Priority and Super Priority Visa Services UK
Priority and super priority services provide faster decisions on eligible UK visa and settlement applications through UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI). These optional services may be suitable for applicants who need a decision sooner than the standard processing time. Eligibility depends on the immigration route, the method used to prove identity and service availability.
The priority service costs an additional £500 and usually provides a decision within 5 working days for eligible applications. However, different timeframes and eligibility rules apply to Family Visa applications. Under the priority service, eligible Family Visa applications made outside the UK usually receive a decision within 30 working days.
The super priority service costs an additional £1,000. Eligible applicants usually receive a decision by the end of the next working day after proving their identity on a weekday. Where an applicant attends an appointment at a weekend or on a bank holiday, a decision is usually provided within 2 working days.
For in-country Family Visa applications, including applications as an unmarried partner, the 5-working-day priority service is not currently available. Eligible applicants may instead be offered the super priority service through a UKVCAS appointment, subject to availability.
A standard partner ILR application usually receives a decision within 6 months of the applicant providing their biometric information. Eligible applicants applying for settlement as a partner through SET(M) may be offered the super priority service through a UKVCAS appointment.
Processing may take longer if the Home Office requests further evidence or needs to check the applicant’s information with other government departments. Faster-decision timeframes are service standards and do not guarantee that a decision will be made within the stated period.
UKVI assesses and decides applications, while UKVCAS facilitates biometric appointments and may provide document-scanning services.
Sunrise Solicitors guides applicants throughout the process and advises them on faster-service eligibility, suitable service selection and supporting documents. Our expert immigration solicitors and lawyers help clients prepare each stage carefully, minimise avoidable errors and reduce the risk of unnecessary delays. Contact Sunrise Solicitors and book your appointment today.
What Are Priority and Super Priority Visa Services?
Priority and super priority services are optional fast-track processing services offered by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI), which is part of the Home Office. They enable eligible applicants to receive a decision sooner than the standard processing time. Availability depends on the application route, how the applicant proves their identity and whether the faster service is offered when they apply.
Applicants applying from inside the UK may need to attend a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) appointment or use the UK Immigration: ID Check app, depending on their immigration route. Applicants applying from outside the UK may need to attend a visa application centre to provide their biometric information. UKVI remains responsible for assessing and deciding the application.
For overseas Family Visa applications, the priority service usually provides a decision within 30 working days. Family Visa applications made inside the UK are not currently eligible for the 5-working-day priority service. However, eligible in-country applicants may be offered the super priority service through a UKVCAS appointment and will usually receive a decision by the end of the next working day after a weekday appointment. These services are subject to eligibility and availability.
Priority Visa Service
The priority service costs an additional £500 and usually provides a decision within 5 working days for most eligible visa and settlement applications. Eligible Family Visa applications made outside the UK usually receive a decision within 30 working days.
Applicants applying inside the UK may be required to attend a UKVCAS appointment or use the UK Immigration: ID Check app. Applicants applying outside the UK normally provide their biometric information at a Visa Application Centre. Eligibility depends on the immigration route, application location, identity-verification method and service availability.
Super Priority Visa Service
The super priority service costs an additional £1,000. Eligible applicants usually receive a decision by the end of the next working day after a weekday biometric appointment or document upload.
Where the biometric appointment or document upload takes place at a weekend or on a bank holiday, a decision is usually provided within 2 working days. These timeframes are not guaranteed, and UKVI may take longer if further information or additional checks are required.
For in-country Family Visa applications, super priority is currently available only through a UKVCAS appointment. It is not available through the UK Immigration: ID Check app.
Eligibility for Priority and Super Priority Visa Services
The eligibility for Priority and Super Priority visa services is given below:
Eligible Visa Categories
Priority and super priority services are available for selected visa, extension and settlement applications made inside the UK. Different eligibility rules and processing times apply to applications made outside the UK. Eligibility depends on the applicant’s immigration route, where they apply from and how they are required to prove their identity.
Applicants will be told during the online application process whether a faster-decision service is available and how they must prove their identity. These services are subject to route eligibility, identity-verification requirements and limited availability. The number of faster-decision applications is limited.
