How to apply for a visa to come to the UK
Prove your identity
When you apply, you’ll need to prove your identity and provide documents to show your eligibility.
How you do this depends on where you’re from and what type of passport you have.
You’ll either:
- go to an appointment at a visa application centre
- use the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ smartphone app
You’ll find out if you need to go to an appointment or use the smartphone app when you start your application.
If you need to go to an appointment at a visa application centre
Visa application centres are run by external companies. You’ll get a link to their website where you can book an appointment to provide your biometric information (your fingerprints and photograph).
Booking your appointment
You may have to travel to get to your nearest visa application centre (this could be in another country).
If you do not prove your identity within 240 days of submitting your application online, you will need to start a new application.
You can choose to use a standard service or to pay extra for optional services. Paying for optional services does not mean your application is more likely to be successful.
Children under 16
Children under 16 must go to the appointment with an adult who is over 18.
Children under 5 must attend the appointment to have a photograph taken. They do not need to give their fingerprints.
Standard services
Most visa application centres offer free appointments.
In some locations you’ll need to pay £76.50 for a standard appointment. You can choose to travel to a different visa application centre with free appointments, but you’ll need to pay your own travel costs.
You may be able to either:
- upload your evidence before your appointment
- bring your evidence to your appointment and have it scanned there for a fee
The document checklist in your application will explain what to provide.
Visa application centres will usually keep your passport while they process your application. They may also keep your documents too.
Extra optional services
You can choose to pay for an appointment, for example if you want to book it for a specific date and time.
You may also be able to choose to pay for other extra services, such as:
- getting your documents scanned instead of doing this yourself
- keeping your passport while your application is processed
Paying for optional services does not mean your application is more likely to be successful.
If you applied for someone else
The applicant will need to attend the appointment at the visa application centre to provide their biometric information and documents.
They’ll also need to sign a copy of their application form, to confirm that the information is correct.
If you need to use the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ smartphone app
You’ll be asked to use the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app to scan your identity document and submit a digital photo of your face.
You will need to scan and upload documents that show your eligibility as part of your online application. The document checklist in your application will explain what to provide.
If you applied for someone else
The applicant will need to prove their identity using the app.