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- How to apply?
There are 9 steps to complete the visa application process.
Step 1 - Check if you need a visa
Use the 'Do
I need a visa' questionnaire on the UK Border Agency website
to see if you need a visa. If you need a visa you should follow
the steps outlined below. UK visa applicants are reminded not
to make their travel arrangements until they have their visa.
Important note: If you have had any previous immigration
problems you are advised to apply for a visa to enter the UK.
Step 2 - Read the information on your visa
category
Before you decide to apply for a particular visa please make
sure you familiarize yourself with the information
on the category you are applying for and the Immigration
Rules.
Step 3 - Complete your visa application
form
You should submit 1 visa application for each individual applying
for a visa, including children.
You can complete your visa application using the online
application facility on the UK Border Agency website. You
will be given step-by-step guidance on how to complete your
visa application. You will need a valid email address. This
is for security reasons and will enable us to contact you about
your online application. We are unable to accept on-line payments
in Singapore.
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Online visa application form |
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Please ensure that you select the correct visa
application for the purpose of your visit
Ensure that you complete all the sections correctly.
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Sections 1 and 2 are vital to considering your
application. The information in this section must
be completed accurately.
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Please print all the pages of the visa application
form and bring it to the visa application centre.
You should print your completed visa application
form on good quality paper and ensure that the information
does extend beyond the margins on the paper.
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Please make sure the bar code appears on the final
page of your printed visa application form and remember
to sign it.
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After you have saved and submitted your online
application, you will receive an email with a unique
application ID number that starts with GWF. Keep
your ID number for future reference.
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If you are unable to apply online you will need to complete
a paper visa
application form. You can download the visa application
form from the UK Border Agency website. Please ensure that you
select the correct visa application for the purpose of your
visit, ensuring you complete all the sections correctly. Sections
1 and 2 are vital to considering your application. The information
in this section must be completed accurately. You should
print your completed visa application form on good quality paper
and ensure that the information does extend beyond the margins
on the paper.
Important note: Tier 4 applications and their
dependants should complete an online application. Visas for
UK overseas territories and Commonwealth countries cannot
be completed online.
Step 4 - Schedule an appointment
We strongly recommend you make a prior appointment to attend
the visa application centre. You can book your appointment online
by using the "schedule
an appointment" link on this website and follow the
instructions. You will be guided through the appointment booking
process. You will particularly value the appointment facility
during the peak season when there may be long queues.
If you are unable to book any available dates it means that
all the places have been booked. In this case you can still
walk in to the visa application centre and submit your application.
Important: If you are part of a family or group, each
member of the family or group must make an individual appointment.
For example, if you are a family of 4 with 2 adults and 2 children,
you must make 4 individual appointments. Children over
5 years of age and adults should make an appointment. Children
under 5 years of age will need to submit a visa application
to enter the UK but they will not have to attend the visa application
centre.
All visa applicants (with the exception of right of abode applications/certificate
of entitlement, overseas territories and children under 5 years)
must apply in person at the visa application
centre to submit your biometric
data. For more information on exemptions
please visit the UK
Border Agency website.
Step 5 - Prepare your documents
You must provide original documents with a photocopy
for each original document you are submitting. Failure to submit
original documents may mean your application is delayed or refused.
Your original documents might not be returned to you if you
do not provide photocopies of the originals. If your supporting
documents are not in English, you must provide an English translation.
Any translated documents need to be submitted with the original
document for verification.
Document checklists
Please visit the 'Document Checklist'
page on this website for information on the type of documents
you should submit with your visa appliction. The checklists
are a guide to applicants; they are not intended to be a complete
list of required documents.
Photograph
Provide 1 recent photograph (not more than 6 months old). The
photograph should be in colour and:
- Taken against a light grey or cream background;
- Clear and of good quality;
- Printed on normal photographic paper;
- 45 mm high x 35 mm wide in size
- Taken with nothing covering the face, without sunglasses
or tinted spectacles, or a head covering unless worn for religious
or medical reasons. The subject should have their mouth closed
(no grinning, frowning or raised eyebrows) and the applicant
should be facing forwarding, looking straight ahead.
