- What is a visa?
A visa (or entry clearance) is a certificate that is
put into your passport or travel document that gives
you permission to enter the United Kingdom (UK). On
arrival in the UK a Border Force officer may check that
you are here for the reasons you have stated. For more
information about what you might expect on arrival in
the UK please visit the UK
Border Agency website.
- Do I need a visa for the UK?
Taiwan passport holders who want to visit the UK for
less than 6 months on business, as a tourist, family
visitor or student visitor will not require a
visa. If you hold a Taiwanese non-resident passport
or if you do not have a Taiwanese ID number in your
Taiwanese passport then you must apply for a visa before
travelling, regardless of the visa category you are
applying for. You can check if you need a visa by using
the 'Do
I need a visa' guide on the UK Border Agency website.
You will also need a visa if you
• are stateless
• hold an non-national travel document
• hold a passport issued by an authority that is
not recognised in the UK
- On arrival in the UK what do I
need to show the immigration officer?
You should provide the following documents:-
• School letter confirming your intended studies
and the fee paid to date
• Evidence of finances and funding such as a bank
statement and cash
• Evidence of accommodation arrangements
• Return air ticket or enough money to be able
to purchase a return ticket
• Letters from your sponsor
• Details of any businesses you are visiting
You should bring copies of the documents in your hand
luggage.
- Who can apply for a visa?
The UK Border Agency at the British Embassy in Manila
processes visas for holders of Taiwanese passports travelling
to the UK and its 9 dependant territories (known as
UK overseas territories) and certain Commonwealth countries.
All visa application categories are accepted from Taiwan
residents. Third country nationals who live in Taiwan
and hold an ARC card holder may apply for all visa categories.
Non resident third country nationals may only apply
for a visit visa. All other visa category applications
must be made in the applicant's country of normal residence.
- Where do I submit my visa application?
All applications for a UK visa should be lodged at the
Visa Application Centre in Taipei. The Visa Application
Centre contact details and address can be found on the
'Contact Us' page of this
website.
- How do I make my visa application?
Please see the 'Applying for
a Visa' page on this website for more information
about how to make an application.
- How do I get my visa and passport
back?
You may choose from 3 options: 1) use the courier
service 2) come to the visa
application centre in person 3) authorise someone
to collect your passport on your behalf (for this you
will need to provide the person collecting your passport
with written authorisation). Please tell VFS staff at
the visa application centre how you would like to collect
your passport when you make your visa application.
- How do I find out about the progress
of my application?
You can track the status of your application from our
website. Please enter your application reference number
and date of birth on our online
application tracking page. You may also purchase
the SMS service when you
submit your application to receive updates through your
cell phone.
- Can my friend or family member
apply for my visa for me?
A friend or family member can assist you with your visa
application but you must ensure the information is correct,
sign the visa application form and visit the visa application
centre. You will have to attend the visa application
centre to submit your biometric
data. If you provide false information, documents
or passports in support of your visa application, you
will be refused a visa and all future applications will
be refused for up to 10 years.
- What if I do not understand English?
You must complete your visa application form in English.
The information on the UK Border Agency website is provided
in English so you are advised to use the free translation
tools available on some web browsers. VFS staff at the
visa application centre speak Chinese, Taiwanese and
English. We may be unable to accept an application where
the applicant does not understand one of those languages..
In such cases we would advise the applicant to apply
for a visa in their home country.
- What supporting documents should
I submit with my application?
This depends on what type of visa you are applying for.
Please see the Document Checklists
page on this website. If you provide false information,
documents or passports in support of your visa application,
you will be refused a visa and all future applications
will be refused for up to 10 years.
- Can I live permanently in the
UK?
If you are not a British or European Economic Area (EEA)
national and you wish to settle permanently in the UK,
you must get a visa before you travel to the UK. For
more information, visit the UK
Border Agency website.
- Can my children join me in or
travel with me to the UK?
The rules concerning children are quite complicated,
but in many cases, they may be permitted to join you.
They may need a visa before they travel to the UK. Please
see the Family members guidance on the UK Border Agency
website for more information.
- Can I study in the UK?
For more information on studying in the UK visit the
UK
Border Agency website. The British
Council website also provides advice and guidance.
- Can I work in the UK?
Visitors are not allowed to work in the UK. Information
on work
permit holders and their dependant's can be found
on the UK Border Agency website. Some students may take
employment, but with restrictions. There are also a
number of other immigration categories that allow people
to take employment in the UK.
- How do I sponsor an application?
You can find more information on Sponsors
on the UK Border Agency website.
- Do I need to send my visitor
a sponsorship form?
There is no offical sponsorship form you need to complete.
However a letter from you detailing your occupation
and salary and, if you will be financing the visit,
evidence of your ability to do so, would be helpful.
- How long will my visa be valid
for?