An eligible applicant may therefore not be offered the service when completing the application. If a faster-decision option is not offered, the applicant can continue with the standard application. There is no guarantee that a priority or super priority place will become available later.
Using the UK Immigration: ID Check app does not automatically make an applicant eligible for priority or super priority processing. Applicants will be told during the online application process whether a faster-decision service is available. Availability depends on the immigration route and the method used to prove identity.
Before proceeding, applicants should verify this information thoroughly because it may differ depending on the type of application, location, and verification mode of identity. Applicants who are offered a faster-decision service should complete the required steps and arrange their UKVCAS appointment promptly. Booking an appointment does not guarantee that UKVI will decide the application within the published timeframe.
According to the Home Office, the eligible visa categories are as follows:
| Visa Type | UKVCAS: 5 Working Days | UKVCAS: Next Working Day | ID App: 5 Working Days | ID App: Next Working Day |
| Child Student visa | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Family visa | No | Yes | No | No |
| Global Talent visa | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Graduate visa | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Graduate Entrepreneur | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Graduate Trainee – Global Business Mobility visa | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Health and Care Worker visa | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| High Potential Individual visa | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Hong Kong BNO visa | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Innovator Founder visa | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Investor visa (Tier 1) | Yes | No | No | No |
| Minister of Religion visa (T2) | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Scale-up Worker visa | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Secondment Worker – Global Business Mobility visa | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Senior or Specialist Worker – Global Business Mobility visa | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Service Supplier – Global Business Mobility visa | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Skilled Worker visa | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| International Sportsperson visa | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Student visa | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Temporary Work – Charity Worker visa | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Temporary Work – Creative Worker visa | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Temporary Work – Government Authorised Exchange visa | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Temporary Work – International Agreement visa | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Temporary Work – Religious Worker visa | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| UK Ancestry visa | No | Yes | No | No |
| UK Expansion Worker – Global Business Mobility visa | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Youth Mobility Scheme visa | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Dependant of global talent, start-up or innovator founder visa | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Dependant of Student visa | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Dependant of Health and Care Worker visa | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Dependant of Minister of Religion visa | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Dependant of Scale-up Worker visa | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Dependant of International Sportsperson visa | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Dependant of Hong Kong BNO visa | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Dependant of Global Business Mobility visa | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Dependant of Investor visa | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Dependant of Graduate Entrepreneur visa | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Human rights claims, leave outside the rules and other routes through form FLR(HRO) | No | Yes | No | No |
| Other routes through form FLR(IR) | No | Yes | No | No |
Eligible applications to settle in the UK
The list of eligible applications to settle in the UK is given below:
| Application Type | UKVCAS appointment: within 5 working days | UKVCAS appointment: next working day | ID app: within 5 working days |
| Application to settle on the basis of UK Ancestry (through form SET(O)) | No | Yes | No |
| Application to settle as a former member of HM Forces (through form SET(AF)) | No | Yes | No |
| Application to settle as a child under 18 (through form SET(F)) | No | Yes | No |
| Application to settle if you’ve been in the UK legally for 10 continuous years (known as ‘long residence’) | No | Yes | No |
| Application to settle if you work, establish a business or invest in the UK (through form SET(O)) | Yes | No | No |
| Application to settle as the partner of a person, or parent of a child, who is present and settled in the UK (through form SET(M)) | No | Yes | No |
| Application to settle as an Innovator Founder | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Application to settle on the basis of BNO Hong Kong | Yes | No | Yes |
| Application to settle as the dependent child or partner of a BNO Hong Kong visa holder | Yes | No | Yes |
How to Apply for Priority or Super Priority Visa Services
The application process for priority and super priority services differs depending on whether the applicant applies from inside or outside the UK.
Applications from Inside the UK (In-Country Applications)
Applicants applying from inside the UK must complete the relevant application online. They must generally have valid permission to be in the UK to use the priority or super priority service. Depending on the application route, identity-verification method and availability, an applicant may be offered the priority service, the super priority service or neither option.
