UKVI: Guide to UK Visas and Immigration

UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) is the government department responsible for managing the UK’s immigration system. It oversees visa applications, settlement, asylum claims, and citizenship requests, ensuring that only those who meet the required criteria are granted entry or residency in the UK. The department also regulates employer and educational institution sponsorship, allowing businesses and universities to recruit international talent.

UKVI processes millions of visa applications each year from individuals wishing to visit, work, study, or join family members in the UK. It is also responsible for granting British citizenship to eligible applicants and ensuring that asylum seekers receive the appropriate protection under UK and international law. The introduction of digital immigration status, known as eVisas, allows users to access and share their immigration status online through a UKVI account.

The services provided by UKVI are used by individuals applying for visas or citizenship, businesses hiring overseas workers, universities enrolling international students, and landlords or employers verifying immigration status. The department also works with law enforcement and border agencies to uphold immigration laws. UKVI plays an essential role in managing legal migration, ensuring security, and supporting those who meet the requirements to live, work, or study in the UK.

In the following guide, we explain what UKVI is, including the role that it plays and the services it provides. We also look at how to create an UKVI account and check your online immigration status, together with UKVI’s processing times and the ways in which you can contact UKVI if needed.

 

What is UKVI?

 

UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) is the division of the UK’s Home Office responsible for managing the country’s visa system and immigration processes. Its primary functions include processing visa applications for individuals wishing to visit, study or work in the UK; considering applications for British citizenship; overseeing the UK’s asylum service; and evaluating applications from employers and educational institutions seeking to sponsor foreign nationals.

UKVI is also responsible for safeguarding national security by ensuring that only eligible individuals are permitted entry or residence. The department operates to deliver high-quality customer service to those who comply with legal entry requirements.

Applicants interact directly with UKVI when submitting applications for visas, settlement, citizenship or visa sponsorship. The department assesses each application to determine its validity and the applicant’s eligibility, adhering to the UK’s immigration laws and policies.

UKVI’s responsibilities also encompass managing the UK’s asylum service, offering protection to individuals eligible under the 1951 Geneva Convention. Additionally, the department decides on applications from employers and educational establishments aiming to join the register of sponsors, enabling them to recruit or enroll foreign nationals.

 

UKVI services

 

UKV provides a range of services to individuals, businesses, and educational institutions engaging with the UK’s immigration system. These services include:

 

• Visa Processing: UKVI handles applications for a variety of visa types, including those for tourism, business, work, and study.
• Citizenship Applications: UKVI processes applications for individuals seeking British citizenship, including naturalisation and registration.
• Asylum Services: The department manages the UK’s asylum system, assessing claims and providing protection to those eligible under international and UK asylum laws.
• Sponsorship Licensing: UKVI approves applications from UK employers and educational institutions wishing to sponsor foreign workers and students under the relevant immigration routes.
• Immigration Appeals Management: UKVI oversees the appeals process for individuals whose immigration applications have been refused, ensuring a fair review process.
• Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA): A new digital system requiring visitors from certain visa-exempt countries to obtain pre-travel authorisation before entering the UK.
• eVisas and Digital Immigration System: UKVI is phasing out physical documents such as Biometric Residence Permits (BRPs) and replacing them with eVisas—digital records of a person’s immigration status. These can be accessed through a UKVI account, allowing individuals to view and share their status online.
• Right to Work and Right to Rent Share Codes: Individuals with eVisas or digital status can generate a share code via their UKVI account to prove their right to work to an employer or their right to rent to a landlord. This replaces the need for physical visa documentation.
• Employer Checking Service (ECS): Where an individual is unable to provide a share code, employers can use the Employer Checking Service to verify an applicant’s immigration status and right to work in the UK. This service is particularly useful for those with outstanding visa applications or appeal decisions.

 

 

What is a UKVI account?

 

A UKVI account is an online account that individuals and organisations use to access UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) services. It allows users to manage visa and immigration applications, check application status, upload supporting documents, and receive updates from the Home Office.

