The Visa Application Centre (VAC) at British Consulate-General now asks all visa applicants to use our online applications system, visa4uk. We are confident that you will find this a straightforward process, but this page has additional information which aims to answer any questions you may have about the online application process.

How do I make a new online application?

Just click on the link here and you will go straight to our online application system. A new web browser will open.

When the visa4UK window opens:

• Click on NEW VISA APPLICATION in the left-hand navigation panel.
• Please read the text on the visa4UK carefully. It has important information and guidance to help you through the application process.
• At the bottom of the page, click the small box to confirm that you have read the information given and the guidance note appropriate to the type of visa you want to apply for. If you haven’t read the guidance notes you can find these on our Application forms and guidance page. We strongly advise that you read the guidance before going ahead with your application.
• Click Continue.
• Enter the requested details on the Application Security page. Make sure you make a secure note of the email and password that you choose, so that you can find your booking again later. Click Next to continue.
• The Your Visa Requirements page will open. Please note that due to some temporary errors with the system, some countries and nationalities may not appear in the drop-down lists. We are aware that currently (as of 10 July 2008) in some cases Macao SAR, India and United Kingdom may not appear. If you find this problem, please choose Hong Kong and when you come to our VAC, advise our staff and we will correct this for you.
  
  As you make each selection on this page, wait for a short time while the page refreshes and prepares a new drop-down list for the next question.
  
  Current location: where you will apply for your visa, or where you are living. Please note that, unless you are applying for a visit visa, we will accept your application in Hong Kong only if you hold a BN(O) passport, a HKSAR or Macao SAR travel document, or are legally resident in Hong Kong or Macao.
  
  Country of Nationality: the country which issued your passport or travel document. If you hold a refugee travel document you should choose one of the Refugee options, or the Stateless option, depending on the type of travel document you hold.
  
  Purpose of visit and Type of visit: If you are not sure what to choose, please refer to our application types page.
  
  Continue completing the questions as they are presented to you. Click on the question marks where you see them for help. When entering details about yourself, if you have no details to enter (for example Other names) leave that question blank. Please do not type N/A or any other text.
  
  When you are asked questions amount money, please type the full name of the currency you are using, for example 2,000 UK pounds, 10,000 HKG dollars or 5,000 Macau Patacas. You will not be able to use the $ or £ symbols.
  
  If you have a negative UK immigration history, or you believe your application may be complicated, please make full use of the Additional information page. We will not usually interview you about your application and you may be able to save time, or even avoid a visa refusal by explaining your circumstances.
  
  Don’t forget you can save your application at certain points in the process. This can be useful if you need to take a break to find information, or if you do not have enough time to complete the online application.
  
  Once you have answered all the questions you will be asked to read and ‘sign’ a declaration. You must do this to complete the online process. To ‘sign’ your application, simply type your name in the box.
  
  If you have reviewed your answers and are satisfied that you have answered them all correctly, click on Next.
  
  Please make sure that you have answered fully all the questions you have been asked. Missing, or wrong information may affect the outcome of your application.
  
  Unless you are a diplomat travelling on business, or other person with exempt status, you must make your application in person to our visa section. If you are exempt, you may send a representative to lodge the application for you. However, in all cases you will need to choose In Person as the method of application.

Making your appointment

• After your have completed your application, you will be asked to make an appointment. To go to another month from the one first shown, just click on the month name on the calendar. Next, click on the day you want to come, and then the time you want to come.
• If you are not ready to make an appointment at this stage, you can save your application and return within seven days to book your appointment. If you wait for more than seven days, you will need to create another online application.
• To make, change, or cancel your appointment you can go to the visa4UK home page and choosing EXISTING VISA APPLICATIONS.
• Don't forget to print your completed visa application form. You need to bring this to the VAC when you come for your appointment. If you forget to print it after you finish making your online application, you can go back to your application later. Please also print the relevant checklist for supporting documents and complete this before coming to the VAC.
  

Email confirmations

• You will receive emails confirmation of completed or saved application and of your appointment date and time, if you have made one. 
• Please read your Completed Application email carefully. It will contain important information about bringing your application to our VAC.

What if something goes wrong?

• You cannot delete a completed or saved application. If you choose not to go ahead with your completed application it will be deleted from our system after seven days. But please cancel your appointment so that the time is available for another applicant.
• If you have completed the online process you will not be able to change any of the details you gave. If you want to change something, for example if you have given incorrect details or made a mistake, or perhaps want to apply for a different type of visa, simply start a new application. If you have made a small error or were not able to give the correct information online, simply correct your printed application form by hand and tell one of our staff when you submit your application.

How do I change or cancel an application?

• You cannot cancel an online application once you have saved it or completed the process. However, if you do not come to our VAC to complete your application, the data you have entered will be deleted from our system after seven days.
• You cannot change any details of your application once you have completed your online application, but if you have saved your application before completing it you, can return to the application to make changes and / or complete the application and make your appointment. Your saved application will be available to change for seven days. Click on the visa4UK logo or go to www.visa4uk.fco.gov.uk and click on Existing Applications.
• Type in your application reference number, email address and password.

How do I make, change or cancel an appointment?

• Go to www.visa4uk.fco.gov.uk and click on Existing Applications.
• Type in your appointment or application reference number, email address and password.
• Select Change your Visa Appointment or Cancel your Visa Appointment.
  

Where can I go for more help?

• If you have been unable to complete your application successfully using the online help, these notes and our guidance notes, you may send an email to our email enquiry line given on this website and we will try to help you further. 
  
• We recommend that you do not call our telephone enquiry service for specific guidance on how to complete the  online application as this enquiry line is operated by a commercial partner and their staff are not specifically trained to answer questions on the online application system.