Administrative Review

Administrative Review in the UK: Overview and Latest Updates

Administrative Review is a process in the UK immigration system that allows eligible applicants to challenge certain refusal or cancellation decisions made by the Home Office. It is intended to identify and correct caseworking errors without requiring the applicant to immediately pursue judicial review proceedings.

Key Features of Administrative Review

Eligibility:

• Applicants who have received an eligible immigration or visa decision may be able to request an administrative review.
• Administrative review is only available for certain types of decisions. The applicant’s decision letter will confirm whether they have a right to administrative review and explain how to apply.
• The route applies to certain refusals of applications for permission to stay or entry clearance, as well as certain decisions cancelling immigration permission.

Grounds for Review:

The review allows applicants to raise permitted caseworking errors, such as an incorrect application of the Immigration Rules, a factual error, or a failure to properly consider relevant evidence or information.

Application Process:

• If the applicant is in the UK and is not detained, an administrative review request must generally be submitted within 14 calendar days of receiving the decision.
• If the applicant is outside the UK and the decision concerns an entry clearance application, the request must generally be submitted within 28 calendar days of receiving the decision.
• If the applicant is detained under the Immigration Acts when they receive the decision, the time limit is generally 7 calendar days.
• Administrative review applications are normally submitted online, and the applicant must explain the caseworking errors they believe were made.

Fees:

• The fee for an administrative review is currently £80.
• The fee may be refunded if the application is rejected as invalid or if the review results in the decision being withdrawn or permission being granted, depending on the circumstances.

Decision Process:

• The administrative review is carried out by a different caseworker from the person who made the original decision.
• The reviewer considers the permitted caseworking errors raised in the review and determines whether the original decision should remain in place or be corrected.
• Processing times can vary significantly. GOV.UK currently states that overseas visa administrative reviews can take 12 months or more, so applicants should not assume that a decision will be made within 28 days.

Possible Outcomes:

• The original decision is upheld.
• The original decision is withdrawn or corrected because a caseworking error is identified.
• Further action may be required, such as additional checks or consideration of the application again.

Latest Updates

Digital Submission:

Administrative review applications can be submitted online through the official GOV.UK service, making the process more accessible to applicants.

Processing Timeframes:

Processing times have increased significantly in some cases. Applicants should check the latest GOV.UK guidance rather than relying on the previous 28-day timeframe. For overseas visa administrative reviews, current guidance states that the result can take 12 months or more.

Updated Guidance:

The Home Office continues to update its Administrative Review guidance and Immigration Rules. Applicants should carefully check their decision letter to confirm whether they have a right to administrative review, the applicable deadline, and the correct procedure for submitting the request.

Administrative Review can be an important way to challenge an eligible immigration decision where a caseworking error may have affected the outcome. However, because strict deadlines apply, applicants should act promptly and obtain appropriate immigration advice where necessary.

Written on: 28 August 2026