For individuals, a UKVI account is required when applying for a visa, settlement, or British citizenship. It enables applicants to track progress, book biometric appointments, and respond to any requests for additional information. The account also provides access to the UK’s digital immigration system, where users can view and share their eVisa—a digital record of their immigration status. The Home Office is replacing physical documents, such as Biometric Residence Permits (BRPs), with eVisas, which are stored securely online.

As part of the digital system, individuals can generate a share code to prove their right to work or right to rent in the UK. This share code can be provided to employers or landlords, who can verify an individual’s status using the Home Office online checking service.

For employers and educational institutions, a UKVI account is used to manage sponsorship licences. Organisations can issue Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS) or Confirmations of Acceptance for Studies (CAS), monitor compliance with sponsorship duties, and update their licence details. Employers who need to verify an individual’s right to work but cannot obtain a share code can use the Employer Checking Service, which provides official confirmation of immigration status where necessary.

A UKVI account is essential for ensuring a smooth and efficient immigration process. Users should keep their login details secure and regularly check their account for updates or required actions related to their application, immigration status, or sponsorship responsibilities.

 

How do you create a UKVI account?

 

To create a UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account, follow these steps:

 

• Visit the Official Website: Go to the GOV.UK website and select “Start now” to begin the process.
• Provide Personal Information: Enter your full name, date of birth, email address, and mobile phone number.
• Verify Your Identity: Use your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) or a valid passport to confirm your identity.
• Set Up Security Details: Create a secure password and set up security questions to protect your account.

 

Once your account is established, you can access your eVisa through the ‘View and Prove’ service. This platform allows you to view your immigration status and understand your rights in the UK, and generate share codes to provide proof of your status to employers, landlords, or other relevant parties.

You can update personal information through your UKVI account, where you must notify UKVI about any important changes to things like your contact and travel document details. You will need to update your account details if there are changes to:

 

• your name or nationality
• your home or postal address
• your ID document, passport or travel document
• your account sign in details (email address and phone number)

 

It is important to keep your details up-to-date so that you can continue to access your immigration status online and to ensure that your passport is linked to this account, in this way minimising the possibility of any delays when you travel in and out of the UK. If you have an UKVI account, your information will be digitally checked on your return.

 

How to check your UKVI immigration status

 

If you have been told that you can view your UK immigration status online, you can use the ‘View and Prove’ service at GOV. UK to do any of the following:

 

• generate an online share code to prove your status to third parties
• update personal and travel document details
• check what rights you have in the UK, such as the right to work or rent.

 

If you need help accessing or using your UKVI account, including accessing and proving your online immigration status and conditions of stay, you should contact the UKVI Resolution Centre which provides telephone and email support to all account-holders. This support includes helping you access or recover your account, helping you update your relevant details, and sharing your status on your behalf, if unable to do so yourself.

 

UKVI processing times

 

In making decisions on the different applications within its remit, UKVI should do so within certain customer service standards. As such, if you apply to come to or remain in the UK and your application is considered by UKVI to be straightforward (typically where a decision can be made without asking for more information) it will be decided within these standards. Service standard processing times will start to run when you make an application, prove your identity and provide your supporting documentation.

You can find out how long it should take UKVI to process applications inside or outside the UK in line with customer service standards at GOV.UK. These are divided into various categories, including family, students, settlement, visitors and transit, and work.

UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) aims to process applications within specific service standards. Processing times commence once you have submitted your application, verified your identity, and provided all necessary supporting documents. The duration varies depending on the type of application and whether it is submitted from inside or outside the UK.

 

UK Visa Type	Processing Time (Outside the UK)	Processing Time (Inside the UK)
Visit Visas	Up to 3 weeks	Up to 8 weeks
Study Visas	Up to 3 weeks	Up to 8 weeks
Work Visas	Up to 3 weeks	Up to 8 weeks
Family Visas	Up to 12 weeks	Up to 8 weeks

 

You can view our guide to UK visa processing times here.

For example, a student or worker can expect to wait up to 3 weeks when applying from outside the UK or up to 8 weeks when applying from inside the UK.

These processing times are subject to change based on application volumes and other factors such as priority processing of certain types of applications.

If UKVI anticipates a delay beyond the standard processing time due to complexities or additional information requirements, they will inform you accordingly. Applicants have the option to use priority or super priority services for faster decisions, subject to eligibility and additional fees.

