Apply for a UK visa in Australia

Visa service closures in December 2016 and January 2017

UK Visas and Immigration will offer a reduced service from 23 December 2016 to 2 January 2017.

You should allow additional time for the processing of your visa application during this period. All offices will be open as normal from 3 January 2017.

Some visa application centres may remain open during this period, however the Canberra and Manila priority processing offices will be closed from 24 to 28 December 2016 and on 2 January 2017. No 5 working day priority service applications will be processed during these periods.

Australia Post often experiences delays during December, so you should apply for your visa as early as possible.

Priority visa service

If you submit your application and use the 5 working day priority service (non-settlement cases) after 14 December 2016, you may not receive your decision until we re-open after the holiday period.

We do not guarantee a 5 working day turnaround, however we do aim to process most priority applications within that time.

If you submit your application and use the 10 working day priority service (settlement applications only) after 7 December 2016, you may not receive your decision until we re-open after the holiday period.

Standard service

If you apply using the standard service after 30 November 2016, you should not expect to receive your passport back until after 3 January 2017.

Standard service applications will still be processed in 15 working days.

Apply for a Certificate of Entitlement to the Right of Abode

If you are applying for new Certificate of Entitlement to the Right of Abode or replacing an expired one, you need to follow the same guidance. Guidance can be found in the prove you have right of abode in the UK section. You will need to make an online application using the Visa website and attend an appointment at one of our visa application centres or biometric enrolment centre in Adelaide.

Apply for a visa for some Commonweath countries or a British overseas territory

We also accept applications from some Commonwealth Countries and British overseas territories. See more guidance in the Commonwealth Countries and British overseas territories section.

Biometric residence permits

From 31 May 2015, biometric residence permits (BRPs) for non-EEA nationals travelling to the UK for more than 6 months will begin to be issued to visa applicants in Australia.

The changes will affect those applying for youth mobility scheme and ancestry visas, students and workers applying for a longer stay visa as well as those applying to join family in the UK. If you are applying to go on holiday or on a short business or study trip, you will not need a BRP.

There is no additional fee and the visa application fee remains the same.

Applying for a UK visa after 31 May 2015

If you apply from the 31 May 2015, you will receive a 30 day sticker in your passport instead of a ‘vignette’ with the full grant of leave.You must provide an accurate UK postcode as part of your application, as you will be designated a specific Post Office branch on the basis of the information provided in the application form. You will receive a letter with your passport and visa which provides these details. BRP’s must be collected from a post office within 10 days of arriving in the UK. The BRP card can then be used as proof of the right to work, study and access public services in the UK.

If you want to go to the UK for more than 6 months, you will be asked for additional information when you complete your online visa application, which will include the postcode of your new address in the UK.

Travelling to the UK

You must provide an accurate travel date as part of your application, as you will be designated a 30 day travel window on the basis of the information provided in the application form. Please make sure you know the date you will travel to the UK before you apply.

Your temporary visa will only be valid for 30 days once you receive it and you will need to travel within this period. If you receive your temporary sticker, and can’t travel during the 30 day window, you will need to apply for a new replacement to apply for a transfer of visa.

Further information on biometric residence permits for overseas visa applicants is available on GOV.UK.

ICS Legal listed law firm with the UK Home Office

ICS Legal can provide advice and help on your visa application. Email us your query to info@icslegal.com or call us on 0207 237 3388.