Guidance

Apply for a UK visa in Australia

Updated 4 November 2020

In line with official guidance in response to coronavirus (COVID-19), a number of UK visa application centres in Australia are closed until further notice. Adelaide and Hobart are no longer operated by the Department of Home Affairs. All locations throughout Australia are now operated by VFS. For the latest information and to find if your local visa application centre is affected, visit VFS global.

How to apply

To apply for a UK visa in Australia you need to:

• check which visa you need
• apply online
• pay the visa fee
• pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) if applicable
• submit your supporting documents
• book and attend your appointment to submit biometrics and have your photograph taken

You should read the guidance if you’re making an application for:

Apply no earlier than 3 months before your intended travel date, unless you are applying under the Youth Mobility Scheme, where you can apply up to 6 months before.

If your visa is valid for more than 6 months, you will be given a 30-day travel window based on the information provided in the application form. If successful, your temporary visa will be valid for 30 days and you will need to travel within this period. If you cannot travel during this 30-day window, you will need to submit an application for a vignette transfer.

Do not book your travel until you receive your visa, as UKVI is not liable for any costs incurred if you do not receive your visa before your intended travel date.

Booking an appointment

If you’re applying from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Canberra you’ll need to book and attend an appointment at a Visa Application Centre (VAC) to submit your biometrics and have your photograph taken. You’ll be told how to do this as part of your online application.

Submit your supporting documents

As part of your application you will need to submit your supporting documents. UKVI have several options for how you can do this.

Self-upload

You can self-upload your supporting documents online through our commercial partner’s website up to the day of your appointment.

This is a free service.

If you choose to self-upload, you won’t have to submit original documents when you attend your appointment. You will still need to provide your passport at your appointment so that a sticker (also known as a vignette) can be attached, if your visa application is approved.

You can find more information about the self-upload service on our commercial partner’s website.

Assisted document scanning (ADS) service

You can use our commercial partner’s assisted document scanning (ADS) service to have your documents scanned by staff when you attend your appointment.

There is a fee to use this service, you can find out more on our commercial partner’s website.

Sponsor or agent submits the documents in the UK (only available to settlement visa applicants)

Settlement visa applicants can have their sponsor or agent submit the supporting documents in the UK for a fee of £75 per application. This payment may be made in cash or with a debit card.

The documents can be submitted in the UK at one of the following locations:

• Belfast: Merrion Business Centre, First Floor 58, Howard Street, Belfast, BT1 6PJ
• Birmingham: 5 -14 South Road, Smethwick, Birmingham, B67 7BN
• Bradford: Skipton Chamber 16-18 North Parade, Bradford, BD13HT
• Cardiff: Temple Court – 13A Cathedral Road, Cardiff CF11 9H
• Edinburgh: 1 Rennie’s Isle, Leith, Edinburgh, EH6 6QT
• Leicester: C/O Peepul’s Centre, Orchardson Avenue, Leicester, LE4 6D
• Liverpool: Suite No 207, Second Floor, Graeme House, Derby Square, Liverpool, L2 7ZH
• London: 66 Wilson Street, London, EC2A 2BT
• Manchester: 50 Devonshire Street North, Manchester, M12 6JH

Your sponsor should provide a photocopy of your passport photo page, along with your document checklist if you have applied via Access UK, or the first page of your visa application form if you have applied via visa4uk. The supporting documents will then be scanned and handed back to your sponsor during their submission.

Processing times and the priority visa (PV) service

Non-settlement visa applications

We aim to make a decision on a non-settlement visa application in 15 working days (excluding weekends and public holidays).

If you use the PV service, you should get a decision on your application within 5 days.

Settlement visa applications

We aim to make a decision on settlement visa applications in 60 working days (excluding weekends and public holidays).

If you use the Settlement PV service, you should get a decision on your application within 30 working days.

Further details about the PV service in Australia can be found on our commercial partner’s website

Priority visa (PV) service

You can get a faster decision on your application if you select the priority visa (PV) service. If you choose the PV service, UKVI will aim to make a decision on your application within 5 working days (excluding weekends and public holidays) or 30 working days for Settlement applications.

This process begins once you have attended your biometric enrolment appointment. If you are using the PV service at a Visa Application Centre (VAC), please inform the officer before your biometric data is enrolled and show the payment receipt. Failure to do so may result in delays in processing your application.

Further details about the PV service in Australia can be found on our commercial partner’s website.

Apply for an exempt diplomatic visa

Diplomats and eligible dependants (for example, spouses and children under 18)

Diplomats and eligible dependants are exempt from immigration control and are not required to attend an appointment to submit biometrics. Each dependant is required to make a separate application.

