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Updated February 2023

The United Kingdom is a land of endless beauty and opportunities. From the rolling hills of the countryside to the bustling streets of London, it’s no wonder why so many people choose to extend their UK visa. With a strong economy, a high standard of living and a diverse population, the UK is a perfect place to call home, even if just for a little while longer.

The UK visa renewal and extension process is simple and straightforward and can easily be completed online for different types of visas. Here is the complete guide on extending your visa in the UK, the entire renewal process, application and fee details.

UK visa extension

The renewal of visas issued by the UK is done by extending the validity of the visa. This process differs for different types of visas and entry permits.

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Standard visitor visa extension

Eligibility

You may be able to extend your standard visitor visa if you have permission to be in the UK for less than 6 months. You can extend your stay up to a total of 6 months.

You can only apply to stay in the UK for longer than 6 months if you’re:

a patient receiving medical treatment
an academic and you still meet the eligibility requirements
a graduate retaking the Professional and Linguistic Assessment Board (PLAB) test or doing a clinical attachment

You must apply to extend your stay and pay the GBP 1,000 fee regardless of your nationality.

You need to apply while you’re still in the UK and before your current visa or permission expires.

Extension fees

It costs:

GBP 1,000 to extend your stay as a Standard Visitor
an extra GBP 800 if you use the super priority service

You’ll also need to have your biometric information (fingerprints and a photo) taken – there’s no fee for this.

Documents required

When you apply, you’ll be asked to make an appointment at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) service point to provide your biometric information (your fingerprints and a photo).

You’ll also need to submit the supporting documents that prove your eligibility. You can:

upload your documents to the online service
have them scanned at your UKVCAS appointment

Application process

To renew your UK standard visitor visa:

visit the UK’s official visa and immigration website
Enter details such as your country of origin, and submit all necessary documents proving your eligibility.
Sign the declaration form.
Pay the fees.

You can get help with completing the online form if you:

do not feel confident using a computer or mobile device
do not have internet access

Processing time

If you use the standard service, a decision will usually be made within 8 weeks of providing your supporting documents and proving your identity.

If you use the super priority service a decision will be made:

by the end of the next working day after your UKVCAS appointment if your appointment is on a weekday
2 working days after your UKVCAS appointment if your appointment is at the weekend

Once you’ve got your decision letter, your biometric residence permit will take up to 10 working days to arrive.

You’ll be contacted if your application is complex and will take longer, for example:

if your supporting documents need to be verified
if you need to attend an interview
because of your personal circumstances (for example if you have a criminal conviction)

Once you’ve applied you can stay in the UK until you’ve been given a decision, as long as you applied before your permission to be in the UK ended.

Family visa extension

Eligibilty

You can stay in the UK for 2 years and 9 months on this visa. If you’re applying as a fiancé, fiancée or proposed civil partner, you can stay for 6 months. If you extend your family visa you can stay in the UK for 2 years and 6 months.

you can apply to extend your stay with your family member if you’re already in the UK on a family visa
you can extend at any time before your current permission to stay in the UK expires

If you’re extending to stay with the same family member, you’ll only get up to 28 days left on your current stay added to your new visa. You must live in the UK for a certain amount of time before you’re eligible for settlement (‘indefinite leave to remain’). Before you extend your visa, check how much time you need to settle in the UK.

You might be able to apply to stay on the basis of your private life if you’ve lived in the UK for many years already.

Extension fees

How much it costs depends on how you apply.

Tyoe of applicant	Apply outside the UK	Apply in the UK
Cost if joining your partner, parent or child	GBP 1,538	GBP 1,048
Cost for each dependant added to your application	GBP 1,538 each person	GBP 1,048 each person
Cost for an adult who needs to be looked after by a relative	GBP 3,250	GBP 1,048

If you cannot pay the fee, you may be eligible for a fee waiver in certain situations – for example, if you cannot afford a place to live or your essential living costs. Fee waiver applicants must complete an online fee waiver request.

You might also need to pay the healthcare surcharge as part of your application.

For each adult (18 or older) it costs:

GBP 1,560 if you’re staying for 2 years and 6 months
GBP 1,872 if you’re staying for 2 years and 9 months
GBP 3,120 if you’re staying for 5 years

For each child (under 18), it costs:

GBP 1,175 if you’re staying for 2 years and 6 months
GBP 1,410 if you’re staying for 2 years and 9 months
GBP 2,350 if you’re staying for 5 years

Documents required

You’ll need to have information and some evidence ready when you make your application. Include information for you and any dependants applying at the same time.