Applicants should follow these steps:
- Applicants must complete the online application form
- Applicants must pay the standard visa fee and the additional fee for the chosen fast-track service (Priority or Super Priority)
- Applicants must book a UKVCAS appointment for biometric enrolment, unless they are eligible to use the UK Immigration: ID Check app
If identity is proved at a UKVCAS appointment, the priority processing period normally starts on the appointment date. If the ID Check app is used, it normally starts on the working day after the applicant finishes uploading their documents. Super priority applicants usually receive a decision by the end of the next working day following a weekday appointment or document upload, or within 2 working days where this takes place at a weekend or on a bank holiday.
Applications from Outside the UK (Out-of-Country Applications)
The Priority service usually provides a decision within five working days, although overseas Family Visa applications may take up to 30 working days. The super priority service is not available to a person applying for a Family Visa as an adult coming to the UK to be cared for by a relative. The super priority service usually provides a decision by the end of the next working day after a weekday identity appointment, or within 2 working days after a weekend or bank-holiday appointment. These processing periods are not guaranteed and may be extended if the Home Office requires further information or additional checks.
Costs and Refund Policies
The fees for priority and super priority services and the applicable refund rules are explained below.
Priority and Super Priority Service Fees
The additional fees for priority and super priority services for applications made outside the UK are set out below. Each family member of the main applicant must pay separately for a faster decision. All decisions will be made at the same time. However, if any family member needs to attend a biometric appointment in person, the overall processing time may be delayed.
| Category | Additional Fee per Applicant |
| Priority Visa service – Settlement | £500 |
| Priority Visa service – non-settlement | £500 |
| Super Priority Visa service | £1,000 |
Refund Eligibility and Process
Refunds are not normally available merely because a Priority or Super Priority application takes longer than expected. However, the Priority or Super Priority fee may be refunded where a straightforward application is not processed within the published timeframe because of an official error, such as an IT failure, lack of Home Office resources or an administrative error.
For a Super Priority application, the applicant may receive a full refund of the Super Priority fee or the difference between the Priority and Super Priority fees if the application was decided within the Priority service timeframe. A full refund of the additional service fee is also available where the applicant’s immigration route is not eligible for the service and the application cannot proceed through the priority process.
Refund eligibility is assessed according to the circumstances of the case. No refund will normally be provided where the application was delayed because it was considered non-straightforward, further information was required or the visa application was refused.
| Situation | Refund Eligibility | Notes |
| Application cancelled before biometrics (in person) | Yes | Only if you have not given fingerprints and photo. |
| Application cancelled after biometrics (in person) | Usually No | Refund is not given once biometrics are submitted. |
| Used ID Check app and cancelled before deadline | Yes | Only if you have not clicked ‘confirm and upload’. |
| Selected “confirm and upload” in the ID Check app | No | A refund is normally unavailable after selecting “confirm and upload”, whether evidence was uploaded or the applicant confirmed that there was nothing to upload. |
| Application not cancelled, but delayed | No | No refund if delay is due to applicant error, missing info, or case complexity. |
| Application not cancelled, and decision late due to Home Office fault | Potentially Yes | Possible refund if delay was caused by a technical issue or UKVI error. |
If the applicant cancels their visa application and is eligible for a refund, the process is usually straightforward. A refund will normally be processed automatically where the applicant cancels before providing biometric information and either applied inside the UK or paid the faster-service fee together with the application fee outside the UK. In other circumstances, the applicant may need to request a refund.
For payments made separately through VFS Global, the applicant needs to log in to their account, go to the ‘Services’ section, and cancel the service. If the applicant paid at a TLScontact centre, they would need to email the Priority Services Refund Requests Team to request their refund. Applicants are recommended to act quickly, as refund eligibility depends on when and how the applicant cancels their visa applications.
Refunds can take up to 28 days and the payment is returned to the same account used for the transaction. If the refund is not received within 28 days, applicants should contact UKVI for support.
How will I receive the decision on my application if I use the priority service?
Where the priority service is available, UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) will usually make a decision within 5 working days for most eligible visa and settlement applications. However, eligible Unmarried Partner Visa applications made outside the UK usually receive a priority decision within 30 working days. The 5-working-day priority service is not currently available for Family Visa applications made inside the UK.
UKVI will send you a letter or email confirming that a decision has been made and explaining what you need to do next. The priority processing period ends when this notification is issued.
The processing period starts:
- On the day of your biometric appointment, if you prove your identity in person.
- On the working day after you finish uploading your documents, if you use the UK Immigration: ID Check app.