If you are being posted to work at the Australian High Commission in the UK and you want to apply for an exempt vignette, you should:

• apply online and under “apply for an exempt vignette” click the visa application online link
• select “diplomat or official posted to the UK traveling to or through the UK” if you’re the main applicant or “family member of someone who is exempt from immigration control” if you’re a dependant
• self-upload your supporting documents
• post your passport and the required documents to VFS Sydney

You’ll need to submit the following supporting documents:

• passport
• a recent passport photo
• a third party note from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) confirming details of the posting
• a self-addressed return envelope for each applicant

Dependant applications should submit the following:

• passport
• a recent passport photo
• a third party note from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) confirming details of the diplomat’s posting including the names of the eligible dependants
• copies of relevant birth certificates for accompanying children
• a marriage certificate for a spouse or a letter from DFAT to show you are recognised as a same sex or de facto couple

Unmarried partner of an exempt diplomat

The unmarried partner of an exempt diplomat is not exempt from immigration control and is required to attend an appointment to submit biometrics. Please make this clear to the biometric enrolment officer when you attend your appointment. Each dependant is required to make a separate application.

If you’re an unmarried partner of someone eligible for an exempt diplomatic visa, you should:

• apply online and select “visa application online” under the apply for an exempt vignette section
• under “family member of someone who is exempt from immigration control”, select the link for “the unmarried partner of someone who is exempt from immigration control”
• submit your supporting documents via self-upload or assisted document scanning
• attend an appointment to submit your biometrics and have your photograph taken

You’ll need to submit the following supporting documents:

• passport
• if you selected the ADS service, a third party note from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) confirming details of the diplomat’s posting including the names of the eligible dependants. This should also show that you are recognised as a same sex or de facto couple
• a self-addressed return envelope for each applicant

Apply for an exempt visa as a member of visiting forces

Members of visiting forces are exempt from immigration control and are not required to attend an appointment to submit biometrics. We recommend that you attend an appointment to have your photograph taken only if you are submitting applications for your family members/dependants who are accompanying you on your posting.

If you are going on a course or a military posting in the UK as a member of the Australian armed forces, you should:

• apply online and under “apply for an exempt vignette”, click the visa application online’ link
• select “armed forces posted to, training or studying in the UK as part of your military career”
• self-upload your supporting documents
• if you’re applying on your own, you do not need to attend a biometric appointment
• if you’re applying with family members or eligible dependants, we recommend that you book and attend an appointment to have your photograph taken as your dependants are required to submit biometrics
• post your passport and the required documents to the VFS address in Sydney (for those applying alone or who choose not to attend an appointment with their dependants)

You’ll need to submit the following supporting documents:

• passport
• a recent passport photo (if you’re not attending an appointment)
• if you selected the ADS service, a third party note from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) or the relevant government authority confirming details of your military posting
• a self-addressed return envelope (if you’re not attending an appointment)

Dependants of a visiting forces member

Dependants of members of visiting forces are not exempt from immigration control and are required to make an appointment to submit biometrics. Please make it clear to the biometric enrolment officer when you attend your appointment that you are applying in this category. Each dependant is required to make a separate application.

If you’re a dependant of someone applying for an exempt visa as a member of visiting forces, you should:

• apply online and select “exempt from UK immigration control” then “partner of military personnel posted to or training in the UK” or “child of military personnel posted to or training in the UK”
• submit your supporting documents via self-upload or assisted document scanning
• attend an appointment to submit your biometrics and have your photograph taken
• post your passport

You’ll need to submit the following supporting documents:

• passport (post or self-upload)
• if you have selected the ADS service (and where applicable), a third party note from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) or the relevant government authority confirming details of the main applicant’s military posting including the names of the eligible dependants (post or self-upload)
• copies of relevant birth certificates for accompanying children (post or self-upload)
• if you have selected the ADS service, marriage certificate for a spouse or a letter from DFAT to show you are recognised as a same sex or de facto couple (post or self-upload)
• a self-addressed return envelope for each applicant (post or self-upload)

Apply for a visa as a civilian member of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) and dependants

Civilian Members of the ADF and their dependants are not exempt from immigration control and are required to make an appointment to submit biometrics. Please make it clear to the biometric enrolment officer when you attend your appointment that you are applying in this category. Each dependant is required to make a separate application.

Further guidance about applying in this category is available at Armed forces: relevant civilian employees.

If the main applicant is coming to the UK for study, read the guidance on Student visas.

If the main applicant is going on a posting to work, there is a special category for civilian members of the ADF working in the UK. This also applies to Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG) staff working with DSTL in the UK.

To apply for a visa as a civilian member of the Australian Defence Forces (ADF) you should:

• apply online and select “relevant civilian employee, former member of UK armed forces”
• for family members, apply online as the dependant of a member of armed forces subject to immigration control
• submit your supporting documents via self-upload or assisted document scanning
• attend appointment to submit biometrics and application
• post your passport

You’ll need to submit the following supporting documents:

• passport
• a third party note from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) or the relevant government authority confirming details of your posting
• birth certificates for children (if applicable)
• a marriage certificate or evidence to show you have been living in a de facto relationship for a minimum of 2 years (if applicable)

Further information

Visit UKVI for information and guidance on the visa application process. If you have any additional questions, visit UKVI’s customer contact centre to find telephone and email details.

UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) operates separately to the UK’s High Commission and consulates in Australia and they will not be able to assist you with any visa related queries.

Make a complaint

Letters or emails about decisions to refuse a UK visa will not be treated as complaints. If you do not agree with the decision on your visa application, please use the existing appeals process, or apply for an administrative review.

If you have a complaint about how your visa application has been handled, or the conduct of UK Visas and Immigration staff please follow our official complaints procedure.