How to apply for a visa

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Apply online before you travel 

You can apply and pay for most visas online. You must get your visa approved before you travel to Scotland. 

If you have family members who want to come to Scotland with you, they must fill out their own application forms. Each person needs a separate application.  

You can apply for your child if you have parental responsibility for them. You can apply for a family member if you have their permission. 

Find out how to apply for a visa (gov.uk)

When to apply

The earliest you can apply is normally: 

• Three months before your planned travel date for Visitor visas 
• Three months before your work start date for most Work visas 
• Six months before your course start date for Student visas  

Find out when to apply for a visa (gov.uk)

How much a visa costs

The cost of your visa depends on the type you need.  

Work out the cost of your visa application (gov.uk)

How long a visa application takes

Your application starts being processed when you’ve completed all the following:

• Submitted your application
• Provided your biometrics
• Provided any supporting documents and evidence.

It usually takes between three and 12 weeks to get your decision. How long the application takes depends on the type of visa.

Check the visa processing times (gov.uk)

You may be able to pay for a faster decision on a visa.

Find out how to get a faster decision on your visa (gov.uk)

Providing your documents and biometrics

You’ll be told what documents and supporting evidence you need to provide as part of the application process.

You’ll also need to provide your biometric information. This is your fingerprints and photograph. You usually do this by going to a visa application centre run by an external company.

Proving your knowledge of English

To get some UK visas, you must prove you can read, write, speak and understand English to at least level B1 on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) scale (coe.int)

On the 8 January 2026, the level of English requirement changed for some visas. If you’re applying for a Skilled Worker visa, High Potential Individual visa or Scale-up visa, you must prove that you can read, write, speak and understand English to at least level B2.

The change applies to new applications. If you have a visa and you met B1 level when you applied, the requirement will still be B1 level if you apply to extend your visa.

To prove your knowledge of English, you might need to pass an English test from an approved provider or show you have studied in English in the past.

Find out how to:

• Prove your knowledge of English for a Skilled Worker visa (gov.uk)
• Prove your knowledge of English for a High Potential Individual visa (gov.uk)
• Prove your knowledge of English for a Health and Care Worker visa (gov.uk)
• Prove your knowledge of English for a Student visa (gov.uk)
• Prove your knowledge of English for a Family visa (gov.uk)

Checking your qualifications

You might need to show that your overseas qualification is the same level as a UK qualification when you apply for a UK visa.

You should use the Qualification and Language Service (QLS) if you need to give evidence of your overseas qualification as part of your visa application.

Find out more about the Qualification and Language Service (qls.ecctis.com)

Getting a decision on your visa 

You’ll get a letter or email telling you the Home Office has made a decision on your application. It will tell you what you need to do next.

Accessing your visa

Most physical immigration documents have been replaced by eVisas. If your application is successful, you’ll get an eVisa (gov.uk) to prove you can come to the UK. 

You need an online UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account (gov.uk) to access your eVisa. 

You might need to create your online account during or after the application process. It depends what kind of visa you’re applying for.  

Check how to create a UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account (gov.uk).

Header image photo credit: Scottish Enterprise