GENERAL VISA GUIDANCE

Extend or switch a UK visa: general in-country guidance

An extension continues permission on an available route; switching means applying in the UK under a different route. The rules depend on the applicant’s current permission and intended category.

Reviewed 11 August 2026 by the KR Services editorial team · Always check the official source before applying

BEFORE YOU START

Costs, funds and key figures

An extension, update or switch is not a single visa category. The current route, intended route, expiry date and inside-UK switching restrictions determine whether an application can be made. Visitors and people on several short-term routes often cannot switch.

Figures checked against the official source on 7 August 2026. Government charges and rules can change.

Application feeDepends on the route

Use the inside-UK fee for the destination route. Examples: Student £558; Skilled Worker £943 up to 3 years or £1,865 over 3 years; eligible family route £1,407.

Verify with GOV.UK ↗Healthcare surchargeUsually charged

Inside-UK applications usually attract IHS for any length of limited permission: commonly £776 yearly for Students and under-18s, or £1,035 yearly for most others.

Verify with GOV.UK ↗Financial evidenceRoute-specific

Student and sponsored-work applicants with valid UK permission for at least 12 months may be exempt from proving maintenance, but the route page must be checked.

Verify with GOV.UK ↗Before startingCheck current permission

Record visa type, expiry date, sponsor or CAS details and the official switching exclusions. Apply before current permission expires where the route permits.

Verify with GOV.UK ↗

2026 COST ESTIMATE

Other leave to remain calculator

Use the intended visa duration for the IHS estimate. Partial years are calculated by the official application.

Applying fromApplicantsVisa duration in whole yearsDecision service

Application fee£0 each × 1

£0

Indicative IHS£1,035 per person per year × 1 × 1 year

£1,035

Indicative amount payableVerify the exact charge in the official application

£1,035

Extension and switching charges follow the destination route. This is the published ‘Leave to remain — Other’ fee, not a universal switching fee.

Priority and super priority are optional and are not available for every route, location or appointment. Selecting one here does not confirm availability.

General eligibility points

Use these as research prompts. Meeting them does not guarantee a successful application.

The intended route accepts applications from inside the UK.
The current type of permission is not excluded from switching.
The applicant meets the current eligibility requirements for the chosen route.
A valid application can be submitted before current permission expires.

Check eligibility information with GOV.UK ↗

Document checklist

The exact evidence depends on the route and circumstances.

A valid passport and evidence of current UK immigration status.
Evidence required by the intended route.
Sponsor, study, employment, family or financial evidence as applicable.
English-language, TB or identity evidence where required.
A record of application dates and any Home Office correspondence.

Check document information with GOV.UK ↗

WHERE THE APPLICATION IS MADE

Outside and inside the UK are different pathways

Choose the column matching where the applicant will be when they apply. This is general orientation; always check the linked GOV.UK route page.

Outside the UK

Not an outside-UK application category

Extension and switching describe applications made from inside the UK. A person outside the UK should instead open the entry-clearance page for the visa route they want to research.

Open official guidance ↗Inside the UK

Check the intended route’s in-country rules

Some routes can be extended and some accept switching applications. Visitors and people in several short-term categories cannot switch to many long-term routes, so the exact route page and current permission must be checked.

Open official guidance ↗

A CALM ROUTE MAP

Four preparation steps

Check the expiry date and current conditions

Open the official page for the intended route

Read its extension or switching section

Submit a valid application before permission expires

PRIMARY SOURCES

Check the current GOV.UK rules

Government requirements can change. Use these official pages as the authoritative source.

OPTIONAL ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICE

Administrative document checklist — £20 per document

We check legibility, orientation, page order and file naming, and record whether the document type appears on the published GOV.UK checklist you selected. We do not decide whether the document satisfies an immigration requirement or recommend evidence.

Service price£20Per one-page document submitted for administrative checking

Important boundary: this is an administrative comparison, not immigration advice. We do not decide whether a document proves a requirement, is sufficient for a particular case or is likely to be accepted. We do not recommend evidence, interpret refusals or guarantee an outcome. Do not send documents through the enquiry form; secure delivery instructions must be agreed first.

Request a document quality check →

COMMON QUESTIONS

Extensions and switching FAQs

Can every visa be renewed?+

No. Some routes can be extended, some require switching to another route, and others require an application from outside the UK.

Can a visitor switch to a work or study route?+

A visitor normally cannot switch inside the UK to the Skilled Worker or Student route.

What happens after permission expires?+

Overstaying can have serious consequences. This is case-specific and should be discussed promptly with a regulated immigration adviser.