Having your UK visa cancelled can be distressing, but understanding why it happens and what options you have is essential. This guide explains the differences between cancellation, revocation, and curtailment under the new Part Suitability rules introduced in November 2025, re-entry ban periods, what happens when visas are cancelled at airports, and your rights to challenge decisions.
Understanding UK Visa Cancellation in 2026
The Home Office cancellation framework underwent significant changes on 11 November 2025 when Part Suitability replaced the former Part 9 of the Immigration Rules. This new framework consolidates all suitability-related refusal and cancellation grounds into a unified system that now applies to virtually all immigration routes, including family visas that previously had more lenient provisions.
What Is the Difference Between Visa Cancellation, Revocation and Curtailment?
Cancellation ends your permission immediately or from a specified date. Curtailment shortens your permission to a new expiry date, typically giving you 60 days to leave or make new arrangements. Revocation invalidates a visa before it has been used. Under current Immigration Rules, "cancellation" is the official term, though "curtailment" remains in common use.
Since December 2020, the Immigration Rules use "cancellation of permission" as the official terminology. However, the Home Office continues to use "curtailment" in operational guidance and decision letters, particularly when permission is shortened to a future date rather than ended immediately.
What Are the Main UK Visa Cancellation Reasons?
Under Part Suitability, visas can be cancelled on mandatory grounds (must be cancelled) including deception, serious criminal convictions, and deportation orders, or discretionary grounds (may be cancelled) including breach of visa conditions, change of circumstances, and minor criminal offences.
The Part Suitability framework distinguishes between mandatory cancellation (where the Home Office must cancel) and discretionary cancellation (where caseworkers assess individual circumstances).
Mandatory Cancellation Grounds
These grounds require automatic cancellation with no caseworker discretion:
- Exclusion or deportation order: Secretary of State has directed exclusion from the UK
- Custodial sentence of 12+ months: Any single conviction resulting in imprisonment of 12 months or more
- Deception: False representations, false documents, or failure to disclose material facts
- UN travel ban: Subject to UN or UK financial sanctions or travel bans
- War crimes or crimes against humanity: Involvement in serious international crimes
Discretionary Cancellation Grounds
These grounds allow caseworkers to consider individual circumstances before deciding:
- Breach of visa conditions: Working without permission, exceeding permitted hours, or other condition violations
- Change of circumstances: No longer meeting visa requirements (e.g., job loss for Skilled Worker, relationship breakdown for spouse visa)
- Sponsor loses licence: Educational institution or employer sponsor licence revoked or suspended
- Criminal convictions under 12 months: Non-custodial sentences or short custodial sentences
- Not conducive to public good: Character, conduct, or associations make presence undesirable
Why Would a UK Visa Be Cancelled at the Airport?
Border Force officers can cancel your visa at the airport if they discover your purpose differs from your stated intentions, if you cannot provide adequate evidence of your plans, if new information suggests deception, or if they believe you will not leave the UK at the end of your visit. You may be returned on the next available flight, often within 24 hours.
Having a valid visa does not guarantee entry to the UK. Border Force officers at UK airports have independent authority to cancel visas and refuse entry, even if a Home Office caseworker previously approved your application. They assess whether you still meet the requirements and whether your true intentions match your stated purpose.
Common Reasons for Airport Visa Cancellation
- Discrepancies in statements: Answers to Border Force questions contradict your visa application
- Suspicion of different intentions: Evidence suggesting you intend to work, study, or settle when your visa does not permit this
- Insufficient evidence: Unable to show accommodation bookings, return tickets, or sufficient funds
- Previous immigration history: Pattern of frequent or long visits suggesting you're living in the UK through successive visits
- Items found in luggage: Work equipment, CVs, or possessions suggesting permanent relocation
- Changed circumstances: Circumstances have changed since your visa was issued
Important: Re-entry Bans from Airport Cancellation
Not every airport cancellation results in a re-entry ban. According to Home Office guidance, you will not be subject to a mandatory refusal period if you are simply refused entry as a visitor or your visitor visa is cancelled at the border—provided there was no deception involved. However, if deception is discovered at the airport (such as false documents or material lies), a 10-year ban may apply.
How Long Are UK Visa Re-entry Bans?
Re-entry bans range from no ban (overstay of 30 days or less with voluntary departure) to 10 years (deportation or deception). The ban period depends on how you departed the UK, whether you left voluntarily or were removed, and whether deception was involved. These mandatory refusal periods apply under Part Suitability from November 2025.
