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ImmigrationGPT gives information about UK immigration, not advice on your own case. It is independent and not part of the Home Office. Under section 84 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 only regulated advisers and lawyers can give immigration advice; for your own case, find a regulated solicitor.

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0, including GOV.UK guidance and the Home Office register of licensed sponsors.

ImmigrationGPT includes data supplied by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. The SRA does not endorse ImmigrationGPT or any firm listed here.

Free to use. Donations pay for hosting and data updates.

© ImmigrationGPT

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  2. Visa processing times

Targets and real decisions

How long UK visa decisions take

The Home Office’s own targets, beside the number of days people who used ImmigrationGPT actually waited.

What members waited

Days from the biometrics or identity check to the decision email. “Usually” is the middle value; “most people” is the middle half.

GOV.UK targets, standard service

From the Home Office’s guidance, updated 9 September 2026. Priority and super priority services are faster where offered.

  • Skilled Worker

    Outside the UK: 3 weeks · Inside: 8 weeks

  • Health and Care Worker

    Outside the UK: 3 weeks · Inside: 3 weeks

  • Graduate

    Outside the UK: Not applicable · Inside: 8 weeks

  • Student

    Outside the UK: 3 weeks · Inside: 8 weeks

  • Global Talent

    Outside the UK: 3 weeks · Inside: 8 weeks

  • High Potential Individual

    Outside the UK: 3 weeks · Inside: 8 weeks

  • Scale-up

    Outside the UK: 3 weeks · Inside: 8 weeks

  • Innovator Founder

    Outside the UK: 3 weeks · Inside: 8 weeks

  • Global Business Mobility

    Outside the UK: 3 weeks · Inside: 8 weeks

  • Family (spouse, partner, parent)

    Outside the UK: 12 weeks · Inside: 8 weeks

  • UK Ancestry

    Outside the UK: 3 weeks · Inside: 8 weeks

  • Youth Mobility

    Outside the UK: 3 weeks · Inside: Not applicable

GOV.UK standard-service targets by route
RouteApplying from outside the UKApplying inside the UK
Skilled Worker3 weeks8 weeks
Health and Care Worker3 weeks3 weeks
GraduateNot applicable8 weeks
Student3 weeks8 weeks
Global Talent3 weeks8 weeks
High Potential Individual3 weeks8 weeks
Scale-up3 weeks8 weeks
Innovator Founder3 weeks8 weeks
Global Business Mobility3 weeks8 weeks
Family (spouse, partner, parent)12 weeks8 weeks
UK Ancestry3 weeks8 weeks
Youth Mobility3 weeksNot applicable

Sources: applications outside the UK, applications inside the UK.

Waiting on a decision? Keep your dates in one place and get a reminder before your permission ends.

Start your timeline

Information, not advice. Every application is decided on its own facts, and some take longer than the target.

Not enough shared decisions yet. A figure appears once 10 people in the same group have added their dates, so no number can point to one person.

Add your dates and help build this