How do I cancel my biometric appointment for UK visa?

When I applied for my first UK visa, I had issues with the biometric appointment I booked and had to cancel it.

If you’ve applied for a UK visa before – especially from outside the UK, you’ll be familiar with the biometric appointment process.

When issues arise after booking your appointment, cancelling it isn’t a bad idea.

Read also: What happens if you get a visa and don’t use it?

If you want to cancel yours – for whatever reason, follow the steps below to do it.

How do I cancel my biometric appointment for UK visa?

You can cancel your biometric appointment for a UK visa through the UKVCAS website or a designated visa application centre’s website.

How you cancel it depends on:

• Where you book your appointment
• And, where you’re applying from.

For applications from within the UK

If you’re applying from within the UK, you’ll book your biometric appointment through the UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) website.

UKVCAS helps you submit:

• Your biometric details which include your fingerprints and photo.
• Plus your supporting documents

And, if you want to cancel the biometric appointment you booked through UKVCAS:

• Log in to your account: Go to the UKVCAS website and log in to your account using the details you provided during registration.
• Go to appointments: Once logged in, find the section of the website that lists your upcoming appointments.
• Select the appointment: Locate the appointment you wish to cancel and click on it to open its details.
• Cancel the appointment: There, you’ll find an option to cancel the appointment. Click on the cancel button and confirm the cancellation when prompted.
• Receive confirmation: After cancelling, you’ll receive an email confirming that your cancellation request has been received and when successfully cancelled, you’ll also receive another email confirming that your booking has been successfully cancelled.

Aside from when you’re applying for a visa, you can also use the UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) when applying for UK citizenship.

Read also: How to cancel a UK visa application

When cancelling your appointment, do it as soon as you know you won’t be able to attend.

For applications from outside the UK

If you’re outside the UK, you’ll book your biometric appointment through a visa application centre.

And, if you want to cancel it:

• Log in to the Visa Application Centre website: Visit the Visa Application Centre website where you booked your appointment (it can be VFS Global, TLScontact, or another service provider). Use the login details (email and password) you created when booking the appointment.
• Go to ‘My Appointments’: Once logged in, find the section labelled ‘My Appointments’ or ‘Manage Appointments’ on the website’s dashboard. This section will display all your upcoming appointments.
• Select the appointment to cancel: Locate the appointment you wish to cancel from the list. Click on the appointment to view the details.
• Choose the ‘Cancel Appointment’ option: Look for the option to cancel the appointment. It’ll be labelled as ‘Cancel Appointment’ or similar. Click on this option to initiate the cancellation process.
• Confirm cancellation: You’ll be asked to confirm that you want to cancel the appointment. Confirm your decision and the appointment will be cancelled.
• Receive confirmation: After cancellation, you’ll receive an email confirming that your appointment has been successfully cancelled.

As an applicant from outside the UK, ensure you cancel your biometric appointment before paying for it otherwise, you won’t get a refund.

Read also: What happens if I withdraw my UK visa application?

If you booked your appointment with VFS Global, visit their website, log in and cancel your appointment.

If you need to reschedule instead of cancelling, look for a ‘Reschedule Appointment’ option instead of cancelling outright.

What is the purpose of biometrics for visas?

The biometric process is designed to capture your information like fingerprints, facial photographs, and digital signatures.

This information is used for identity verification and is stored on your Biometric Immigration Document (BID), which could be a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) or Biometric Residence Card (BRC).

Read also: How to check UK visa status with passport number

Submitting your biometrics is a mandatory process if you’re applying for a UK visa that demands it.

Who is exempt from biometrics for a UK visa?

Persons under 5, diplomats, and heads of state are exempt from submitting their biometrics for a UK visa.

What happens after a biometric appointment on a UK visa?

After a biometric appointment, your fingerprints and photo will be sent for processing, and your visa application will move to the decision-making stage.

Then, you’ll wait for a decision or further instructions from UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI).

Where to submit your biometric information?

Where you submit your biometric information depends on where you applied from.

If you’re applying from within the UK, you’ll go to a UKVCAS service point or a Service and Support Centre (SSC) to submit your biometrics.

Read also: How to book a biometric appointment for a UK visa in Nigeria

If you’re applying from outside the UK, you’ll submit your biometrics at a visa application centre.

Final words

If you booked an appointment for your UK visa and wish to cancel, go to where you booked the appointment.

Read also: If my UK visa is rejected when can I apply again?

Either the UKVCAS website for applicants within the UK or the visa application centre website for applicants outside the UK.