Very Important Person (VIP) Delegate Visa

Overview of the Very Important Person (VIP) Delegate Visa

The Very Important Person (VIP) Delegate visa is a specialist temporary visa aimed at government officials coming to the UK with an international head of state or serving government minister on an official visit.

Each official visitor to the UK is eligible to bring with them either:

• Up to 20 people with a head of state
• Up to 10 people with a government minister

However, the number of VIP delegates can be combined if more than one eligible person is coming to the UK, as long as the overall total limit is not exceeded. For instance, a serving government minister travelling with a head of state can bring up to 30 delegates.

If numbers in the delegation party exceed the maximum limit, the additional delegates should instead apply for a Visitor visa.

A VIP Delegate visa allows its holder to enter the UK only once. This visa is not designed for individuals who are exempt from immigration control, such as sovereigns, heads of state or consular officers. If you are exempt from immigration control, you should apply for an exempt vignette instead.

What is the Eligibility Criteria for the VIP Delegate Visa?

You must meet the following requirements in order to be eligible for a VIP Delegate visa.

Age Requirement

You must be aged at least 18 or over at the time of application.

Purpose of Travel

To be eligible for this visa, you must be visiting the UK with the sole intention and purpose of accompanying a head of state or serving government minister. The head of state or minister must be travelling on official business on behalf of their government.

Government Official Criteria

You must be a serving government official to qualify for this visa. This means that you must be employed by your government in an equivalent role that would normally be carried out by a civil servant in the UK governmental system.

Note that the following roles are typically not eligible for a VIP Delegate visa:

• Private individuals such as journalists or businesspeople
• International Protection Officers, Royal Protection Officers or Personal Protection Officers, even if they are employed by the government

In the above cases, a standard Visitor visa must be applied for in order to cover the visit.

Note Verbale

A Note Verbale is an official diplomatic communication that must be provided with each VIP Delegate visa application.

The Note Verbale provided in support of your application must be issued by your government and include a full list of the individuals accompanying the head of state or government minister on official business.

The Note Verbale must also confirm the following information:

• Your name, date of birth and passport number
• Confirmation of the title or purpose of the official visit
• The dates of the official visit
• Confirmation that your application is supported by the delegation’s country
• Confirmation that you will have sufficient funds to cover all reasonable costs relating to your visit without unauthorised working or accessing public funds

The Note Verbale must have been issued prior to the application date and not have been withdrawn after the issue date.

Dates of Travel

Your intended dates of travel must line up and be consistent with the dates of the official visit as indicated on the Note Verbale included in the application. The VIP Delegate visa must only be used for travel pertaining to the official government visit and must not be used for other travel purposes such as general tourism.

How Long is a VIP Delegate Visa Valid For?

VIP Delegate visas are normally only issued for the duration of the official visit, with an additional three days before the visit’s commencement and an additional three days after the visit’s end in order to help facilitate travel.

VIP Delegate visas cannot be issued for periods of time longer than one month.

If you are looking to visit the UK for a period of time longer than one month, you must instead apply for a standard Visitor visa.

How to Apply for the VIP Delegate Visa

Applications for the VIP Delegate visa must be made online via the official gov.uk website.

When asked which visa type you wish to apply for, you must select ‘Exempt Vignette’ and then select the VIP Delegate visa option on the ‘Category of application’ screen.

You will then be prompted to register an email and fill in your personal details.

You should fill in the application to completion as truthfully as you can. You can then submit the application once completed.

Your official supporting documents must be submitted in person at a local official visa application centre. (VAC) This can be done either by you, the principal applicant, or a representative from your government, such as a delegate from your Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

You will not be required to provide your biometric information when applying for this visa.

Required Documents for the VIP Delegate Visa

You must ensure the following documents are submitted to your local VAC to support your application:

• A passport-sized photo that meets UK passport photo standards
• Your passport (original, not a copy)
• A valid Note Verbale that contains all relevant information about yourself and the visit as outlined in the eligibility criteria section above

What Are the Costs and Processing Times?

It is free to apply for a VIP Delegate visa, as long as you meet all the requirements for the visa and your name is confirmed in the official Note Verbale issued by your government as being a part of the official delegation visiting the UK.

Once your online application and your physical documents have been submitted to your local VAC, the VAC will inform you of the decision on your application within 10 working days.

If your application is successful, you will be issued with a visa valid for the official visit outlined in your Note Verbale.

If your application is unsuccessful, you will be informed of the reasons why and also what your next steps may be, such as if you will be able to re-submit your application again.

What Can I Do With a VIP Delegate Visa?

If granted a VIP Delegate visa, you will be able to:

• Visit the UK on an official visit with your head of state or government minister
• Stay in the UK for the duration of the official visit (up to one month) with an additional three days before and after the visit’s dates to allow for travel

You will not be able to:

• Settle in the UK
• Work or study
• Bring dependents with you
• Switch to another visa route while in the UK

How Can IAS Help With Your UK Visa Application?

IAS have a team of immigration advisers and caseworkers experienced in the field of UK immigration law.

Regardless of where you’re coming from or what your chosen immigration pathway is, we can help you with almost all UK immigration and visa cases, using our years of experience and compassionate customer service to help get you to where you need to go.

We also offer fast-track and urgent application packages if you need to submit your application to a deadline.

Don’t hesitate to reach out for help on your situation today. Call us on +44 (0)333 414 9244 or reach out to us online.