How long does a Skilled Worker visa decision take?

How long does a Skilled Worker visa decision take?

You may be able to pay to get a faster decision - you’ll be told if you can when you apply.

The Health and Care Worker visa has its own GOV.UK pages; see our Health and Care Worker visa page in the related links.

When does UKVI start the clock, and do weekends count?

In short: processing starts once you have either used the ID Check app to verify your identity and send your documents and application, or been to your appointment to give fingerprints and a photo.

You may need to allow extra time if you need an appointment to do this. You’ll find out if you need one when you start your application.

Processing times are based on the UK working week (Monday to Friday) and include public holidays in the UK. They do not include public holidays in other countries.

In short: Saturdays and Sundays are not counted. A UK public holiday is counted as part of the time; a public holiday in another country is not.

Can you pay for a faster decision? Priority and super priority

If you’re eligible you can choose the priority service when you apply. You’ll need to pay £500 in addition to the application fee. Using the priority service means you’ll usually get a decision within 5 working days for most visa applications.

The time starts from either: the day of your appointment, if you prove your identity in person the working day after you finished uploading your documents, if you use the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app

If you’re eligible you can choose the super priority service when you apply. You’ll need to pay £1,000 in addition to the application fee. Using the super priority service for visa and settlement applications means you’ll usually get a decision by the end of the next working day.

If you prove your identity in person You’ll usually get a decision: by the end of the next working day after your appointment, if your appointment is on a weekday 2 working days after your appointment, if your appointment is at the weekend or on a bank holiday

If you prove your identity using the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app You’ll usually get a decision: by the end of the next working day if you finish uploading your documents on a weekday 2 working days after you finish uploading your documents if you upload them on a weekend or a bank holiday

In short: for those who are eligible, priority costs £500 on top of the application fee and usually means a decision within 5 working days for most visa applications, counted from the day of your appointment, or from the working day after you finish uploading documents in the app. Super priority costs £1,000 on top. It usually means a decision by the end of the next working day after a weekday appointment or upload, and 2 working days after one at the weekend or on a bank holiday.

You must have permission to be in the UK to use the priority or super priority service.

There’s a limit on how many people can apply for a faster decision. If you’re not offered the option to apply for a faster decision, you can still complete a standard application.

On the same GOV.UK page, the table of applications from inside the UK lists the Skilled Worker visa as eligible for both priority and super priority, whether you prove your identity at a UKVCAS appointment or with the ID Check app. From outside the UK, see the FAQ below for GOV.UK’s line on visa application centres.

If a priority or super priority service is available for the visa you’re applying for, you’ll be able to select it during your online application.

Every family member will need to pay for a faster decision.

If the decision takes longer, you will not usually get your money back.

Why can a UKVI decision take longer than 3 or 8 weeks?

Your visa application may take longer to process if, for example:

You will be contacted within the current processing times if your application will take longer.

You do not need to contact UKVI to track your application if you’ve already made a visa application and it is still within the current processing times. We will not be able to provide information on the status of your application.

If your application has taken longer than the current processing times and you haven’t been contacted by UKVI about your visa application, you should contact UKVI

What can you do while you wait for the decision?

For any application from inside the UK, GOV.UK’s processing-times page says:

You can stay in the UK until you’ve been given a decision, as long as you applied before your last visa expired.

GOV.UK’s Switch, Extend and Update pages all say:

You must not travel outside of the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man until you get a decision. Your application will be withdrawn if you do.

If you are changing employer, that page also says:

You can continue working in your current job while your new application is being considered, or to work out your notice period - as long as you apply before your current visa expires.

You should not start your new job until you’ve got confirmation of your new permission.

Switching from a Graduate visa has its own page on our site, with the switch rules quoted (see Graduate visa to Skilled Worker in the related links). For applications from outside the UK, GOV.UK’s processing-times page says:

You should not book your travel until you get a decision on your visa application.

You must not travel to the UK before your visa application is approved.

From job offer to start date: the steps that set your timing

If you have a start date to meet, these GOV.UK limits decide when you can apply. GOV.UK gives them on separate pages; we have put them in order.

In short: GOV.UK says to apply within 3 months of getting your certificate of sponsorship, and its overview says you can apply up to 3 months before the start date listed on the certificate. When updating your visa for a new job, you can apply up to 3 months before the new job’s start date.

The certificate comes from an employer with a sponsor licence. SponsorJobs lists jobs at employers we match to the Home Office register of licensed sponsors (see Visa sponsorship jobs in the related links).

Common questions