Living in the UK: applying from overseas
Source: gov.uk (2025-11-05)

Guidance for applicants outside the UK. It explains the steps to applying for and being granted a visa to live in the UK.

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 GOV.UK application pages will explain whether they can come and how they can apply.

To submit a valid application, you’ll need to:
- choose the correct application form on GOV.UK
- 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’ll need to provide documents to support your application.

For more information, check which visa you need and view the documents required for that route (https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa).

When to apply

Find out when to apply for your visa (https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa).

Get an estimate of how long it’ll take to process your application (https://www.gov.uk/visa-processing-times).

Fees

There is a fee for each visa (https://www.gov.uk/visa-fees). 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 (https://www.gov.uk/healthcare-immigration-application) 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’s details into the form, not your own.

Change, vary or cancel your application

If you want to change something in your application after you’ve sent it, for example a spelling mistake, or a change of circumstances, contact UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) (https://www.gov.uk/contact-ukvi-inside-outside-uk).

You can ask to cancel (withdraw) your application (https://www.gov.uk/cancel-visa). You’ll 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’ll be asked to prove your identity as part of your application. The application process will explain how to do that.

If you’ve been asked to use the mobile app

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

The app is free to download. Search ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ in your app store. Check if the app is compatible with your phone (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/using-the-uk-immigration-id-check-app).

If you do not have a compatible smartphone, you can use the app on a family member or friend’s phone. View further information on how to use the app (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/using-the-uk-immigration-id-check-app#how-to-use-the-app).

You’ll 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’ll just need to take a picture of the photo page of your passport using your smartphone camera.

If you’ve been asked to use the app to prove your identity and you’re unable to, you’ll need to make an appointment to attend a visa application centre (VAC) (https://www.gov.uk/find-a-visa-application-centre) to provide your biometric information (your fingerprints and a photograph).

If you need to prove your identity at a VAC

You’ll need to make an appointment to attend a visa application centre (VAC) (https://www.gov.uk/find-a-visa-application-centre) to provide your biometric information (your fingerprints and a photograph).

At the appointment, you’ll need to submit documents that support your application. The document checklist in your application explains what to provide.

The VAC may keep your passport while we process your application. You’ll be told when you apply. However, in some locations you may be able to use the ‘Keep My Passport When Applying’ service.

Find out more about attending a VAC (https://www.gov.uk/find-a-visa-application-centre).

You may have to travel to get to your nearest VAC (this could be in another country).

Proving you do not have tuberculosis (TB)

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

Check if you’ll need a TB test (https://www.gov.uk/tb-test-visa).

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’ve been asked to use the mobile app, and they have a compatible smartphone, they’ll be able to use the UK Immigration: ID Check app to prove their identity.

If they’re unable to use the app, or if they’ve been asked to prove their identity at a VAC (https://www.gov.uk/find-a-visa-application-centre), they’ll 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

You’ll get an email containing the decision on your application. This will explain what you need to do next.

If you used the mobile app

You’ll receive an eVisa (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/online-immigration-status-evisa), a digital record of your identity and immigration status.

You need to create a UKVI account to access your eVisa (https://www.gov.uk/get-access-evisa). You’ll 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’ll 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’ve been granted (for example, an Innovation Founder visa).

If the VAC kept your passport, you’ll need to collect it when contacted or if you have purchased a courier return service, they’ll post it to you with the vignette inside.

If you paid to keep your passport, you’ll need to return to the VAC with your passport to collect your vignette.

If you or any of your dependants make successful applications for certain work, study and family visas, or for indefinite leave to enter (settlement) on any route, you may not get a vignette if you apply on or after 30 October 2025.

Instead, you will need to access your eVisa through your UKVI account to see the permission you have been granted before you travel to the UK.

You’ll be told how to access your eVisa and whether you’ll get a vignette.

eVisas have already replaced vignettes for some main applicants on work and study visas for applications made on or after 15 July 2025.

If you’re a national of Kuwait, Oman, Qatar or the United Arab Emirates and you applied for an electronic visa waiver (https://www.gov.uk/get-electronic-visa-waiver) this visa waiver is sent to you electronically (you do not receive a vignette).

If you notice an error in your vignette, you should contact UKVI (https://www.gov.uk/contact-ukvi-inside-outside-uk) 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 (https://www.gov.uk/get-access-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:
- ‘No access to public funds’ - you cannot claim benefits
- ‘No work’ - you cannot take paid or unpaid work in the UK
- ‘Restricted work’ - you can only work for your sponsor
Keep your details up to date in your UKVI account

You should update your UKVI account (https://www.gov.uk/update-uk-visas-immigration-account-details) if you’ve 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’re waiting for a decision or to have documents returned
- travel with your current identity documents
If your application is refused

You’ll 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 (https://www.gov.uk/ask-for-a-visa-administrative-review)

immigration decision appeal (https://www.gov.uk/immigration-asylum-tribunal/appeal-from-outside-the-uk)

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

Your immigration status

When your application is successful, you’ll 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’ll 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’ll be sent a code for logging in
View your immigration status (https://www.gov.uk/view-prove-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 ‘share code’ 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 (https://www.gov.uk/view-prove-immigration-status).

Updating your details

It’s 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 (https://www.gov.uk/update-uk-visas-immigration-account-details), 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 link 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 (https://www.gov.uk/update-uk-visas-immigration-account-details).

If you are outside the UK

If you are outside of the UK, you may need to apply for a temporary visa (https://visas-immigration.service.gov.uk/management/ooc/landingPage/brp-vignette-transfer-ooc) to enter the UK if:
- you have a UKVI account (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/online-immigration-status-evisa) and need to update your personal details or add a new passport or travel document but cannot do so using your UKVI account; or
- you do not have a UKVI account (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/online-immigration-status-evisa) or an expired biometric residence permit (BRP) and you are unable to create a UKVI account from outside the UK
Apply for a temporary visa (http://www.visas-immigration.service.gov.uk/management/ooc/landingPage/brp-vignette-transfer-ooc).

If you need help using the service

If you need help accessing your eVisa, you can contact UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) (https://www.gov.uk/contact-ukvi-inside-outside-uk).

Help accessing your UKVI account

Get back into your account (https://update-your-details.homeoffice.gov.uk/account-recovery/help) if you’re having problems singing in.

Contact UKVI (https://www.gov.uk/contact-ukvi-inside-outside-uk) 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 (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/personal-information-use-in-borders-immigration-and-citizenship)
- Making an application (https://view-immigration-status.service.gov.uk/privacy)
- Viewing and proving your immigration status in the UK (https://view-immigration-status.service.gov.uk/privacy)