If UKVI cannot make a decision within the service standards because there is a problem with your application, for example, if it is incomplete or complex, they will write to explain to you why it will not be decided within the normal standard. This letter will explain what will happen next. If you have applied for the priority or super priority service, UKVI will contact you within the service standard if there is a problem with your application.

 

Can you pay for UKVI to make a faster decision?

 

You may be able to pay for a faster decision on a visa or settlement decision, depending on your category of visa and where you are applying from, where you will be told if this is the case when you apply. You may be able to pay for either the priority or super priority service.

Using the priority service means that you will usually get a decision within 5 working days (or soon after), while using the super priority service means you will usually get a decision by the end of the next working day (or soon after). The cost of the priority service is an extra £500, in addition to the normal application fee, and an extra £1,000 for the super priority service. If it takes longer to get a decision on your application, for example, if UKVI needs to ask you for more information, you will not usually get your money back.

 

Can you minimise any risks of delay with UKVI?

 

UKVI’s customer charter sets out the service that it aims to provide its customers and what it expects from them. In line with this charter, and to help ensure that your application is considered within the service standards, you therefore need to make sure that:

 

• you make an application before your visa expires, if you currently have one
• your application is completed accurately and fully, including any required photos
• you provide your biometric information, as requested, either in person at an overseas visa application centre (VAC), a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) service point, or using the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check app’
• you upload or submit at your VAC or UKVCAS appointment the appropriate documentation required in support of your application
• you respond to any requests made by UKVI for further information by the dates asked
• if your application is made on paper, ensure that you use the correct form, and sign and date this form, including the required documents and your application fee.

 

It is also worth seeking expert advice from an immigration specialist to help ensure that you are eligible for the visa sought before applying, as well as to ensure your application is correctly completed and you have gathered all the necessary documentation in support.

 

How to contact UKVI

 

You can contact UKVI from either inside or outside the UK in relation to a number of matters and in various different ways. There is a dedicated webpage at GOV.UK by searching ’Contact UK Visas and Immigration for help’, where this will let you know the way in which you can contact UKVI, depending on your circumstances, including your location and the nature of your inquiry.

 

• Online Enquiries: For general questions or assistance, you can submit an online enquiry through the UKVI contact form.
• Email Support: If you prefer to communicate via email, you can reach out to the UKVI help team at public.enquiries@homeoffice.gov.uk.
• Telephone Support: UKVI offers phone support for applicants both inside and outside the UK. Contact numbers and operating hours are provided on the UKVI contact page.

 

It’s important to note that UKVI contact centre staff are unable to provide advice on personal circumstances, such as determining which visa you should apply for, assessing the likelihood of your application’s success or providing updates on the status of your application.

For assistance with online applications or setting up access to an eVisa, support is available through the Assisted Digital Support Service.

If you need to report an immigration crime, you can contact the Immigration Enforcement hotline at 0300 123 7000.

 

Is UKVCAS different to UKVI?

 

UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) is a service operated by a commercial partner on behalf of UKVI to facilitate the application process for individuals applying from within the UK. As of October 2024, TLScontact has taken over the operation of UKVCAS from the previous partner, Sopra Steria.

Key functions of UKVCAS include biometric information enrolment – applicants are required to provide biometric information, including fingerprints and photographs, at a UKVCAS centre – and document submission, which can be uploaded online through the UKVCAS portal or scanned during the service centre appointment at a service point.

After completing your application on the official GOV.UK website, you will be directed to the UKVCAS system to schedule an appointment. It’s important to note that appointments are mandatory and must be booked in advance; walk-ins are not permitted. Standard appointments are free, but there are options for chargeable services, such as out-of-hours slots, next-day or same-day appointments, and additional services like document checking and translation.

In certain cases, applicants may be eligible to use the UK Immigration: ID Check app to verify their identity and reuse previously submitted biometric information. If this applies to you, you will be informed during the application process, and attending a UKVCAS appointment may not be necessary.

