. These services expedite the application process, significantly reducing waiting times:
- Priority Service – Usually processed within 5 working days. This service is available for an additional fee of approximately £500.
- Super-Priority Service – Processed by the end of the next working day after your biometric appointment (if your appointment is on a weekday) or 2 working days after your biometric appointment if your appointment is at the weekend or on a bank holiday. The cost for this service is around £1,000.
When you apply for your visitor visa, you may be given the option to pay for an expedited application service. Whether you can use the priority or super-priority processing services will depend on your location and the availability of expedited processing at the relevant visa application centre.
UK Visa processing entities: UKVCAS vs Home Office
Applying for a UK Visitor visa involves UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) and the Home Office (UK Visas and Immigration – UKVI).
UKVCAS deals with the collection of identity and biometric information and supporting documents. UKVCAS centres are the first point of contact for applicants within the UK. Depending on where you live, you may also deal with VFS Global or TLC Contact.
The Home Office (UKVI) is responsible for reviewing and making decisions on visa applications. They will assess your submitted documents and make a final decision on your visitor visa.
Factors influencing visitor visa processing times
Several factors may influence the processing time for your UK visit visa; these include the following:
- Whether your application is complete, incomplete or inaccurate, applications and missing documents can lead to delays as additional information or corrections may be required.
- Mistakes in the application. Mistakes may lead to refusal or lead to UKVI requesting clarification on your application. Mistakes may include providing out-of-date documents and incorrect details on your application.
- Political changes, global events, or natural disasters can impact processing times.
- High application volumes during peak travel seasons (summer and holiday periods) can slow down processing.
- Enhanced scrutiny for applicants from certain countries can prolong processing times.
How to check your visit visa processing status
If you are applying for a visitor visa from outside the UK, you can do so using the VFS Global or TLC Contact website. The site you use will depend on which country you are applying from. Each website has a tracking page, which will allow you to find out the status of your visitor visa application.
You can also use the UKVI website to check the status of your visitor visa application. To do this, you will need to complete the enquiry form and pay a one-off fee of £2.74. Remember to mention if the standard processing time has already passed.
Alternatively, you can phone the UK Visas and Immigration contact centre on 0300 790 6268 – select option 2. If you are outside the UK, phone Telephone: +44 (0)300 790 6268 – select option 1. There is also a foreign language service available on +44 (0)300 790 6268 or +44 (0)203 875 4669. Calls cost 69 pence per minute on top of your standard network charges.
Tips for swift visa processing
To ensure a smooth visa application process, we recommend using the following tips:
- Use a UK visa immigration Solicitor – we understand how to ensure that applications are processed as quickly as possible.
- Double-check that all required documents are included and accurately filled out.
- Avoid applying during peak travel seasons to reduce waiting times.
- If time-sensitive, use the priority or super-priority services.
Types of UK visa applications
Beyond visit visas, the UK offers various visa types, each with distinct processing times and requirements:
- Work Visas – Including the Skilled Worker Visa, Health and Care Worker Visa, and Temporary Worker Visa, are typically processed within 3 to 12 weeks.
- Study Visas, Such as the Student Visas, are typically processed in 3 to 8 weeks.
- Family Visas: For those joining family members in the UK, they are typically processed within 8 to 24 weeks.
To check the standard processing time for your specific visa type, please check the UKVI website – these depend on whether you are applying inside the UK or outside the UK.
Handling delays in visa processing
Unfortunately, despite your best efforts, delays can still occur in Visitor visa applications. To overcome a delay in your Visitor visa application, we recommend contacting UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) directly to understand the reason for the hold-up and what can be done.
If you are concerned that your visitor visa may not be processed in time for your trip, consider speaking to an immigration lawyer for assistance. We understand how to contact UKVI and have the knowledge and expertise to ensure that your application is processed as soon as possible.
Also, remember that being proactive and responsive to any requests for additional information can help mitigate extended processing times.
Conclusion
By being aware of the current processing times, using priority processing services when appropriate, and submitting complete and accurate applications, you will significantly boost your chances of a timely visitor visa approval. If you face delays, please speak to a UK-based immigration Solicitor who will do all they can to resolve any issues that are holding up your application.
