To check your UK visa application status online, sign in to the portal for the visa application centre you used: VFS Global or TLScontact for applications made outside the UK, or the GOV.UK status tool for many in-country applications. You’ll need your GWF reference number and, depending on when you applied, either your surname or the email address linked to your application. If your application type isn’t covered by any online portal, you’ll need to contact UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) directly.
What to Have Ready Before You Sign In
The reference every tracking tool asks for first is your GWF number: the letters “GWF” followed by nine digits. You received it when you submitted your application online, and it appears in your confirmation emails and application account.
You may also have a Unique Application Number (UAN), a 16-digit number on Home Office correspondence. Either the GWF or UAN works for most tracking purposes, but the GWF is the one you’ll use most often. Keep your passport number, date of birth, and the email address used during the application within reach as well. Different portals ask for different combinations.
Which Portal to Use
The right portal depends on where you submitted your application and, in one case, when.
- VFS Global. If you applied through a VFS Global visa application centre, sign in on the VFS Global website. For applications submitted before 21 August 2024, log in with your GWF number and surname. For applications submitted on or after that date, use your GWF number and the email address linked to your application.1VFS GLOBAL. Track Your Application
- TLScontact. If you applied through a TLScontact centre, log in to your TLScontact account and enter your visa application reference number to see your current status.
- GOV.UK. For some application types, particularly in-country applications, GOV.UK offers a status check tool where you enter your reference number and personal details.
These portals update in real time as your application moves through processing. Not every in-country application has online tracking, though. If yours doesn’t appear in any portal, phone or email is the route.
What Each Status Update Means
Wording varies slightly across platforms, but the sequence is broadly the same.
- Application submitted or received. Your application is in the system but processing hasn’t started. Normal for the first few days.
- Under consideration or processing. A caseworker is reviewing your application and supporting documents. Most applications spend the bulk of their time here.
- Decision made. The assessment is complete. This status does not tell you whether the answer is yes or no; you’ll learn the outcome from your decision letter or when you collect your passport.
- Dispatched or ready for collection. Your passport and documents are on their way back to you or waiting at the application centre.
A status that stays on “under consideration” past the published processing time doesn’t necessarily mean something has gone wrong. Some applications need additional checks that don’t generate a separate update.
When Online Tracking Isn’t Enough
If your application type has no online tracking, or you need a more detailed update than the portal shows, contact UKVI’s contact centre. The method and cost differ depending on where you’re calling from.2GOV.UK. Contact UK Visas and Immigration
- From inside the UK, call 0300 790 6268. Calls are charged at standard network rates.
- From outside the UK, call +44 (0)300 790 6268 or +44 (0)203 875 4669. Calls cost £0.69 per minute on top of your network’s international rates.
- You can also email UKVI from outside the UK for £2.74, which covers your initial question and any follow-up messages on the same query.
Have your GWF or UAN, passport number, and date of birth ready before you call. Agents will ask for these to pull up your file.
How Long to Wait Before Chasing an Update
Standard processing gives you a rough sense of when a decision is due. As of the most recent published data, the typical wait for the most common visa types submitted from outside the UK is about three weeks for visitor visas, student visas, and Skilled Worker visas.3GOV.UK. Visa Processing Times: Applications Outside the UK
These are targets, not guarantees. Complex cases, incomplete documentation, and high seasonal volumes can all push things beyond the standard window. A reasonable rule of thumb: if your application is approaching twice the published processing time with no update in the portal, contact UKVI for a status check.
If you need a faster decision, two paid options exist for eligible categories. The priority service costs £500 and aims for a decision within five working days for most visa types, though family visa applications from outside the UK usually take up to 30 working days. The super priority service costs £1,000 and aims for a decision by the end of the next working day when biometrics or document upload are completed on a weekday. Both sit on top of your standard application fee, and neither is available for every route.4GOV.UK. Get a Faster Decision on Your Visa or Settlement Application
When the Portal Shows a Decision
Once the portal says a decision has been made, the next step is your decision letter or a return of your documents. The way you’ll receive proof of your status is changing.
From 25 February 2026, most people who receive a successful decision on a UK visa will only get an eVisa, a digital record of their immigration status, rather than a physical sticker (vignette) in their passport. You’ll need a UKVI account to view your status after the decision, and your decision notification will tell you how to access your eVisa and whether you’ll also get a vignette. Some categories, such as dependants of students or workers, may still receive a vignette for travel purposes.5GOV.UK. Updates on the Move to eVisas
To share your status with an employer, landlord, or anyone else who needs to verify it, generate a share code through your UKVI account. Each share code lasts 90 days and can be used as many times as needed during that window. You can generate a new one whenever the old one expires.6GOV.UK. eVisas: Access and Use Your Online Immigration Status
If you previously held a biometric residence permit (BRP) that has expired, your underlying visa permission may still be valid. You can create a UKVI account and link your eVisa using your BRP number through the UK Immigration ID Check app.5GOV.UK. Updates on the Move to eVisas
Whether the decision is an approval or a refusal, review every detail as soon as you can access it: name, nationality, validity dates, and any conditions. If you receive a physical vignette and spot an error that could affect your entry to the UK, contact UKVI to request a correction before you travel.7GOV.UK. How to Apply for a Visa to Come to the UK: Getting a Decision on Your Application
If your application is refused, the refusal letter explains the reasons and tells you what options, if any, you have to challenge the outcome. The two main routes are administrative review and appeal, with short deadlines that vary by where you are: typically 28 calendar days from outside the UK and 14 calendar days from inside it, and only 7 days if you’re in immigration detention.8GOV.UK. Administrative Review9GOV.UK. Appeal Against a Visa or Immigration Decision: Appeal a Decision Online Not every refusal carries a right of appeal; visitor visa refusals, for example, generally do not. Your decision letter is the definitive guide to which options are available in your case.