You’ll need to provide:

all your names
your date of birth
your current passport or other valid travel ID
copies of the photo page and any visa or entry stamps in your previous passports
a copy of your biometric residence permit, if you have one
details of any previous immigration applications you’ve made
details of any criminal convictions
your national insurance number, if you have one
your parents’ date of birth and nationality if you’re applying from outside the UK
your tuberculosis test results if you’re from a country where you have to take the test
a certified translation of any document that is not in English or Welsh

You’ll need to have a blank page in your passport on which to put the visa if you’re applying outside the UK.

Application process

To renew your UK family visa when you are within the UK:

visit the UK’s official visa and immigration website
enter details such as your country of origin, and submit all necessary documents proving your eligibility
sign the declaration form
pay the fees

If you are applying for an extension from outside the UK, apply through this website.

You can get help with completing the online form if you:

do not feel confident using a computer or mobile device
do not have internet access

Processing time

If you apply outside the UK a decision will usually be made within 24 weeks.

If you apply in the UK a decision will usually be made within 8 weeks of your application date if you use the standard service.

If you use the super priority service a decision will usually be made:

by the end of the next working day after providing your biometric information if your appointment is on a weekday
2 working days after providing your biometric information if your appointment is at the weekend

It might take longer if your application is complex, for example, you:

do not meet the minimum income requirement
cannot prove your knowledge of English
need to attend an interview
have not provided all the evidence that the Home Office needs
have a criminal conviction or another personal circumstance that needs to be reviewed

Skilled worker visa extension

Eligibility

You can usually apply to extend a skilled worker visa or a Tier 2 (General) work visa if all of the following are true:

you have the same job as when you were given your previous permission to enter or stay in the UK
your job is in the same occupation code as when you were given your previous permission to enter or stay in the UK
you’re still working for the employer who gave you your current certificate of sponsorship

Your partner or children will need to apply separately to extend their visa. They can either apply at the same time as you, or at any time before their current visa expires.

Extension fees

When you renew a skilled worker visa, you’ll need to have enough money to:

pay the application fee – the standard fee ranges from GBP 625 to GBP 1,423 depending on your circumstances
pay the healthcare surcharge – this is usually GBP 624 per year
support yourself when you arrive in the UK – you’ll usually need to have at least GBP 1,270 available (unless you’re exempt)

You’ll pay a lower application fee if your job is on the shortage occupation list.

You’ll be told how much you need to pay when you apply.

Documents required

As part of your application, you’ll need to prove your identity. How you do this depends on where you’re from and the type of passport or residence permit you have.

You’ll either:

use the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app to scan your identity document – you’ll also create or sign in to your UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account
give your fingerprints and a photograph (biometric information) at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) service point – this is to get a biometric residence permit

You’ll be told what you need to do when you apply.

Application process

To re-apply for the skilled worker visa, you will first need to create a UK visa and immigration account. To create an account, you will need your:

date of birth
passport
email address
phone number

Once you have an account, you can use it to confirm your identity, apply and use other Home Office services.

Processing time

You’ll usually get a decision within 8 weeks of your application date.

You’ll be contacted if your application takes longer, for example, because:

your supporting documents need to be verified
you need to attend an interview
of your personal circumstances, for example, if you have a criminal conviction

UK visa extension priority service

Priority service

If you’re eligible you can choose the ‘priority service’ when you apply. You’ll need to pay GBP 500 in addition to the application fee.

You’ll get a decision within 5 working days. The time starts from either:

the day of your appointment, if you prove your identity at a UK Visa and Citizen Application Services (UKVCAS) appointment centre
the working day after you finished uploading your documents, if you use the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app

You’ll be told whether you can prove your identity at a UKVCAS centre or using the app when you apply.

Super priority service

If you’re eligible you can choose the ‘super priority service’ when you apply. You’ll need to pay GBP800 in addition to the application fee.

You’ll 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

UK visa extension status check

At present, it is not possible to monitor the progress of your specific visa application online. However, you have access to an online resource on the official visa and immigration website of the UK that will provide you with the relevant contact details of the department handling your specific visa application.

Alternatively, you can contact the UK Visas and Immigration contact centre by phone at: