1. Overview
UK Visa Rejection Rate 2020
The number of Entry Clearance Applications made in 2020 (1,169,394) were nearly three times less than that during 2019 due to Coronavirus pandemic,. Therefore, in 2020, only 1,196,584 decisions made and 996,636 visas granted, 193,272 applications rejected, 6,647 applications withdrawn and 29 applications lapsed. The UK visa approval and rejection rate in 2020 was 83.29% and 16.15%, respectively.
UK Visa Rejection Rate 2019
According to the Official Statistics in 2019, 3,628,404 decisions made and 3,179,235 visas granted, 439,949 applications rejected, 9,155 applications withdrawn and 65 applications lapsed. The UK visa success and refusal rate in 2019 was 87.62% and 12.13%, respectively. Therefore, in 2020, the UK visa rejection rate has increased from 12.13% to 16.15%.
| Application Type | Decisions | Rejection Rate |
| Visitor | 627,805 | 18.84% |
| Work | 132,529 | 4.93% |
| Study | 264,883 | 3.78% |
| Family | 46,496 | 13.05% |
| Dependant Joining or Accompanying | 10,198 | 18.81% |
| EEA Family Permits | 55,765 | 65.05% |
| EUSS Family Permits | 37,122 | 30.38% |
| Transit and Others | 21,786 | 13.30% |
| Total | 1,196,584 | 16.15% |
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2. Visitor Visa
UK Visitor Visa Rejection Rate 2020
During 2020, 589,838 applications submitted, 627,805 decisions made and 506,644 UK visitor visas granted, 118,292 applications rejected, 2,846 applications withdrawn and 23 applications lapsed. Therefore, the UK visitor visa success and refusal rate in 2020 is 80.7% and 18.84%, respectively.
| Nationality | Decisions | Rejection Rate |
| India | 131,600 | 15.19% |
| Nigeria | 56,685 | 39.31% |
| Russia | 49,477 | 3.20% |
| China | 54,845 | 4.96% |
| Pakistan | 35,202 | 39.01% |
| Turkey | 32,020 | 23.42% |
| Thailand | 20,440 | 5.10% |
| Ukraine | 20,206 | 12.26% |
| Saudi Arabia | 20,789 | 0.91% |
| South Africa | 18,096 | 4.10% |
| Egypt | 14,677 | 22.67% |
| Philippines | 11,957 | 14.93% |
| Indonesia | 11,662 | 8.92% |
| Ghana | 10,174 | 46.23% |
| Morocco | 9,492 | 29.25% |
| Bangladesh | 7,898 | 37.91% |
| Albania | 7,325 | 34.21% |
| Algeria | 7,006 | 44.01% |
| Belarus | 5,233 | 3.36% |
| Sri Lanka | 5,355 | 27.86% |
| Other nationalities | 97,666 | 22.68% |
| Total | 627,805 | 18.84% |
3. Study
UK Student Visa Rejection Rate 2020
During 2020, 260,324 applications submitted, 264,883 decisions made, 253,694 UK Student Visas granted, 10,016 applications rejected, 1,171 applications withdrawn and 2 applications lapsed. The UK student visa success rate and refusal rate in 2020 is 95.77% and 3.78%, respectively.
| Type | Decisions | Rejection Rate |
Sponsored Study |
238,328 |
2.34% |
| Students – 51,447 | 44,531 | 2.57% |
| Child Student – 786 | 716 | 0.84% |
| Tier 4 Child Student – 8,373 | 8,638 | 0.58% |
| Tier 4 General Student – 176,637 | 184,443 | 2.37% |
Other Study |
26,555 |
16.76% |
| Short Term Study (Previously Student Visitor) – 23,033 | 26,528 | 16.77% |
| Students Other – 48 | 27 | 3.70% |
| Total | 264,883 | 3.78% |
UK Sponsored Study Visa Rejection Ratio 2020
During 2020, 237,243 applications submitted, 238,328 decisions made, 232,192 UK Sponsored Student Visas granted and 5,565 applications rejected. The UK sponsored student visa success rate and refusal ratio in 2020 is 97.43% and 2.34%, respectively.
| Nationality | Decisions | Rejection Rate |
| China | 82,043 | 0.18% |
| India | 56,754 | 5.78% |
| Nigeria | 13,616 | 3.83% |
| Hong Kong | 8,618 | 0.19% |
| United States | 8,485 | 0.41% |
| Pakistan | 6,850 | 4.28% |
| Saudi Arabia | 5,856 | 2.60% |
| Malaysia | 4,134 | 0.17% |
| Bangladesh | 3,756 | 5.14% |
| Kuwait | 3,065 | 0.23% |
| Korea (South) | 2,619 | 0.15% |
| Canada | 2,313 | 0.17% |
| Russia | 2,125 | 0.42% |
| Taiwan | 1,886 | 0.27% |
| Turkey | 1,876 | 0.85% |
| Thailand | 1,729 | 0.06% |
| Japan | 1,791 | 0.06% |
| Egypt | 1,709 | 1.93% |
| Ghana | 1,587 | 13.86% |
| Indonesia | 1,622 | 0.31% |
| Other nationalities | 25,894 | 2.37% |
| Total | 238,328 | 2.34% |
4. Family Visa
UK Family (Spouse) Visa Rejection Rate 2020
In 2020, 41,901 applications submitted, 46,496 decisions made, 40,255 UK family visas granted and 6,068 applications rejected. The UK family (spouse) visa success and refusal rate 2020 is 86.58% and 13.05%, respectively.