After attending your UKVCAS appointment or completing the ID verification process, your application and supporting documents are forwarded to UKVI for assessment. The processing time for a decision varies depending on the type of application and whether you have opted for any priority services. It’s important to understand that UKVCAS facilitates the application process but does not influence the decision-making, which is solely undertaken by UKVI.

 

Need assistance?

 

DavidsonMorris are UK immigration specialists. For advice on a UK visa, settlement or citizenship application, contact us.

 

UKVI FAQs

 

What is UKVI?

UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) is a division of the Home Office responsible for processing visa, settlement, asylum, and citizenship applications. It also oversees employer and educational sponsorship schemes and ensures compliance with UK immigration laws.

 

Who uses UKVI services?

UKVI services are used by individuals applying for visas, settlement, or British citizenship, as well as by businesses and universities sponsoring foreign workers and students. Employers and landlords also use UKVI’s online services to verify immigration status.

 

What types of visas does UKVI process?

UKVI processes a range of visas, including visitor visas, work visas, student visas, family visas, and business-related immigration routes. Each category has specific eligibility criteria.

 

How can I check my visa application status?

Applicants can track their visa application status through their UKVI account on the GOV.UK website. Updates may also be sent via email or text, depending on the type of application.

 

What is an eVisa?

An eVisa is a digital record of immigration status that replaces physical documents such as Biometric Residence Permits (BRPs). Individuals can access and share their status through the UKVI online system.

 

How can employers verify an employee’s right to work?

Employers can check an individual’s right to work using the Home Office online service by entering a share code provided by the employee. If a share code is unavailable, they may use the Employer Checking Service for verification.

 

What should I do if my visa application is refused?

A refusal letter will explain the reason for the decision. Some visa types allow for an appeal or an administrative review, while others may require a new application with additional supporting evidence.

 

How do I apply for British citizenship through UKVI?

Individuals can apply for British citizenship via UKVI if they meet eligibility criteria, such as residency requirements and passing the Life in the UK Test. Applications are submitted online, and successful applicants must attend a citizenship ceremony.

 

What is the UKVI sponsorship system?

Employers and educational institutions must apply for a Sponsor Licence to recruit foreign workers or students. UKVI regulates and monitors compliance to prevent misuse of the immigration system.

 

Glossary

 

 

Term	Definition
UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI)	A division of the Home Office responsible for processing visa, settlement, citizenship, and asylum applications, as well as managing sponsorship for businesses and educational institutions.
Visa	Official permission allowing a foreign national to enter, stay, work, study, or live in the UK for a specific period.
Settlement (Indefinite Leave to Remain – ILR)	Immigration status allowing a person to live in the UK without time restrictions, usually granted after a qualifying period of residence.
eVisa	A digital immigration status that replaces physical documents such as Biometric Residence Permits (BRPs), accessed through a UKVI online account.
Biometric Residence Permit (BRP)	A physical card previously issued to visa holders as proof of their right to live, work, or study in the UK, now being phased out in favour of eVisas.
Sponsor Licence	A licence required by UK employers and educational institutions to legally recruit and sponsor foreign workers or students under UK immigration rules.
Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS)	A digital reference number issued by an employer or sponsor, required by a foreign worker when applying for a work visa.
Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS)	A reference number issued by a UK educational institution confirming an offer of study, required for student visa applications.
Right to Work Check	A legal requirement for UK employers to verify that employees have permission to work in the UK, often done using a share code or the Employer Checking Service.
Right to Rent Check	A legal requirement for landlords to verify that tenants have the right to rent property in the UK, often done using a share code.
Share Code	A digital code generated through the UKVI online system, used by individuals to prove their right to work or rent in the UK.
Employer Checking Service (ECS)	A service provided by UKVI that allows employers to verify an individual’s right to work when a share code is unavailable.
Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA)	A new system requiring visitors from certain visa-exempt countries to obtain digital authorisation before travelling to the UK.
Life in the UK Test	A mandatory test for individuals applying for British citizenship or settlement, covering UK history, traditions, and laws.
Administrative Review	A process that allows applicants to request a review of a visa refusal if they believe an error was made in the decision.
Appeal	A legal process allowing an applicant to challenge a visa refusal decision in certain cases, such as asylum or human rights-based applications.