United Arab Emirates
Additional services in the United Arab Emirates
This page describes the additional services that are available from us and our commercial partner, VFS Global, to visa applicants in the United Arab Emirates.
These services are optional, and are available for an additional fee. If you want to use them, you must pay the fee when you attend your appointment at the visa application centre. You can find more information about these services (except the visa priority service) on the VFS Global in United Arab Emirates website.
Priority visa service
You can use our priority visa service to have your visa application processed ahead of others. We aim to process applications submitted under our priority service within 48 hours of receipt at the visa application centre. The service costs 600 AED in addition to your visa application fee.
This service is available to all UAE nationals and residents applying under any visa category.
You must complete and submit a UK visa application online as normal. When you visit the visa application centre operated by VFS Global in Abu Dhabi or Dubai, you will be able to obtain details of the priority visa service.
Using the priority visa service does not imply or guarantee in any way that your visa application will be successful. You must meet the requirements of the UK Immigration Rules. We will not refund your fee for the priority service, or your visa application fee, if your visa application is refused or, in exceptional cases, takes longer to process.
You may experience extended processing times if you have:
- previously been refused a visa for the UK;
- previously been refused permission to enter the UK;
- previously been deported, removed, or otherwise required to leave the UK;
- overstayed a period of leave in the UK;
- been refused permission to stay (known as 'leave to remain') in the UK by the Home Office;
- been refused a visa for Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the USA or the Schengen countries; and/or
- been convicted of a criminal offence in any country.
SMS service
VFS Global offers an SMS service which updates you (in English) on the progress of your UK visa application. It will send an automated message to your mobile phone at various stages of the visa application process. This is followed up by an automated message to your email address, telling you about your visa application's status.
You can buy this service when you submit your visa application.
Courier service
The visa application centre can courier your documents back to you in the United Arab Emirates, at a cost. Please ask for this service when you submit your visa application at one of the VFS service desks.
Photocopying service
The VFS visa application centre provides photocopying facilities, at a cost.
Photograph service
The visa application centre provides a photograph facility, at a cost, that meets the UK Border Agency requirement.
Premium service
The VFS visa application centre provides a premium service for customers who would like an enhanced customer service experience. This service is available at a cost.
Prime-time appointments
This VFS service enables applicants to book an appointment at a visa application centre at a convenient time, outside normal business hours. This service is available at a cost.