A decision may take longer if the Home Office requests further information or needs to carry out additional checks.
Benefits and Risks of Using Priority Services
The main benefits and risks of using the UK priority and super priority services are explained below.
Advantages of Fast-Track Visa Processing
- Provides a faster decision than standard processing.
- May help applicants with urgent travel, work, study or family plans.
- UKVI prioritises eligible applications for quicker processing.
- May reduce uncertainty and help applicants plan ahead.
Risks and Considerations
- Does not guarantee approval of the application.
- The fee is not refunded if the application is refused.
- Refunds after biometrics or document submission are normally unavailable.
- A decision may take longer if further evidence or checks are required.
- Faster-decision services and biometric appointments may have limited availability.
- In-country applicants must normally have valid immigration permission.
- Leaving the Common Travel Area while an in-country application is pending may result in withdrawal.
- The service is not available for every visa category, location or identity-verification method.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Using Priority Services
The following are the common mistakes to avoid when using Priority or Super Priority services:
- Selecting the service for an ineligible application.
- Uploading incomplete or incorrect documents.
- Missing the biometric appointment or required deadline.
- Assuming eligibility to use the ID Check app.
- Providing inconsistent or unclear information.
- Relying on outdated or unofficial guidance.
- Failing to confirm that the service is offered during the application.
- Missing the document-upload deadline when using the ID Check app.
When a Faster Decision May Not Produce the Expected Time Saving
An application may require additional consideration depending on its individual circumstances. The following factors do not automatically make an applicant ineligible, but they may result in further checks, requests for evidence or a decision outside the published timeframe.
An application may take longer where:
- You have previous visa or entry refusals.
- You have overstayed or breached immigration conditions.
- You have criminal convictions or an ongoing investigation.
- You have previously provided false or misleading information.
- Your documents are incomplete, unclear or require verification.
- Your immigration history or personal circumstances require additional checks.
Using a faster service in these circumstances may not result in a decision within the published timeframe. A refund is not normally available where the delay is caused by further enquiries or because the application is considered non-straightforward. Applicants should consider the circumstances of their case before paying for a faster-decision service.
How Sunrise Solicitors can help you with Priority Services
Sunrise Solicitors provides honest, reliable and expert advice on the application of the Priority and Super Priority visa services. Our expert team of immigration lawyers and solicitors make sure that your application is accurate, complete and submitted properly. We assist clients with selecting the appropriate service and guide them throughout the process. We have a team of professionals who are proficient in handling complex cases. Call us today and get expert legal help.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can I upgrade to Super Priority after applying?
Applicants must select the super priority service when applying, if the option is available. It cannot normally be added after the application has been submitted.
Do dependents get the same processing time?
Dependants applying together with the main applicant will usually receive their decisions at the same time, provided each family member has paid for the Priority or Super Priority service. However, processing may take longer if a dependant needs to provide biometric information in person, further documents are requested or additional checks are required.
What if I miss my biometric appointment?
Missing a biometric appointment may delay the application. Applicants should follow the appointment provider’s instructions and reschedule as soon as possible.
Can I get a refund if my visa is delayed?
A refund is not normally available merely because the decision is delayed. However, UKVI may issue a refund in limited circumstances, including delays caused by an official or technical error.
Is Super Priority available for dependent children?
Super priority may be available for a dependant child if the immigration route is eligible and the service is offered. A separate fee must be paid for each child.
What happens on weekends or bank holidays?
Under the super priority service, applicants usually receive a decision within 2 working days if their biometric appointment or document upload takes place at a weekend or on a bank holiday.
Is Super Priority available in every country?
No, super priority is not available in every country. Availability depends on your location and visa application centre.
Can lawyers book Super Priority on behalf of clients?
A lawyer may assist with the application and selection of the super priority service. However, the applicant must personally complete the required identity checks or attend their biometric appointment.
What if my Super Priority visa is delayed?
If the Home Office requires more information or needs to check your details with government departments, a delay may occur. The applicant will be made aware if there is a delay.
How soon can I travel after getting my visa decision?
You can travel once your visa or immigration permission is valid and you have a valid passport or travel document. Before travelling, check that your eVisa is correct and linked to the passport you will use.