Please note, the UK family visa route covers visas where an individual is applying for a visa on the basis of their relationship to a person settled in the UK or a British citizen. Perhaps, this includes spouse settlement visa, adult dependant relative, parent of a British Child visa etc. However, the family route does not include the ‘joining or accompanying’ entry clearance applications. In fact, the ‘joining or accompanying’ route is for those individuals who are applying for visa on the basis of their relationship to another migrant who is not settled in the UK or a British citizen, and who is on a route without a specific visa for dependants.
| Nationality | Decisions | Rejection Rate |
| Pakistan | 7,127 | 7.93% |
| India | 3,478 | 8.25% |
| United States | 2,067 | 4.93% |
| Bangladesh | 2,323 | 8.57% |
| South Africa | 1,602 | 6.30% |
| Nepal | 2,184 | 31.96% |
| Nigeria | 1,808 | 18.69% |
| Iran | 1,764 | 7.03% |
| Eritrea | 1,518 | 30.50% |
| Philippines | 1,328 | 9.94% |
| Sudan | 1,360 | 27.72% |
| Ghana | 1,184 | 22.89% |
| Syria | 1,158 | 27.20% |
| Turkey | 994 | 6.64% |
| Afghanistan | 951 | 17.77% |
| Thailand | 895 | 5.36% |
| Hong Kong | 712 | 2.39% |
| Sri Lanka | 965 | 8.60% |
| Iraq | 637 | 8.48% |
| China | 668 | 6.89% |
| Other nationalities | 11,773 | 13.70% |
| Total | 46,496 | 13.05% |
5. Work
UK Work Visa Rejection Rate 2020
In 2020, 146,080 applications submitted, 132,529 decisions made, 125,173 UK work visas granted, 6,528 applications rejected, The UK work visa success and refusal rate in 2020 is 94.45% and 4.93%, respectively.
| Application Type | Decisions | Rejection Rate |
| High Value | 1,815 | 7.49% |
| Skilled | 78,215 | 0.36% |
| Temporary worker | 27,309 | 1.40% |
| Others | 25,190 | 22.74% |
| Total | 132,529 | 4.93% |
| Nationality | Decisions | Rejection Rate |
| India | 38,643 | 1.09% |
| Turkey | 10,455 | 42.80% |
| Philippines | 9,134 | 2.90% |
| Ukraine | 7,013 | 0.24% |
| United States | 6,767 | 0.58% |
| Australia | 6,731 | 0.21% |
| Nigeria | 5,584 | 2.18% |
| South Africa | 4,054 | 0.64% |
| Pakistan | 4,027 | 6.36% |
| Egypt | 3,409 | 2.02% |
| Canada | 3,382 | 0.24% |
| Japan | 3,459 | 0.40% |
| China | 2,506 | 1.84% |
| New Zealand | 2,372 | 0.46% |
| Russia | 1,830 | 1.26% |
| Zimbabwe | 1,758 | 1.42% |
| Hong Kong | 1,587 | 4.73% |
| Korea (South) | 1,466 | 0.89% |
| Sri Lanka | 1,176 | 2.21% |
| Brazil | 984 | 0.81% |
| Other nationalities | 16,192 | 3.54% |
| Total | 132,529 | 4.93% |
UK Skilled (Tier 2) Work Visa Rejection Rate 2020
In 2020, 72,476 applications submitted, 78,215 decisions made, 77,760 Skilled (Tier 2) work visas granted, 280 applications rejected, The UK Skilled Tier 2 work visa success and refusal rate in 2020 is 99.42% and 0.36%, respectively.
| Nationality | Decisions | Rejection Rate |
| India | 34,344 | 0.14% |
| Philippines | 5,855 | 0.31% |
| United States | 4,905 | 0.08% |
| Nigeria | 4,752 | 0.97% |
| Egypt | 2,790 | 0.04% |
| Pakistan | 2,594 | 0.58% |
| Japan | 2,140 | 0.00% |
| Zimbabwe | 1,545 | 1.10% |
| South Africa | 1,574 | 0.57% |
| Australia | 1,547 | 0.00% |
| China | 1,420 | 0.35% |
| Canada | 1,167 | 0.09% |
| Russia | 1,145 | 0.87% |
| Turkey | 808 | 0.50% |
| Sudan | 685 | 0.73% |
| Brazil | 689 | 0.87% |
| Korea (South) | 587 | 0.00% |
| Ghana | 540 | 0.93% |
| Sri Lanka | 521 | 0.38% |
| Malaysia | 462 | 1.08% |
| Other nationalities | 8,145 | 0.96% |
| Total | 78,215 | 0.36% |
UK Temporary Work Visa Rejection 2020
In 2020, 25,074 applications submitted, 27,309 decisions made, 26,500 Skilled (Tier 5) work visas granted, 383 applications rejected, The UK Skilled Tier 5 work visa success and refusal rate in 2020 is 97.04% and 1.40%, respectively.
| Nationality | Decisions | Rejection Rate |
| Ukraine | 6,475 | 0.20% |
| Australia | 4,574 | 0.24% |
| India | 1,943 | 7.98% |
| Canada | 1,883 | 0.16% |
| New Zealand | 1,620 | 0.31% |
| Japan | 1,274 | 0.71% |
| United States | 868 | 2.19% |
| Korea (South) | 803 | 0.62% |
| Hong Kong | 736 | 4.76% |
| Taiwan | 713 | 0.98% |
| Pakistan | 575 | 1.39% |
| China | 540 | 0.19% |
| Russia | 474 | 0.84% |
| Nigeria | 401 | 7.73% |
| Argentina | 341 | 0.29% |
| Sri Lanka | 403 | 0.50% |
| Moldova | 293 | 0.00% |
| Brazil | 234 | 0.43% |
| Egypt | 233 | 0.43% |
| Belarus | 218 | 0.00% |
| Other nationalities | 2,708 | 2.66% |
| Total | 27,309 | 1.40% |
Further Details
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