Priority and Super Priority Visa Services

UKVI offers two paid-for faster decision services for overseas applications at Visa Application Centres:

• Priority Service — aims to give a decision within five working days of the biometric appointment. The fee is currently around £500 in addition to the standard visa fee.
• Super Priority Service — aims to give a decision on the same day (if the biometric appointment is before a specified cut-off time) or the next working day. The fee is currently around £800.

For in-country applications (made from within the UK), a Priority Service is also available for certain visa types, aiming for a decision within five working days. The cost and availability vary by application type. Super Priority is available for some in-country applications at a UKVI premium lounge, where the applicant attends in person and receives a same-day decision.

Priority and Super Priority services are not available for all visa types or in all countries. Availability depends on the visa type being applied for, the country where the application is being made, and current UKVI capacity. Before paying the additional fee, check whether the service is available for your specific application at your specific Visa Application Centre.

Common visa types for which priority services are typically available include Skilled Worker, Spouse/Partner, Student, and some other points-based routes. They are generally not available for asylum applications, naturalisation, or some settlement applications.

It is important to note that paying for a priority service does not increase the likelihood of approval — it only affects processing speed. Applications are still assessed against the same legal requirements. If additional information is requested (a Request for Further Information), this will pause the priority timeline.

Whether to use a priority service depends on your circumstances. If you have an imminent start date for a job, a school enrolment, or a travel commitment that cannot be delayed, paying for a faster decision may be worth the additional cost. If your timeline is flexible, the standard service may suffice.

Consider also whether your application is straightforward or complex. For applications involving complex personal circumstances — previous refusals, criminal records, long travel histories, or unconventional evidence — the priority service may not be appropriate, as there is a greater risk of a Request for Further Information slowing the process regardless.

Always ensure all documents are in order and the application is complete before booking a priority appointment, as a poorly prepared application will not benefit from the premium service and the fee is generally not refundable if the application is refused.

The Home Office publishes current visa processing time estimates on GOV.UK. These are updated regularly and are the primary source for understanding how long applications of a given type are currently taking. If your application significantly exceeds the published standard processing time — whether standard, priority, or super priority — there are several options available.

For in-country applications that have been significantly delayed, you can raise a complaint through the Home Office complaints process. Complaints should be submitted in writing via the official complaint form on GOV.UK. A first-stage complaint response is usually provided within 20 working days. If the complaint is unresolved, escalation to the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration (ICIBI) is not available for individual case complaints (the ICIBI inspects UKVI systems, not individual cases), but persistent or systemic delay can be raised as a matter of concern with your Member of Parliament, who can write to the Home Office on your behalf.

Where a significant delay is causing serious hardship — for example, an in-country applicant has been waiting many months for a decision and is unable to work or access services while awaiting the outcome — a Pre-Action Protocol letter for judicial review (informally known as a "PAP letter") can be sent to the Home Office setting out the grounds on which judicial review would be sought if a decision is not made within a specified period. Many such cases resolve by consent — the Home Office makes a decision — without litigation being pursued. This step should be taken with the advice of an OISC-regulated adviser or immigration solicitor, as it requires careful legal drafting. Legal aid may be available for judicial review of immigration decisions where the applicant meets means and merit criteria.

If the priority or super priority fee was paid and the service standard was substantially missed — not merely by one or two days — UKVI may agree to refund the premium service fee, but this is not guaranteed and must be specifically requested. Document the timeline of your application and any service standard failures carefully before making this request.