Applying for a visa using Visa4UK
This page contains information about completing and submitting your online application form in the Visa4UK visa application system.
Completing the application form
You must complete the online form in English. Visa4UK does not currently support applications made in other languages.
We have added 'More Info' icons to some questions that may be difficult to understand. If you select 'More Info', you will see extra guidance for that question on the left side of the online form.
You must write all dates in the format DD MMM YYYY (for example, 21 Aug 1956).
If there is not enough space to write on the online form, please enter the most recent and relevant information in the allocated space. You should then add any further information, in writing, on the printout of your submitted form.
Some questions are mandatory - this means that you must give an answer. If the question is not relevant to you, please enter 'not applicable' or 'not known' or '01 Jan 1900' if a date is required. On your printed application form, you should explain in writing why you had to do this. Do not leave mandatory questions blank.
If you have used the wrong visa application form, you will need to start a new application.
If you want to cancel your online application, just abandon it. We will delete it from our system.
To sign the declaration on the application form, you should type your name in the space given. Later you will need to sign a printed copy of your form by hand.
Saving your application form
You can save your online application form wherever you see the 'Save' icon . You should save the form often while you are completing it.
Online forms in progress are deleted after 2 days if they have not been saved.
If an online form in progress has been saved, it will be deleted after 7 days. You can return within 7 days and save again for a further 7 days, each time you return.
Password
When you save your application form, you will be asked to choose a password. Your password must be 8 to 12 characters long.
We are working to resolve a technical problem that allows you to save a password that is fewer than 8 or more than 12 characters long if you are using one of the following browsers:
- Internet Explorer 8
- Firefox 3.5
- Safari 4
- Google Chrome
However, you will not be able to log in and access your saved form if your password is not 8 to 12 characters long.
If you forget your password, you can ask us to send you a password reminder. As part of our security policy, we cannot reset your password under any circumstances.
Unique reference number
When you save or submit your online application form, we will send a confirmation email to the email address that you supplied in your application security details. This email will contain a unique reference number (known as a GWF).
You should make a note of your GWF. You will need it to log in and access your saved form. We will not be able to assist you if you do not know your GWF.
If you do not receive your confirmation email, please check that:
- you have given us your correct email address, and
- the message is not in the spam or junk folders in your mailbox.
If you gave the wrong email address, you will have to start a new application form.
Accessing your saved application form
To access your saved form, you should:
- go to the Existing applications login page; and
- enter your 'application security details' and your unique visa application number (GWF) - this number is in the confirmation email that we sent you when you saved or submitted your online application form.
You can make changes to your saved form before it is submitted. After you have submitted the form, you will not be able to make further changes.
If you cannot access your form, this may be because:
- you did not save the form by selecting the 'save' icon on the form; or
- you did not retrieve the form within 7 days of last saving it.
If you are sure that you saved your application form within the past 7 days, empty your browser cache (temporary internet files) and try again.
Printing your application form
When you complete your application form, we advise you to print a copy before you submit it online. You will need the printed copy later when you attend a visa application centre, and it is useful to print it now in case you cannot access your application later (for example, because you have lost your password).
The print option is shown on the left side of the application form screen.
Please ensure that:
- your printer has enough ink to print the form in full;
- your printer is able to print the form using a 'high quality' print setting; and
- you are using the correct setting (A4 and not US letter) for paper size.
Depending on how you have configured your computer, you may get an error when you try to print your online form.
If you cannot or choose not to print out your form before submitting it, you can access the form later to print it out - see 'Accessing your saved application form' above.
When you have printed a copy of the completed form, you must sign the declaration by hand.
Submitting your application form
When you submit your application form, we will send you an email confirming that we have received it. This email will list the documents that you must being to the visa application centre.
If you do not receive this email within 24 hours, please check that:
- you have given us your correct email address, and
- the message is not in the spam or junk folders in your mailbox.
We can resend the email if you contact us and provide your GWF number.
Your online form will be valid:
- until your appointment date, if you have booked an appointment through Visa4UK and you have a visa appointment reference (VAR) number; or
- for 30 days from the date when you submit it, in other circumstances. We cannot accept your form after this 30-day period, as the data will have been deleted. You will need to complete a new application if you bring an expired application form to a visa application centre.
If you realise that you made a mistake on your online form, you cannot change it after you have submitted the form. Please make any changes in writing on your Completing the application form
If you review your submitted application form online or on paper, you may find that you cannot see some of your answers. Be assured that we have received the answers you have sent to us, even though they sometimes may not be visible to you. But please feel free to write comments by hand on the printed application form if you want to do so.