Ask for a visa administrative review
If you're outside the UK
You’ll be told in your decision letter if you can ask for the decision on your visa application to be reviewed. This is known as an ‘administrative review’.
You can only apply for an administrative review if all of the following apply:
- you’re outside the UK
- you applied outside the UK
- your application was refused
There’s a different way to ask for an administrative review if you applied:
Apply for an administrative review
If you want an administrative review, you must apply within 28 days of getting the decision. It costs £80.
You can apply online for an administrative review.
Get a decision
Currently, it can take 12 months or more to receive the result of the administrative review. If you do not get a decision on your application within 6 months, the Home Office will contact you with an update. Your rights are not affected by the delay in processing applications.
You cannot request a second review (unless the result of the first review found new reasons why you were refused). Your decision letter will tell you if you can apply for a second review.
Withdraw your request
Your request for an administrative review will be withdrawn (cancelled) if you make any other immigration or visa application.
Your request will be rejected if you ask for a review of a previous decision after submitting a new application.
You can email the Home Office and ask for your request to be withdrawn. Your application fee will not be refunded.
Home Office
administrative.reviews@homeoffice.gov.uk
You must include your name, date of birth, nationality and your Global Web Form (GWF) reference number.
Your GWF reference number was given to you when you first applied. You can find it on emails and letters from the Home Office about your application.