If your UK ETA or UK visa has been refused, the first thing to do is not to reapply with the same content, but to establish exactly what was refused and why.
An ETA refusal, a visa refusal, and the cancellation of an ETA or visa you already hold are governed by different rules and call for different responses. With a UK visa refusal in particular, you must start by checking whether the decision letter gives you a right to Administrative Review or Appeal, and what the deadline is.
Every case starts from the refusal/cancellation letter or decision email sent by UKVI.
Enquire about a UK visa or Electronic Travel Authorisation refusal
First things first: identify what kind of refusal it is
| Type | What it means | Basic response |
|---|---|---|
| ETA refusal | You have not been granted an Electronic Travel Authorisation | Identify the reason for refusal, resolve the underlying cause, and apply for a UK visa if needed |
| Standard Visitor visa refusal | The Visitor requirements were not met at the assessment stage | Analyse the refusal notice, strengthen the evidence and reapply, or consider legal steps where a right exists |
| Other UK visa refusals | The requirements of the relevant route (student, work, family and so on) were not met | Check the refusal notice for a right of Administrative Review or Appeal |
| ETA/visa cancellation | A travel authorisation or leave you already held has been cancelled | Immediately establish the grounds for cancellation and whether any review or appeal is available |
Seven steps for reading a refusal notice
- Check that the applicant's name, passport number and application reference (GWF/UAN and so on) are correct.
- Confirm precisely which application was refused.
- Mark the Immigration Rules provisions applied to the refusal.
- Separate out, sentence by sentence, the facts and evidence the caseworker took issue with.
- Distinguish whether this is simply a lack of evidence or a question of genuineness/credibility.
- Check whether it is a suitability issue such as deception, false representation, criminality or an immigration breach.
- In the final section, check whether you have a right to Administrative Review or Appeal, and what the deadline is.
See how to check a UK visa or Electronic Travel Authorisation status
Key principles when an Electronic Travel Authorisation is refused
An ETA is not permission to enter the UK in itself; it is an advance electronic travel authorisation for travelling to the UK. An ETA refusal does not mean that visiting the UK becomes permanently impossible in every case. Depending on the reason for refusal, however, you should consider the appropriate visa route.
| Options after an ETA refusal | Available? | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Reapplying for an ETA immediately with the same content | Not recommended | If the cause of the refusal is unchanged, another refusal is likely |
| Correcting errors and reapplying for an ETA | Case by case | First establish whether it was a simple error or a suitability ground |
| Applying for a Standard Visitor visa | Available | Can be the main alternative for Visitor purposes such as tourism or visiting family and friends |
| Administrative Review | Not available in principle | There is generally no right of administrative review against an ETA refusal |
| Immigration Appeal | Not available in principle | An ETA refusal itself does not normally carry a right of appeal |
| Judicial Review | Exceptional consideration | A demanding public law procedure challenging the lawfulness of a decision, requiring specialist legal advice |
There is no ordinary Administrative Review or immigration appeal against an ETA refusal or cancellation. Serious cases that turn on the lawfulness of a decision may require specialist immigration law advice.
See how to apply for a UK Electronic Travel Authorisation and who is eligible
Main grounds for an Electronic Travel Authorisation refusal, and how to respond
| Main ground | Key point in the rules | Direction of response |
|---|---|---|
| Criminal record | A custodial or suspended sentence of 12 months or more, or a conviction less than 12 months ago, among others | Check the judgment, sentence and date it became final, then consider an appropriate visa such as a Visitor visa |
| Public interest | Where conduct, character or associations mean that a stay in the UK would not be conducive to the public good | Have the facts and records reviewed by a specialist |
| Previous immigration breaches | Overstaying, breach of conditions, illegal entry, deception in a previous immigration application and so on | Check past entry and exit records and whether permission was granted afterwards |
| False information, false documents or failure to disclose material facts | False representation in a current or previous ETA application, among others | Do not reapply at random; document how it arose and the precise facts |
| Unpaid Home Office litigation costs | Litigation costs due but not paid | Check whether the debt exists and whether it has been paid |
| A previous ETA cancellation | A history of an ETA being cancelled on specific grounds | Resolve the grounds for cancellation and check any permission granted since |
| A previous Visitor refusal | A history of refusal of visit permission under Appendix V | Focus on a Standard Visitor visa rather than repeated ETA applications |
Where an Electronic Travel Authorisation is refused because of a criminal record
According to the report, the 2026 rules treat the criminal record threshold as covering not only a custodial sentence of 12 months or more but also a suspended sentence, and note that, regardless of sentence length, an offence for which the conviction is less than 12 months old can also be a ground for ETA refusal.
- Confirm the exact offence, date of judgment, sentence and whether it was suspended
- For a foreign conviction, consider the nature of the equivalent offence under UK law
- Check whether the case is closed and whether fines or orders have been complied with
- Consider whether an explanation through a Standard Visitor visa is more appropriate than repeated ETA applications
- Seek specialist immigration law advice where the record is serious or involves multiple offences
Where an Electronic Travel Authorisation is refused for false statements or non-disclosure of material facts
Where a current or previous ETA application has raised issues of false statements, submission of false documents or information, or failure to disclose material facts, you should not dismiss it lightly as a simple typing error.
