You can apply to get a faster decision on certain UK visa applications, applications to extend your permission to stay in the UK, and applications for ILR or settlement in the UK using UK Visa Priority and Super Priority Services. With priority service, you may get a decision within 5 working days, and it costs £500 in addition to the standard visa or ILR application fees. If you are applying for a UK family visa from outside the UK as a spouse or partner, child, parent, or an adult coming to be cared for by a relative, it will usually take up to 30 working days to get a decision with the use of priority service.

On the other hand, with a Super Priority service, you may get a decision by the end of the next working day or within 2 working days, and it costs £1,000 in addition to the standard visa or ILR application fees.

Please note that not all visas offer priority or super priority service options.

There are eligible UK visa applications for getting a faster decision, depending on whether you are applying as the lead applicant, a dependent partner, or a dependent child.

However, there is a limit on the number of people who can apply for a faster decision. If you are not given the option to apply for a faster decision, you can still complete an application using standard services.

Whether you can utilise UK Visa Priority and Super Priority Services for a faster decision depends on what you are applying for and how you prove your identity.

You will prove your identity by either:

• attending an appointment at a UKVCAS (UK Visa and Citizen Application Services) service point in the UK

• using the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ mobile app to scan and upload your identity document

You will find out if you can apply for a priority or super priority service to get a faster decision, and what you need to do when you apply.

Eligible visas when applying from inside the UK

There are certain UK visas that allows you to apply for priority service or super priority service when you apply from inside the UK. 

1. If you want to work in the UK

If you are applying based on your job or being sponsored

2. If you want to work in the UK for an overseas employer

3. If you want to do temporary work

4. If you want to start a business

5. Other work visas

6. If you want to study in the UK

7. If you want to join family in the UK

Eligible visa applications if you are applying as a dependent partner or child from inside the UK

If you are applying as a dependent partner or dependent child from inside the UK you can use UK Visa Priority and Super Priority Services on the following routes.

Eligible applications to settle in the UK

You can apply for priority or super priority services when you are applying to settle in the UK from the following immigration routes.

Other eligible visa applications

Eligible UK visas for priority or super priority services where applications are made outside the UK

The UK Visa Priority and Super Priority Services are usually available for any of the UK visa types listed below:

• All visitor visas

• Overseas Domestic Worker visa

• Health and Care Worker and dependants

• Vignette Transfer

Below visa categories are currently available through eVisa routes.

• Short-term student visa

• Student, Child Student and Dependants visa

• Global Business Mobility and Dependants visa

• Temporary Work and Dependants visa

• Youth Mobility Scheme visa

• International Sportsperson and Dependants visa

• Global Talent and Dependants visa

• Skilled Worker and Dependants visa

• UK Ancestry and Dependants visa

• Scale Up Worker and Dependants visa

• Minister of Religion and Dependants visa

• High Potential Individual and Dependants visa

• Innovator and Dependants visa

• Start-up and Dependants visa

• Hong Kong British National Overseas visa

• Returning Resident application

Please note that the availability of priority or super priority services for visa applications made from outside the UK varies between different countries/territories and visa processing centres.  So, you should check the services listed on your local VFS Global or TLS Visa Contact Centre.

How can Visa and Migration help?

Our experienced immigration specialists are dedicated to providing you with a fast-tracked or expedited visa service, ensuring a quicker decision on your UK visa application through the UK Visa Priority and Super Priority Services. This lets you avoid the long waiting processing times—sometimes extending to weeks, months, or even years—when you use the standard processing service.

For expert advice, you can call us at +44 (0)20 3411 1261 or write to info@visaandmigration.com