Administrative review applications relating to decisions under Appendix Service Providers from Switzerland are invalid, according to current Home Office caseworker guidance, so affected applicants cannot use the process. This is already in force.
Key facts
- Who: Applicants whose decision was made under Appendix Service Providers from Switzerland
- From: Already in force
- Source: Administrative review: caseworker guidance
The UK Visas and Immigration guidance Administrative review: caseworker guidance (version 18.0, updated 16 October 2026) tells caseworkers how to validate, consider and decide administrative review applications. It relates to Appendix Administrative Review to the Immigration Rules.
Section 5.1 covers eligible decisions under paragraphs AR 2.1-3. Where paragraph AR 1.1 applies, an application must relate to a decision on a specified route. Applications for review of decisions on other routes are not valid. The guidance names four appendices in particular: an application "must not relate to a decision taken under Appendix EU, Appendix EU (Family Permit), Appendix S2 Healthcare Visitor or Appendix Service Providers from Switzerland."
Appendix Service Providers from Switzerland does not appear in the lists of eligible routes in section 2 (decisions to refuse permission to enter or stay) or section 4 (overseas administrative review).
Section 5 says caseworkers must check that an application meets all the requirements in AR 2.1 to AR 2.16. If it does not, they must reject it as invalid under paragraph AR 2.13.
For eligible routes, the guidance sets out these terms:
- The fee is £80.
- The time limit is 14 calendar days for in-country refusals and 28 calendar days for entry clearance refusals.
- The time limit is 7 calendar days if the applicant is detained.
These terms do not make an application under the Swiss route valid.
The guidance's own list of changes in this version refers only to Appendix ECAA Settlement being added to the list of eligible routes.
What this means for applicants
Anyone who has received a decision under Appendix Service Providers from Switzerland cannot ask for an administrative review of it. An application submitted anyway must be rejected as invalid under paragraph AR 2.13.
The guidance says the £80 fee is only refunded if the application is rejected as invalid, or if the review outcome is in the applicant's favour as described in sections 2.4, 3.5 and 4.5. It says the refund should normally be made within 3 weeks of the date of decision. The guidance does not address the Swiss route specifically on refunds.
Related guide: UK visa administrative review
Sources
- Administrative review: caseworker guidance, UK Visas and Immigration, Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0