Criminal history, previous UK visa or entry refusals, passport details and nationality details must be entered with particular accuracy.
Moving to a Standard Visitor visa after an Electronic Travel Authorisation refusal
Where an ETA is not appropriate because of a criminal record or a previous refusal of entry to the UK, a Standard Visitor visa can be considered. You must not conceal the ETA refusal, however: you need to address the reason for refusal head-on and meet the Visitor requirements separately.
| Area to prepare | Examples of supporting evidence |
|---|---|
| Reason for the ETA refusal | The ETA decision email and any related previous visa or entry records |
| Purpose of travel | Itinerary, invitation letter, event or business schedule, accommodation plan |
| Intention to return | Employment, business or study evidence, family and life ties, return travel dates |
| Finances | Payslips, business income, bank statements, a breakdown of travel costs |
| Criminal matters | Judgment and disposal documents, evidence that the case is closed and the sentence served |
| Previous immigration history | Refusal notices, entry and exit records, evidence of later approvals or changed circumstances |
A Standard Visitor visa carries no guarantee of approval either. You must address the reason for the ETA refusal and meet the Visitor requirements, each on its own terms.
See the Standard Visitor route and other UK visa types
If a UK visa is refused: the first three things to look at
| What to check | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Reason for refusal | Determines whether it can be resolved by reapplying or whether it is an error of law |
| Provision relied on | Distinguishes an eligibility issue from a suitability issue |
| Right of challenge | Confirms whether Administrative Review or Appeal is available, and by when |
Common grounds for a Standard Visitor visa refusal
On the Standard Visitor route you must satisfy the caseworker that you are a genuine visitor. The key points are that you will leave the UK at the end of your visit, that you will not effectively live in the UK through repeated visits, that your purpose is a permitted one, that you will not undertake prohibited activities, and that you have funds to cover your trip without working or relying on public funds.
| Type of refusal | The caseworker's concern | Strategy for strengthening the application |
|---|---|---|
| Weak intention to return | Ties to the country of residence are weak | Evidence your ties objectively: employment, business, family, assets, studies |
| Unclear purpose of travel | Insufficient or contradictory explanation of why you are going to the UK | Set out the itinerary, invitation and purpose of the event in concrete terms |
| Insufficient funds | Income or balance is low relative to the cost of the trip | Explain how the actual costs relate proportionately to your income and balance |
| Unclear source of funds | Large deposits or third-party funds are not adequately explained | Provide transaction records, evidence of the transfer, the relationship and the sponsor's financial capacity |
| Inconsistencies between the form and the documents | Occupation, income, dates or purpose of travel conflict | Re-verify the whole application against a single consistent set of facts |
| Pattern of previous visits | Visits to the UK are too frequent or too long | Explain the purpose of the visits, the pattern of stay and your life base |
| Concern about non-permitted activities | Suspicion of working or long-term residence | Evidence a purpose that fits the Visitor permitted activities |
"Refused because the bank balance was too low" is not a complete explanation
There is no fixed minimum bank balance or minimum salary for the Standard Visitor route. What matters is whether your financial situation and the actual cost of the trip connect together reasonably.
- Around 6 months of normal fund movements, with an explanation of salary or business income
- Evidence of the source and reason for any sudden large deposit
- A realistic travel budget covering flights, accommodation and costs in the UK
- Where a third party is paying, evidence of the relationship, their willingness to support you and their financial capacity
Simply increasing your bank balance and reapplying after a refusal can instead heighten suspicion about the source of the funds.
Why you should not reapply straight away with the same material
Reapplying is possible on many visa routes, but an identical application that does not address the earlier reasons for refusal may well receive the same decision again. Before reapplying, be clear about what has changed since the previous application.
| Question to ask before reapplying | What to check |
|---|---|
| Was the refusal based on a factual error? | Whether it can be corrected with objective documents |
| Was the evidence insufficient? | Whether the new evidence actually addresses the concern |
| Was the application form inconsistent? | Whether dates, amounts, occupation and purpose of travel now match |
| Have circumstances changed? | Whether there have been changes in employment, income, family or purpose of travel |
| Is it a suitability issue? | Whether legal advice is needed rather than a simple reapplication |
See how to apply for a UK visa
What is an Administrative Review?
An Administrative Review is a process for asking the Home Office to look at a decision again, on the basis that the caseworker applied the Immigration Rules incorrectly or made a caseworking error. It is not a right that comes automatically with every visa refusal.
| Category | As set out in the report on the 2026 position |
|---|---|
| Refusal of an application made outside the UK | Within 28 days of receiving the decision, where the decision letter allows it |
| Refusal of an application made inside the UK | Usually within 14 days, where the decision letter allows it |
| Fee | £80 |
| Important | Making a new visa application can have the effect of cancelling or withdrawing an Administrative Review that is already under way |
The report reflects GOV.UK guidance that an Administrative Review decision made outside the UK can take 12 months or more. In an actual case, you should check the decision letter and the latest official guidance again.
When is an Immigration Appeal available?
