Online visa application procedure:

You can reach the online application by going to this website: http://www.visa4uk.fco.gov.uk/

Please be sure to read all the instructions and conditions presented here before proceeding to complete the online application.

• Procedures for residents of Venezuela – Choose this option if you are a Venezuelan citizen who is not a holder of the new biometric passport with an electronic chip, or if you are a resident but not a national of Venezuela.
• Procedures for residents of the Netherland Antilles and Aruba – Choose this option if you are a resident but not a national of Aruba or any of the Netherland Antilles islands.
  

Conditions:

Please take into account the following:

• The British Embassy, Caracas no longer accepts any form of physical payment at its premises.
• Please remember to bring proof of payment with your application.
• Dependants are charged the same fee as the main applicant. All dependants who are travelling must pay the fee whether or not they are included in the main applicant's passport.
• The visa application fee reflects the administrative costs of processing an application and is not refundable if your application is refused.
• The Biometric Enrolment Section (BES) at the British Embassy, Caracas, DOES NOT accept any visa enquiries either by email, phone, post, courier, fax or walk-ins. UK Border Agency and the Biometric Enrolment Section (BES) in Caracas work in partnership with a commercial organisation: WorldBridge. You can find out whether you need a visa and how to apply through WorldBridge's website: www.visainfoservices.com. WorldBridge also provides information through an e-mail and telephone enquiry service, the number is 00 44 20 8819 9658 and costs US$13. All the information provided is supplied and approved by UKvisas.

Requirements for the visa appointment:

• A completed printed online application form. (Anyone without a completed application form in ENGLISH will not be admitted.)
• All visa applications should include ORIGINALS and PHOTOCOPIES of supporting documents. If you do not provide the full documentation, your application may be refused. For additional information about the documents you will need for your application, see UK Border Agency's Supporting Documents Checklist www.ukvisas.gov.uk/en/howtoapply/vafs/vafsdocschecklist . 
• One passport-size, colour photograph (45mm x 35m). The photo should be taken against a light coloured (white, off-white etc.) background; unmounted, clear and of good quality; printed on normal photographic paper; full face without sunglasses, hat or other head covering unless for ethnic or religious reasons. We will not accept photographs which do not meet these specifications. 
• Passport with at least 6 months validity.

Return mailing of passport and documents:

• There are two methods of return services for residents of Venezuela:
        1. You may collect all documents at the British Embassy for no additional charge; or
        2. You may submit a pre-paid completed DHL envelope with your application.
• Residents of the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba will have already paid for UPS return on payment of fees.

Note on supporting documents:

• Only original documents will be accepted. The Biometric Enrolment Section (BES) at the British Embassy, Caracas, will not accept scanned or faxed documents.
• Documents (letters, etc.) must be in English.
• Non-Venezuelan/UK documents must be legalised/apostilled by the relevant authority of the country where they were issued.
• Both an original and photocopy versions of the supporting documents must be included in your application.

Biometric requirements:

All visa applicants must appear in person at the Biometric Enrolment Section (BES) at the British Embassy in Caracas or at the British Consulate in Curaçao to have their fingerscans and a digital photograph taken.

Fingerscans
You must have your fingerscans taken. The fingerscan procedure uses an electronic scanner. No ink, liquid or chemical will be used and the procedure will normally take no more than two minutes to complete. If you refuse to provide fingerscans, your application cannot be processed. You should ensure that your fingertips are free from any forms of decoration (henna, for example), abrasions or other markings, as these may affect your ability to provide acceptable fingerscans. Your application cannot be processed until you are able to provide acceptable fingerscans.

Photographs
You will be required to have a digital photo taken at the time the fingerscans are performed. These photos will be taken with full face and without sunglasses, hat or other head covering, unless the head cover is worn for cultural or religious reasons. Please do not wear white clothing as this can affect the quality of the picture.

Processing time:

Notice: WorldBridge Service does not provide status checks on applications submitted in the United States. The British Consulate-General in New York will communicate with applicants via email once the application has been received.

On average, straight forward applications are processed within 20 business days from receipt of application. Settlement applications may take up to 12 weeks to process. Processing times are regional averages only. Processing may take longer depending on the individual's application and is subject to seasonal delays. No refunds will be issued to callers enquiring for status checks.

The British Consulate-General in New York strongly advises that during the months of May to September, when demand is at its peak, you apply eight to ten weeks in advance of your planned departure.

Students please note: You should not apply for your visa more than three months in advance of the start of your course. Students cannot enter the UK more than one month before the start of their course (one week for students studying for less than six months). It is, therefore, important that your letter of acceptance from your school or university provide details of the start date and the length of the course.

Interview procedures:

Exceptionally, a telephone interview may need to be scheduled, however, Entry Clearance staff reserve the right to make decisions based on the documents submitted with the application. Therefore, it is essential that you submit all relevant documents with the initial application. Should an interview be required, then you will be offered the first available telephone interview date.

Children under 10 years old, applying for entry clearance to the UK, will not be interviewed. However, where the child is travelling alone, an interview may be carried out with a responsible adult (e.g. parent or guardian). Children aged between 10 and 14 will only be interviewed in the presence of a responsible adult. Children aged over 14 will be interviewed alone.

Visa application hours:

All applications for visas at the British Embassy, Caracas: Monday - Friday, by appointment only.

All applications for visas at the British Consulate, Curaçao: by appointment only.