Process & Timing
UK Skilled Worker Visa Decision Times in 2026
Standard Skilled Worker visa decisions take 3 weeks (out-of-country) or 8 weeks (in-country switch); priority service is 5 working days for an additional fee.
Key fact
3 weeks standard out-of-country; 5 working days priority
Step-by-step
- 1Standard out-of-country: 3 weeks from biometrics submission.
- 2Standard in-country switch: 8 weeks.
- 3Priority service: 5 working days (£500 extra, sometimes capacity-limited).
- 4Super priority: next working day (£1,000 extra, in-UK applications only).