Current wait times

🇬🇧 United Kingdom Visa Processing Times

Typical processing times from each East African city — covering both the time to get an appointment and the time for the embassy to process your application after submission.

Processing times are estimates based on reported patterns. Actual times vary significantly with staffing, season, and individual case complexity. Always add 2–4 weeks buffer and never book non-refundable travel until your visa is in hand.

Standard VisitorTourist / Visitor

Visitor Visa

City	Processing time	Appointment wait	Note
🇰🇪 Nairobi	15–21 days	1–3 weeks at VFS Nairobi	UK visitor visa processing is usually reliable within 3 weeks. Priority and Super Priority upgrades available.
🇷🇼 Kigali	15–28 days	1–2 weeks at VFS Kigali	Kigali VFS is usually less congested than Nairobi.
🇺🇬 Kampala	15–28 days	1–2 weeks at VFS Kampala
🇹🇿 Dar es Salaam	15–28 days	1–2 weeks at VFS Dar es Salaam
🇪🇹 Addis Ababa	15–28 days	1–3 weeks at VFS Addis Ababa

Peak season: Summer (Jun–Aug) and December are peak periods. Appointment slots fill quickly — book 4+ weeks ahead.

Fast track: Priority service: 5 business days (approx. £250 extra). Super Priority: next business day (approx. £800 extra). Available at most VFS offices in East Africa.

Last updated: 2025-05

Student RouteStudent

Student Visa

City	Processing time	Appointment wait	Note
🇰🇪 Nairobi	15–21 days	1–3 weeks at VFS Nairobi	Apply up to 6 months before your course start date. You can only apply after receiving your CAS from your university.

Peak season: June–August is extremely busy for UK student visa applications. Priority service is strongly recommended.

Fast track: Priority (5 working days) strongly recommended for students. Super Priority available but expensive.

Last updated: 2025-05

Plan your application timeline

Use the timeline calculator to build a week-by-week schedule based on your travel date and these processing times.

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