The period for which your visa is valid is always shown
on the visa placed in your passport . If you do not
plan to travel immediately, you can ask for the visa
to be post-dated and for the start date to be deferred
by up to 3 months. You must advise the VFS visa application
centre staff of this when you make your application.
- What is the latest date I can
arrive in the UK with my visa?
The expiry date will be shown on the visa, but remember
that this is also the last day on which you are permitted
to stay in the UK.
- How long can I stay?
The last day on which you may enter or be in the UK
is the expiry date on the visa. For visitors, this is
normally a maximum of 6 months. This does not mean that
you can stay for 6 months from your date of entry, the
6 months starts from the date printed on your visa.
- Can I use the visa to enter the
UK more than 1 time?
In general UK visas are usually valid for multiple entries
to the UK, until the expiry date shown on the visa.
If they are not, you will be informed by the UK Border
Agency.
- If my travel plans are delayed,
can the validity of my visa be changed?
No, except where there are compelling compassionate
circumstances. At the discretion of a UK Border Agency
visa officer, the expiry date of a visa can be extended
for up to 3 months, provided there has been no change
in your circumstances. Otherwise you should apply for
another visa.
- What if my reason for going to
the UK changes?
A visa is normally issued for a specific purpose. If
your reason for going to the UK changes, you should
inform the UK Border Agency, preferably the one that
issued your visa. You may be asked to make another visa
application or provide additional supporting documents.
- Can I extend my stay in the UK?
If you are a visa national coming for a short visit
to the UK, you are not allowed to extend your stay or
change from being a visitor to another category. If
you are coming to the UK for another reason, you may
be allowed to extend your stay. Please see the information
on the UK Border Agency on extending
your stay.
- How much does a UK visa cost?
Please see the Visa Application
Fee page on this website for more information. 26.
- How long does it take to get
a UK visa?
Please see the information on the guide
to processing times page on this website
- Will I need an interview?
The majority of visa applications made to the UK Border
Agency do not require an interview. In some cases we
may require further information which may mean that
you should provide additional documents or come in for
an interview. Before we see your application we cannot
say for sure whether an interview will be required.
If we do require one, we will arrange with you a suitable
time and day for this.
- Why do I have to wait for an
interview date?
When a visa officer cannot make a decision about issuing
you a visa immediately, you may be asked to attend an
interview. Though we aim to do this within 10 days,
this may be longer, depending on when you apply and
how many other interviews we have booked that month.
Always try to make your application well in advance
of your intended travel date.
- What if I have been refused a
visa or entry to the United Kingdom before?
If we have referred a previous visa application; or
you have been refused a visa for entry into the UK by
an immigration officer or an extension of your visa,
it does not necessarily mean that you will not be allowed
to enter the UK again, but it is very important that
you tell the UK Border Agency visa officer of this and
that you indicate this on your application form. Such
applications are likely to take more time to process.
Note: If you would not normally need a visa, you will
not be prevented from travelling to the UK, but you
may have problems when you arrive. If you provide false
information, documents or passports in support of your
visa application, you will be refused a visa and all
future applications will be refused for up to 10 years.
- What if I have been refused a
visa for or entry to another country?
Each visa application for the UK is dealt with on its
own merits, but a UK Border Agency visa officer may
want to know why another country refused you a visa
or entry.
- What happens if my visa is refused?
If your application is refused, you will get a written
notice explaining why. For more information on the Appeals
process please visit the 'Appeals
and admin review' page on this website.
- How long will my appeal take?
The UK Border Agency has no control over when your appeal
will be heard. It can take some time and depends on
a number of things. This can include the type of case
(visitor, settlement) and whether you have asked for
the case to be heard orally, so your sponsor can give
evidence. Visitor appeals are usually heard within 6
months of being lodged; for other categories, including
settlement, it can take up to 9 months.
- What happens if I win my appeal?
Your determination will be sent from the Asylum and
Immigration Tribunal to the UK Border Agency in the
United Kingdom, who then sends it to Manila. It can
take several weeks before this arrives with the visa
officer at the British Embassy in Manila. You should
allow at least 6 weeks from the date, you or
your representative, received your appeal determination
before you contact the UK Border Agency at the British
Embassy in Manila. The visa officer in Manila cannot
process your visa application until they get the copy
of your determination from official sources. For more
information and for contact details please see the 'appeals'
page on this website.
- Who do I contact if I have a
complaint, suggestion or enquiry?
Please see the 'Customer Service'
page on this website for information about how to make
a complaint or provide feedback. If you want to make
an enquiry about the visa application process please
see the VFS contact details on the 'Contact
Us' page of this website.
The information contained on the website has been
created in respect of applications submitted in Taiwan.
Some pages and some information contained in UK Border
Agency website may not be applicable to visa applications
submitted in Taiwan. If in doubt please contact the
VFS visa application centre staff.
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