Access UK is a user-friendly online visa application service provided by UKVI that is now available to South African customers applying for a visa to visit the United Kingdom. This new service is aimed at enhancing the current UK Visa application process and ensuring that it is simple, less admin-intensive and less stressful for customers.
Access UK is now available in South Africa for customers who wish to apply for a standard Visitor, Visitor (Marriage and Civil Partnership) or Visitor (Permitted Paid Engagement) visa.
South Africans applying for a UK visit visa can do so on the Access UK online platform by visiting https://www.gov.uk/apply-uk-visa or by visiting the website and selecting the option “apply using the new service”.
This new online service is beneficial for customers as the application form is shorter, with logically-ordered, relevant questions which are based on the customers’ feedback. The online application form which can also be accessed on mobile devices can also be reviewed, edited and downloaded at any point before submission. In addition, Access UK is beneficial as it allows customers to apply for a visit visa, book an appointment at a Visa Application Centre near them as well as pay online for their application through the standard, priority or super-priority visa services.
Following the success of the service in mainland China and India, Access UK has received extremely positive ratings and feedback from customers, with an 8 out of 10 average rating from customers. Improvements based on customer suggestions are also being made to the online service since its launch in China to improve the design, clarity, and flow of the service and ensure a favourable customer experience.
Access UK is provided in parallel with Visa4UK website but over time all customers applying for visit visas to the UK will be redirected to the new Access UK service and Visa4UK will still be available as a service for other types of visa applications and customer groups.
South African customers applying for a visa to visit the UK are encouraged to make use of Access UK for a hassle-free and beneficial visa application process.