An immigration appeal is only possible against decisions that carry a right of appeal in law. An ordinary Standard Visitor refusal usually carries no right of appeal, but a right of appeal can arise where a separate human rights claim has in substance been refused.
| Where the applicant is | Usual appeal deadline |
|---|---|
| Inside the UK | 14 days from the date the decision was received |
| Outside the UK | 28 days from the date the decision was received |
Whether an appeal is available must always be judged from the notice of rights in the refusal letter.
What is Judicial Review?
Judicial Review is not a procedure for having the facts assessed again simply because you dislike the outcome; it is a procedure in which a court examines whether a public body's decision was unlawful, unreasonable or procedurally unfair.
It may exceptionally be considered even for decisions such as an ETA, where there is no ordinary administrative review or appeal, but it is costly and demanding and requires specialist legal advice.
Take particular care with a visa refusal that includes a finding of deception
If the refusal letter refers to deception, dishonesty or false representation, the case needs a different approach from an ordinary case of missing documents. The report explains that, where deliberate deception is found, a 10-year mandatory refusal period can apply to future applications.
- Check whether the refusal letter actually refers to deception, dishonesty or false representation
- Distinguish a simple mistake from deliberate deception
- Consider the applicant's own responsibility even where the form was completed by a third party
- Where a 10-year re-entry restriction is possible, put specialist legal advice ahead of an unconsidered reapplication
Recommended response matrix by ground of refusal
| Cause of refusal | First response | Key point when reapplying |
|---|---|---|
| Insufficient documents | Identify what was missing | Add material that directly evidences the point found lacking |
| Insufficient funds | Review the travel costs and income structure | Explain normal transaction history, source of funds and budget |
| Doubt about intention to return | Evidence ties to your home country objectively | Employment, business, family, studies, assets and so on |
| Unclear purpose of travel | Restructure the purpose and itinerary | Consistency between invitation, bookings, event and schedule |
| Inconsistent application form | Cross-check every entry | Dates, income, occupation, family and travel history all match |
| Criminal record | Check the terms of the judgment and the rules applied | Specialist review of the individual case |
| Previous immigration breach | Check the breach, its duration and any permission granted since | Explain the record rather than concealing it |
| Deception | Seek specialist advice immediately | Analyse the possibility of a 10-year consequence |
| ETA plus a previous Visitor refusal | Be cautious about repeated ETA applications | Consider a Standard Visitor visa |
What to include in a cover letter for a reapplication
- The date of the previous application and the date of refusal
- A summary of the reasons the previous application was refused
- A factual explanation addressing each ground of refusal
- The evidence newly submitted or strengthened in this application
- The applicant's purpose of visit and precise itinerary
- The financial position and how the cost of the trip will be met
- Objective reasons why you must return to Korea or your country of residence
- Confirmation that your history and the current application are consistent
Checklist before reapplying
- I have the complete original refusal notice.
- I have identified the Immigration Rules provisions applied.
- I have separated the reasons for refusal sentence by sentence and prepared material addressing each.
- I have obtained a copy of the previous application form and compared it with the new one.
- I have checked, without omission, any history of previous visa or entry refusals, criminal matters and immigration breaches.
- I can explain the source of any large deposits in my bank statements.
- The purpose, dates, accommodation and costs of the trip are consistent with one another.
- I can objectively evidence my occupation, income, family relationships and reasons for returning.
- I have properly translated any documents that require translation.
- Where the case has an AR/Appeal deadline, I have considered my legal rights before reapplying.
Decision flow by situation
- ETA refused, then check the reason for refusal, then distinguish a simple information error from a suitability issue
- ETA refusal plus a previous Visitor refusal or criminal matter, then consider a Standard Visitor visa
- Visitor visa refused, then analyse the refusal letter, then consider a strengthened reapplication if evidence was lacking
- Visa refused with a right of Administrative Review, then consider whether there was a caseworking error and what the deadline is
- Visa refused with a right of Appeal, then consider the appeal period and the grounds to be argued
- Deception, serious criminality or a re-entry restriction, then put specialist legal advice ahead of an unconsidered reapplication
Key summary: responding to a UK visa refusal
A refusal of a UK ETA or a UK visa does not mean that visiting the UK becomes impossible in every case. The way you should respond, however, varies greatly with the type of refusal and the reasons for it.
An ETA refusal is not subject to ordinary administrative review or appeal, so you need to analyse the reason for refusal and decide whether to move to an appropriate visa application; with a UK visa refusal, you must first check the review and appeal rights and the deadlines set out in the decision letter.
A simple lack of documents or an inadequate explanation of finances can be resolved by a strengthened reapplication, but in cases involving deception, a criminal record, previous immigration breaches or a re-entry restriction, a misjudged reapplication can create a far greater disadvantage for future applications.
The most important principle, therefore, is to diagnose accurately why the application was refused, and to respond in a way that matches that cause.
- How to apply for a UK Electronic Travel Authorisation
- How to apply for a UK visa
- UK visa types and eligibility
- How to check a UK visa or Electronic Travel Authorisation status
- UK visa and Electronic Travel Authorisation FAQ
Enquire about a UK visa or Electronic Travel Authorisation refusal