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Guidance: Coronavirus (COVID-19): advice for UK visa applicants and temporary UK residents

Home Office

August 1
10:35 2023

If youre in the UK

There are no current COVID-19 visa application concessions for customers in the UK. Youll need to follow the normal visa rules for your chosen visa.

If you need more information about the measures in place for students and their sponsors you can read detailed guidance on the temporary measures in place for Student sponsors, their students and short-term students in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.

If youre outside the UK

There are no current COVID-19 visa application concessions for customers outside the UK. Youll need to follow the normal visa rules for your chosen visa.

Applying for a UK visa

If youre planning to travel to the UK, youll need to make sure you comply with any COVID-19 travel restrictions. Please check the travel advice issued by your carrier and check what you need to do before entering the UK.

Separate guidance is available if youre entering Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Visa Application Centres (VACs)

UK Visa Application Centres (VACs) have resumed services where local restrictions allow.

For more information, and for updates to the status ofVACs, including opening times in your country, check with:

Published 24 March 2020
Last updated 1 August 2023 +show all updates
  1. Content has been updated to reflect the current guidance.

  2. Removed exceptional assurance concession references as this ended on 30 November 2022.

  3. Exceptional assurance provision ends 30 November 2022.

  4. Updated as the concession for Health and Care Workers has closed.

  5. The concessions for those working for the NHS expired on 4 October 2022.

  6. The Exceptional Assurance has been extended to 30 November 2022.

  7. Updated the expiry date of the exceptional assurance to 31 October 2022.

  8. Updated content in the 'If you're outside the UK' section.

  9. Added concession ending dates for if you are applying for a Health and Care Worker visa and if you are working for the NHS.

  10. Updated processing times for applications if you are outside the UK.

  11. Changes have been made to the Applying for a visa if your visa application centre (VAC) is closed section.

  12. Updated to extend the exceptional assurance date from 30 June 2022 to 30 September 2022.

  13. Changed the expiry date for exceptional assurance from 31 May 2022 to 30 June 2022.

  14. Updated to advise that applications for visit, transit, study, work and family visas are taking longer to process. This is due to UKVI prioritising Ukraine Visa Scheme applications.

  15. Changed the expiry date for a visa, leave or exceptional assurance from 30 April 2022 to 31 May 2022.

  16. Added 'Global Business Mobility: Senior or Specialist Worker' to the list of work and volunteering options.

  17. Guidance updated, including an extension, to 30 June, of the concession allowing applications to be submitted at any VAC if your VAC is closed due to coronavirus restrictions.

  18. Updated details to highlight that the date of the exceptional assurance has been extended to 30 April 2022.

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