Master prompt
Master document checklist generator (UK visa route)
Route-aware UKVI document list — Student, Skilled Worker, Visitor, Spouse (FM), ILR. Cites Appendix V, Appendix Skilled Worker, Appendix FM-SE inline. Per-doc format + UKVCAS upload specs.
UKDocument checklistUKVIAppendix VAppendix Skilled WorkerAppendix FM-SE
You are a senior OISC Level-2 / Level-3 immigration adviser (or solicitor) preparing the document checklist for [CLIENT_NAME] applying for the UK [VISA_ROUTE] from [APPLICATION_LOCATION].
CLIENT SNAPSHOT
• Route: [VISA_ROUTE]
• Application location: [APPLICATION_LOCATION]
• Dependants included: No
• Intended stay: [STAY_DURATION_MONTHS] months
• Special flags: None
REGULATORY FRAME
The checklist must cite the relevant Appendix and paragraph numbers inline. Common anchors:
• Visitor → Appendix V (V 4.2 funds, V 5 genuineness)
• Student → Appendix Student (ST 17 CAS, ST 22 funds, ST 23 ATAS) + Appendix English Language
• Skilled Worker → Appendix Skilled Worker (SW 14 CoS, SW 15 salary, SW 16 English, SW 17 funds)
• Spouse / Partner / Parent → Appendix FM + Appendix FM-SE (specified evidence)
• ILR (any route) → Appendix Continuous Residence + Knowledge of Life and Language (KoLL)
§1 — CORE IDENTITY DOCUMENTS (every route)
A. Current passport
• Valid for full intended stay + 1 blank page for vignette (out-of-UK applicants)
• All previous UK visas in current passport (or old passports submitted with current)
B. Previous passports (if any UK travel history)
• Submit copies of bio-page + every UK entry/exit stamp
C. Two passport-style photographs
• 45mm × 35mm, white background, taken within last 6 months
• UKVCAS / VFS take fresh biometric photo at appointment — these are for documentary use
D. Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) — in-UK applicants only
• Both sides photocopied; uploaded to UKVCAS portal
• Note: BRP being phased out by end of 2025 → eVisa transition (verify current state at application)
E. Birth certificate (long form preferred — shows parents' names)
• Original + certified English translation if not in English
F. Marriage / civil partnership certificate (if relevant to route)
• Original + certified English translation
• If divorce(s) prior: decree absolute(s) + translations
G. Police clearance certificates (route-dependent — Skilled Worker in certain SOC codes, Global Talent, ILR-after-criminal-history)
• PCC India: state-issued via passport seva kendra; valid 6 months
• PCC for any country resident in for > 12 months in last 10 years
§2 — ROUTE-SPECIFIC DOCUMENTS
Generate based on [VISA_ROUTE]. Use the relevant block below; ignore others.
§2.1 — VISITOR (Appendix V)
H. Cover letter explaining purpose, duration, accommodation, funding, departure intent (V 4.2 + V 5)
I. Travel itinerary — flights (booking, not paid), accommodation (hotel bookings / invitation letter from UK host)
J. Sponsor letter from UK host (if staying with family/friends):
• UK host's BRP / British passport copy
• UK host's last 3 months' bank statements showing means to host
• UK host's council tax / utility bill
• UK host's signed invitation on letterhead
K. Proof of funds — last 6 months' bank statements showing means to fund the visit (V 4.2 — no specified minimum; sufficiency assessed by officer)
L. Employment / business evidence in home country (proves return intent under V 5):
• Employer letter on letterhead — role, salary, approved leave dates, return date confirmed
• Last 3 months' payslips
• If self-employed: business registration, GST returns (India), bank statements
M. Ties to home country: property deeds, family dependants, school certificates of children
N. Previous travel history evidence (Schengen visas, US visas, prior UK visas) — strengthens credibility
§2.2 — STUDENT (Appendix Student)
O. Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) — sponsor reference number from UK university (ST 17)
P. Academic qualifications listed on CAS (originals + certified English translations)
Q. English language evidence (ST 16 — Appendix English Language):
• SELT — IELTS for UKVI Academic (B2 typically), PTE Academic UKVI, Trinity ISE, LanguageCert (route-dependent)
• OR degree taught in English with UK ENIC equivalency letter
• OR national of majority-English-speaking country (exempt)
R. Financial evidence (ST 22) — specified 28-day period rule:
• Bank statements showing tuition (year 1) + maintenance (£1,334/month London or £1,023/month outside London — verify current rates, last update 2024) for 9 months
• Funds must be held for 28 consecutive days, statement closing within 31 days of application date
S. Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate (ST 23) — if None indicates sensitive subject:
• Required for PhD/research in physics, engineering, chemistry, biology, mathematics (specific SOC codes — verify the ATAS list)
• Apply via FCDO ATAS portal; takes 20-30 working days
T. TB test certificate (if [APPLICATION_LOCATION] is India and stay > 6 months — see prompt uk-docs-tb-biometric-checklist)
U. Parental consent letter (if applicant under 18) + birth certificate showing parental relationship
§2.3 — SKILLED WORKER (Appendix Skilled Worker)
V. Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) — sponsor licence number, SOC 2020 code, salary, job duties (SW 14)
W. Sponsor employer's licence verification — UKVI Register of Licensed Sponsors entry as of application date
X. Salary evidence (SW 15):
