UK Visa application centres

UK Visa application centres are changing !

Visa application centres are operated by commercial partners (also known as ‘suppliers’) on behalf of UK Visas and Immigration.

In some locations, the commercial partner will change.

This means you may start your visa application with one commercial partner and finish it with another commercial partner.

Applications inside the UK

On 15 October, the commercial partner for UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services will change from Sopra Steria to TLScontact. Appointments on or after 15 October will be at TLScontact service points.

Appointment availability may be limited for a short period of time.

Why not contact Wafi Solicitors to assist you with your application – Call 02071933839 now!

This change will not affect:

• the decision on your application
• how long it takes to get a decision

Applications outside the UK

Between September 2024 and January 2025, the commercial partner will change from TLScontact to VFS Global in some locations in:

• Africa
• Europe
• the Middle East
• Central Asia

Other parts of the world are not affected.

What you need to do

If your application is affected, you will get emails from TLScontact and VFS Global.

Read all emails you receive from TLScontact and VFS Global. They may have actions you need to take to continue your application.

Check your junk folders to make sure you have not missed anything.

To confirm the email is genuine, check the sender’s email address ends in either:

• @tlscontact.com
• @vfsglobal.com

If you booked an appointment with TLScontact

Attend your appointment as normal. Check your email confirmation for the address of your appointment.

If you change your appointment, you may need to pay the mandatory user pay (MUP) fee again. If this happens, ask TLScontact to refund your MUP fee.

If you want to get in touch about the service you received from TLScontact, go to the TLScontact website. Choose the relevant country and visa application centre, then follow the link to the help page.

What will not be affected

These changes will not affect:

• the decision on your application
• how long it takes to get a decision

Locations changing commercial partner

From 22 October, VFS Global will operate visa application centres in these locations:

• Algeria
• Democratic Republic of the Congo
• Gabon
• Gambia
• Ghana
• Ivory Coast
• Kenya
• Madagascar
• Mauritius
• Morocco
• Seychelles
• South Africa
• Tunisia

From 5 November, VFS Global will operate visa application centres in these locations:

• Cyprus (North)
• France
• Iraq
• Israel
• Jordan
• Kazakhstan
• Kyrgyzstan
• Lebanon
• the Occupied Palestinian Territories
• Tajikistan
• Turkey
• Ukraine
• Uzbekistan

Locations that have already changed commercial partner

The visa application centre in Belgium is now operated by VFS Global.

Other locations

More locations will be added to this page. Get emails about this page to find out when it is updated.

Find a visa application centre for opening times, addresses and contact details.