More information on photograph
requirements can be found on the UK
Border Agency website.
Important information for visa applicants and sponsors:
If your sponsor already has a visa and is established in the
UK (in addition to the above) you will need to show evidence
of their current status there. You should provide a certified
copy of their passport showing all the pages.
Step 6 - Pay your visa application fee
Please see the 'visa application fee'
page on this website for information about how to pay your visa
application fee.
Step 7 - Visit the visa application centre
The visa application centre contact
details can be found on the 'contact
us' page of this website. You must apply in person to submit
your biometric data (digital photograph and fingerscan).
You should remember to bring the following documents:-
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Your current passport or your refugee travel document; which
corresponds to the information given on your visa application
form and contains at least 1 blank page (both sides) for the
visa to be inserted |
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your visa application fee or proof of payment |
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A current photograph |
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Completed, signed visa application form |
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Your supporting documents |
Important note: You will not be able to submit further
documents after you have submitted your application at the visa
application. The documents you submit at the time you made your
application are the only documents that can be considered.
Biometric data collection
Biometric
data collection includes a digital fingerscan (all 10 digits)
and a digital photograph. The fingerscan procedure uses an electronic
scanner. No ink, liquid or chemical. You should ensure that your
fingertips are free from any forms of decoration (for example,
henna), cuts, abrasions or other markings as these may affect
your ability to provide acceptable fingerscans. Your digital photograph
must be taken with full face and without sunglasses or tinted
spectacles, or head covering unless it is worn for religious or
medical reasons. Your face should be clearly visible with no hair
across the eyes. Female applicants will be required to take off
their veil for biometric photo capture. A hijab will be allowed
as long as full frontal view of the face is visible. VFS will
ensure a female employee is present to capture the biometric data
and will provide privacy in the booth. We cannot process your
visa if you do not submit your biometric data.
VFS will then be responsible for safe forwarding of the applications
they process to the UK Border Agency at the High Commission, for
consideration. The UK Border Agency at the High Commission will
return passports and supporting documents to VFS after a decision
has been made, for delivery back to applicants.
Step 8 -Wait for a decision
Wait for a decision on your visa application. Please refer to
the 'guide to processing times'
page on this website for information on our processing times.
You can use this information as a guide to our recent performance
but it cannot be used as a guarantee of your individual visa application
processing time. Visa applications are assessed individually and
processing times may vary.
The status of your application can also be monitored by using
the 'track
your application' facility on this website.
Interview procedures
Exceptionally, you may be asked to attend an interview. Visa staff
reserve the right to make a decision based on the documents you
submitted with your visa application. It is essential that you
submit all relevant documents with the initial application.
Should an interview be required then you will be offered the first
available interview date. Depending on workload, there may be
a waiting period before the interview so bear please bear this
in mind. Interview will be carried out in English but, if told
in advance, the UK Border Agency may be able to provide interpreters
in Malay, Mandarin and Tamil. If you need an interpreter, please
say so when you are contacted.
Children under 10 years old, applying for a visa will not be interviewed.
Where the child is travelling alone an interview may be carried
out with a responsible adult (for example a parent or guardian).
Children aged between 10 and 14 may be interviewed, but this would
only be in the presence of a responsible adult. Children aged
over 14 may be interviewed alone.
Step 9 -Collect the decision on your visa
application
Collect the decision on your visa application along with your
original documents from the visa application centre. You will
need the original visa submission receipt to collect your documents.
A nominated person can also collect your documents on your behalf.
Your nominated person will need to provide an authorised letter
signed by you and proper proof of their identity. If you prefer
you can have your documents returned to you by courier
service.
If you are issued a visa, please check it. You should make sure
that:
- your personal details are correct
- it correctly states the purpose for which you want to come
to the UK, and
- it is valid for the date on which you want to travel. (You
can ask for it to be post-dated for up to 3 months if you do
not plan to travel immediately).
If you think there is anything wrong with your visa, please contact
the visa application centre immediately.
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