Under Part Suitability (SUI 12.1), mandatory refusal periods determine when future applications must be automatically refused. The ban starts from the date you leave the UK (or from the date of refusal for deception cases).
Can I Challenge a UK Visa Cancellation?
Most visa cancellation decisions made after 6 April 2015 cannot be appealed through the immigration tribunal. Your options are: administrative review (for eligible decisions), judicial review (for legal errors), or making a fresh application once any re-entry ban period has passed. You typically have 60 days from the curtailment date to either leave the UK or submit a new application.
Options After Receiving a Curtailment Letter
When the Home Office cancels your visa, they send a curtailment letter explaining the reasons, the new expiry date (usually 60 days), and your options. You must act promptly as becoming an overstayer creates additional problems.
- Read the letter carefully and note the new expiry date
- Check if administrative review is available (stated in letter)
- Seek legal advice immediately, especially for complex cases
- Decide whether to leave, switch visa, or challenge the decision
- Act before the 60-day deadline to avoid becoming an overstayer
- Keep the Home Office informed of your current address
- Part Suitability replaced Part 9 on 11 November 2025, applying to all visa routes including family visas
- Mandatory cancellation applies for serious offences; discretionary cancellation allows individual assessment
- Airport cancellation doesn't always trigger a re-entry ban unless deception is involved
- Re-entry bans range from no ban to 10 years depending on how you leave the UK
- Most cancellation decisions cannot be appealed—administrative review or judicial review may be options
- The 14-day grace period under SUI 13.1 may protect late applicants with good reason
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between visa revoked and cancelled?
Revocation typically refers to invalidating a visa before it has been used (before you travel to the UK), while cancellation ends permission that is currently in effect. Under current Immigration Rules, "cancellation" is the official term covering both scenarios. When permission is shortened to end at a future date rather than immediately, this is commonly called "curtailment" in Home Office correspondence.
What happens when your visa is cancelled at the airport?
You will typically be detained at the airport and returned on the next available flight, often within 24 hours. Your passport may be stamped indicating refusal. You can request administrative review of the decision. Importantly, a simple visitor visa cancellation at the border without deception does not automatically trigger a re-entry ban—you may be able to reapply immediately. However, if deception is discovered, you could face a 10-year mandatory refusal period.
Can a cancelled visa be reinstated in the UK?
Reinstating a cancelled visa is very difficult and depends on the circumstances. Options include: administrative review if the decision contains errors, judicial review for legal mistakes or procedural unfairness, or successfully applying for a different visa type. If the cancellation decision was later withdrawn, quashed by a court, or reconsidered following a successful legal challenge within 3 months, any resulting overstay period may be disregarded.
If my visa is cancelled can I apply again UK?
Yes, you can reapply after a visa cancellation, but timing depends on any mandatory refusal period (re-entry ban) that may apply. If you left voluntarily at your own expense after overstaying 30 days or less, there is no ban. Overstaying longer triggers a 12-month ban. Deception triggers a 10-year ban. Your new application must address the reasons for the original cancellation and demonstrate you now meet all requirements.
Can I withdraw my UK visa application and reapply immediately?
Yes, you can withdraw a pending application and reapply immediately. Contact UKVI with your full name, date of birth, passport number, and application reference number. However, visa fees are non-refundable, so you will need to pay again. Withdrawing does not create a re-entry ban or negative immigration history, unlike having an application refused, so it can be strategic if you realise your application has problems.
What are the reasons for Tier 4 student visa cancellation?
Student visas can be cancelled if: you withdraw from your course or your enrolment is terminated, your attendance falls below acceptable levels, your sponsor (educational institution) loses their licence, you work more than permitted hours (typically 20 hours per week during term time), you switch to a different course without permission, or you provided false information in your application. The Home Office is notified when sponsors report these changes.
How long is the re-entry ban if my UK visa is cancelled?
Re-entry bans under Part Suitability range from no ban to 10 years: no ban if you overstayed 30 days or less and left voluntarily at your own expense; 12 months for longer overstays or breaches with voluntary departure; 2 years if you left at Home Office expense within 6 months of removal notice; 5 years if you left at Home Office expense after 6 months; and 10 years for enforced removal or if you used deception in any application.
Can I appeal a UK visa cancellation decision?
Most visa cancellation decisions made after 6 April 2015 have no right of appeal to the immigration tribunal. Exceptions include EU Settlement Scheme curtailment decisions and certain human rights claims. For most cases, you can request an administrative review (£80, within 14 days if in the UK) to check for caseworker errors. For serious legal errors or procedural unfairness, judicial review through the courts is possible but complex and expensive—seek specialist legal advice.