Version 12.0 of the UK Visas and Immigration staff guidance on validating, varying, voiding and withdrawing applications, updated on 16 October 2026, reflects the Autumn 2026 changes to Part 1 on biometrics and fee waivers.
Key facts
- Who: Applicants for entry clearance, permission to enter and stay, and settlement, and the caseworkers who decide whether their applications are valid. The guidance does not apply to Appendix EU, the Windrush Scheme, the Windrush Compensation Scheme or Appendix Electronic Travel Authorisation.
- From: Guidance updated 16 October 2026; version 12.0 published for Home Office staff on 14 October 2026. The source does not give a separate date from which the Autumn 2026 changes take effect.
- Source: Validation, variation, voiding and withdrawal of applications (accessible)
UK Visas and Immigration has published version 12.0 of its staff guidance on validating, varying, voiding and withdrawing applications. The page shows an update date of 16 October 2026, and the guidance says version 12.0 was published for Home Office staff on 14 October 2026.
The listed changes from the last version are:
- changes to reflect the Autumn 2026 changes to Part 1 around biometrics and fee waivers;
- a new section on "Rule 34k and dependents", covering cases where the main applicant has left the Common Travel Area but some dependents have not;
- removal of content that duplicated the identity standards guidance;
- removal of obsolete references.
The extract available to us does not set out the new Rule 34k section or the detail of the Autumn 2026 rule changes, so this item does not describe them.
The guidance also restates existing validity processes. Where a requirement can be met, caseworkers use the "Validity reminder in and out of country" template and give the applicant 14 days. If the fee has not been paid and no fee waiver was sought, the applicant is given 10 working days to pay before the application is rejected as invalid. "Fee" includes the application fee and any Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS).
On biometrics, an application cannot normally be valid if required biometric information has not been provided, unless the applicant is exempt or excused. For applications made outside the UK, the applicant must book and attend an appointment to enrol biometrics within 240 days of submitting the online application. If they have not done so within that time, the application is not complete and is automatically deleted.
For fee waivers, an applicant applying online must apply for and obtain a fee waiver before submitting the application. An applicant using a paper form, where a waiver is available, can apply for it at the same time.
What this means for applicants
Applications are checked against the validity requirements for the route. If a requirement has not been met and the applicant can fix it, the Home Office will normally write with a deadline: 14 days for most corrections, or 10 working days for an unpaid fee. If the applicant does not act, the application can be rejected as invalid.
Online applicants who need a fee waiver must have it before they submit. Those applying from outside the UK must enrol biometrics within 240 days of submitting the online application.
Related guide
Sources
- Validation, variation, voiding and withdrawal of applications (accessible), UK Visas and Immigration, updated 16 October 2026