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Overseas government employees

Image of employees of an overseas government in the United Kingdom.

How long will it take you to process my application?

This page provides details of the time it will take us to process your application for permission to stay or settle in the United Kingdom as an overseas government employee.

We have set out service standards for processing times. These standards provide us with targets that relate to the number of applications we process within certain timescales.

The service standards vary depending on the type of application you are making. The service standards for each application type are shown below.

Entry clearance to come to the United Kingdom as an overseas government employee

This application is processed by your nearest British diplomatic post. You should contact the diplomatic post for details on how long it will take them to process your application.

Extension of stay in the United Kingdom (form FLR(O))

For postal applications, our service standard is that we will decide:

  • 70% of applications within four weeks
  • 90% or applications within 14 weeks.

For applications made in person, our service standard is that we will decide:

  • 90% of applications within 24 hours.

Settlement in the United Kingdom (form SET(O))

For postal applications, our service standard is that we will decide:

  • 70% of applications within four weeks
  • 90% of applications within 14 weeks.

For applications made in person, our service standard is that we will decide:

  • 90% of applications within 24 hours.

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