How long does a UK work visa take?

GOV.UK’s published processing time for work visas is 3 weeks if you apply from outside the UK. Inside the UK, it is 8 weeks for most visas and 3 weeks for Health and Care Worker. Priority costs £500 extra and usually gives a decision within 5 working days. Super priority costs £1,000 extra and gives a decision by the end of the next working day.

How long does a UK work visa take?

GOV.UK has two processing time pages. One is for applications outside the UK. The other is for applications inside the UK. Both show an update date of 9 September 2026. GOV.UK says the times are based on how many applications there are now. They are measured against customer service standards.

Visa	Outside the UK	Inside the UK
Skilled Worker	3 weeks	8 weeks
Health and Care Worker	3 weeks	3 weeks
Scale-up Worker	3 weeks	8 weeks
Global Talent	3 weeks	8 weeks
Graduate	Not listed	8 weeks
High Potential Individual	3 weeks	8 weeks
Youth Mobility Scheme	3 weeks	Not listed
India Young Professionals Scheme	3 weeks	Not listed
UK Ancestry	3 weeks	8 weeks
Innovator Founder	3 weeks	8 weeks
Start-up	3 weeks	3 weeks
Senior or Specialist Worker	3 weeks	8 weeks
Graduate Trainee	3 weeks	Not listed
Secondment Worker	3 weeks	8 weeks
Service Supplier	3 weeks	8 weeks
UK Expansion Worker	3 weeks	8 weeks
Representative of an Overseas Business	3 weeks	8 weeks
Overseas Domestic Worker	3 weeks	8 weeks
Government Authorised Exchange	3 weeks	8 weeks
Charity Worker	3 weeks	8 weeks
Creative Worker	3 weeks	8 weeks
International Agreement	3 weeks	8 weeks
Religious Worker	3 weeks	8 weeks
Seasonal Worker	3 weeks	Not listed
International Sportsperson	3 weeks	8 weeks
Minister of Religion	3 weeks	8 weeks

“Not listed” means GOV.UK has no entry for that visa on that page. The inside-the-UK page also lists Entrepreneur and Investor at 8 weeks. It lists Turkish Worker and Turkish Businessperson at 6 months.

The times use the UK working week (Monday to Friday). They include UK public holidays. They do not include public holidays in other countries.

When does the processing time start?

For applications from outside the UK, UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) starts processing when you do one of these:

• verify your identity and send your documents and application online with the UK Immigration: ID Check app, if you are told you can use it
• go to your appointment at a visa application centre to give your fingerprints and a photo

For applications from inside the UK, the appointment is at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Service (UKVCAS) centre or a Service and Support Centre. You can stay in the UK until you have a decision, as long as you applied before your last visa expired.

What can make a decision take longer?

GOV.UK says your application may take longer if, for example:

• the information in your application is not accurate or needs more thought
• you need to give more evidence, for example evidence of funds
• your supporting documents need to be checked
• you need to go to an interview
• UKVI needs more information about your personal circumstances, for example a criminal conviction
• UKVI has more visa applications than usual
• there is an unexpected technical outage affecting visa systems

If your application will take longer, GOV.UK says UKVI will contact you within the current processing times. UKVI will not pay back travel costs or other expenses if your application is refused or takes longer than expected.

Can I pay for a faster decision?

GOV.UK describes two paid options for visa applications:

Option	Extra cost	Usual decision time
Priority service	£500, on top of the application fee	Within 5 working days for most visa applications
Super priority service	£1,000, on top of the application fee	By the end of the next working day

For each family member who applies with you, you pay an extra £500 or £1,000. Everyone gets a decision at the same time.

The time starts:

• from your appointment, if you prove your identity in person
• from the working day after you finish uploading your documents, if you use the ID Check app

If your appointment or upload is on a weekend or bank holiday, the super priority decision usually takes 2 working days.

Whether you can pay for a faster decision depends on the visa and how you prove your identity. For applications from outside the UK, you are told when you apply if a priority service is available. For applications from inside the UK, GOV.UK has a table. The columns show your ID method (UKVCAS appointment or ID app) and the decision time:

Visa (inside the UK)	UKVCAS: 5 working days	UKVCAS: next working day	ID app: 5 working days	ID app: next working day
Skilled Worker	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Health and Care Worker	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Scale-up Worker	No	No	Yes	Yes
Global Talent	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Graduate	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
High Potential Individual	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Youth Mobility Scheme	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Innovator Founder	Yes	Yes	No	Yes

GOV.UK lists “Yes” in all four columns for these visas:

• the Global Business Mobility visas (Graduate Trainee, Secondment Worker, Senior or Specialist Worker, Service Supplier, UK Expansion Worker)
• Charity Worker, Creative Worker, Government Authorised Exchange, International Agreement and Religious Worker

GOV.UK also says there is a limit on how many people can apply for a faster decision. If you are not offered the option, you can still complete a standard application.

Can I check the time for my own application?

Yes. GOV.UK has an online service, Check your visa processing time. It is for people who applied to study, work, visit, marry, have medical treatment or transit. You need the date you verified your identity. You can estimate it if you are not sure.

For what each visa needs before you apply, see How to get a UK work visa. For the cost of a faster decision alongside the other fees, see UK work visa cost.