Processing
Returning Resident visa processing time from India
Direct answer
Reviewed by UK Visa Desk counselling team, Visa counsellors, Pro Lifeset Overseas Pvt Ltd, Patiala. Licence 849/DC/PTA/PLA/LC-3/2024. Last verified .
Standard service
12 weeks
From biometrics at VFS to the decision email
Verified 8 October 2026
Priority
30 working days
Bought at the VFS appointment
Verified 8 October 2026
Super priority
Not offered
End of the next working day after biometrics
Verified 8 October 2026
What slows Indian files
- Bank statements that need verification with the branch; Indian co-operative and small private banks take longest.
- A sponsor in the UK whose status or income is checked against HMRC records.
- Peak months: May to July for students, October to December for visitors before the holidays.
- Any previous refusal, which moves the file to a more senior officer.
Related questions
How much does the Returning Resident visa cost?ShowHide
£726 on gov.uk as of 8 October 2026. There is no health surcharge because the visa restores settlement. Priority settlement service, where offered, costs £500 extra.
I was away for 2 years and 3 months. Have I lost my ILR?ShowHide
Yes. Indefinite leave lapses after 2 continuous years outside the UK, even by a few months. You need a Returning Resident visa or a new visa on another route. A short absence over the limit with strong UK ties is the easiest case to win.
What counts as strong ties?ShowHide
Family who are British or settled, a home you own or rent, a UK job or business, a pension, bank accounts you kept open, children in UK schools, and regular visits during the absence. Officers look at the whole picture against the length of time away.
Tools
Fee calculator in rupees
Every Home Office fee and the health surcharge, totalled in rupees at a dated rate.
Document checklist generator
A checklist for your route and situation, sent on WhatsApp.
Processing times tracker
Standard, priority and super priority times for Indian applicants, updated monthly.
Refusal reason decoder
Paste the paragraph from your refusal letter and read what it means.
Related routes
- Punjab licence: 849/DC/PTA/PLA/LC-3/2024valid to 22 July 2029
- CIN: U52291PB2024PTC060508Pro Lifeset Overseas Pvt Ltd
Pro Lifeset Overseas Pvt Ltd, licence 849/DC/PTA/PLA/LC-3/2024. Applicants outside the UK only; applicants in the UK are referred to a regulated adviser.