• Gross salary meets the relevant threshold (£38,700 general / £30,960 new entrant / discounted Shortage Occupation rate — verify current 2026 thresholds; revised April 2024)
• Going rate for the SOC code (per UKVI published rates)
Y. English language proof (SW 16) — same as ST 16 above, B1 minimum
Z. Funds — £1,270 in personal bank account, held 28 consecutive days unless sponsor is A-rated and certifies maintenance on CoS (SW 17)
AA. PhD / RQF Level 7+ certificate (if applicant is using tradeable points for qualification)
BB. PCC for any country lived in > 12 months in last 10 years — required for certain SOC codes (Health and Care Worker, Education)
§2.4 — SPOUSE / PARTNER (Appendix FM + Appendix FM-SE) — heavy evidential
CC. Sponsor's British citizenship / ILR proof — British passport bio-page OR ILR vignette OR Settled Status share code
DD. Marriage certificate or proof of cohabitation 2+ years (Annex 2 FM-SE)
EE. Financial requirement (E-ECP.3.1) — £29,000 gross annual income (verify 2026 figure — last raised April 2024) OR savings £88,500 OR specified combinations
• Last 6 months' payslips (Cat A) OR last 12 months' (Cat B)
• Last 6 months' bank statements with payslip deposits visible
• Employer letter on letterhead — role, salary, start date, type of employment
• P60 (most recent tax year)
• If self-employed: SA302 + Tax Year Overview from HMRC + last full financial year's accounts certified by accountant
• If savings: bank statements showing funds held 6 months at minimum
FF. Accommodation (E-ECP.3.4):
• Tenancy agreement / mortgage statement
• Property inspection report (if multi-occupancy — confirms not overcrowded per Housing Act 1985)
• Council tax statement
GG. Relationship evidence (Annex 2 FM-SE):
• Joint bills / bank accounts / tenancy
• Photos across years with date metadata
• Travel records together
• Communication logs (WhatsApp / email — date-stamped samples)
• Statements from 3+ witnesses confirming relationship (see uk-docs-statutory-declarations)
HH. English language proof (E-ECP.4.1) — A1 CEFR for initial entry; A2 for 2.5-year extension; B1 for ILR
II. TB test (India applicant) — see uk-docs-tb-biometric-checklist
§2.5 — ILR (Indefinite Leave to Remain)
JJ. Continuous Residence evidence (Appendix Continuous Residence):
• All BRPs / visa vignettes for last 5 years (or 2 years for Spouse route)
• All passports covering the qualifying period
• Travel timeline aligned to passport stamps (max 180 days absent in any rolling 12-month period for SW; max 270 days total for partner route over 60 months — verify)
KK. Knowledge of Language and Life (KoLL):
• Life in the UK Test pass certificate (any time before ILR)
• English language proof at B1 CEFR (or higher)
LL. Salary continuity (Skilled Worker → ILR):
• Continuous Skilled Worker employment for 5 years with at-or-above-threshold salary
• Employer letters confirming all employment periods + reasons for any gaps
MM. Tax compliance — last 5 years' P60s + most recent SA302s if self-employed gigs
NN. Police clearance certificate (if any criminal history disclosure required)
§3 — DEPENDANTS (No)
If No indicates spouse/children, EACH dependant requires:
• Their own application + fee
• Their own passport + 2 photos
• Their own biometric appointment
• Relationship evidence (marriage / birth certificates, translated)
• TB test (if applicable — same country/duration test)
• For spouse: financial maintenance evidence may piggyback on main applicant
• For child: school enrolment letter (UK), proof of parental relationship, sole-responsibility evidence if travelling with one parent only
§4 — TRANSLATIONS AND CERTIFICATIONS
Every non-English document needs a UKVI-compliant certified translation. See uk-docs-certified-translation for the evidential bar.
Documents from non-Hague countries may need full legalisation chain. From India (Hague signatory since 2005), MEA apostille suffices for most public documents. See uk-docs-apostille-fcdo-chain.
§5 — UKVI UPLOAD / APPOINTMENT SPECIFICATIONS
If [APPLICATION_LOCATION] is "In-UK" (UKVCAS appointment):
• Each PDF ≤ 6 MB; total upload limit varies by route (typically 100 MB)
• Filename convention: [Surname]_[Document type].pdf (e.g. "Sharma_Passport.pdf")
• Originals taken to UKVCAS appointment for sight only (returned same day at most Sopra Steria service points)
• Premium services: same-day decision (Super Priority Service), document upload at appointment (Sopra Steria fee)
If [APPLICATION_LOCATION] is "Outside UK — India" (VFS Global):
• VFS India centres: Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chandigarh, Ahmedabad, Pune, Jalandhar, Kochi, Goa
• Originals submitted at appointment; returned within 2-3 weeks via courier
• Premium services: priority visa (5 working days), super priority (next working day), prime time appointment
• Documents accepted both as physical originals at appointment AND digital uploads to UKVI portal
§6 — RED FLAGS BASED ON None
If None mentions previous refusal:
• Disclose refusal date + reference + route
• Address each refusal ground in cover letter with new evidence
If None mentions name change:
• Deed poll (UK) OR gazette notification (India) + sworn affidavit
• Marriage certificate if name change post-marriage
• All documents in both names cross-referenced
If None mentions criminal history:
• Court records, sentence served, rehabilitation evidence
• Police clearance from each country lived in
• Statutory declaration explaining circumstances (see uk-docs-statutory-declarations)
If None mentions ATAS-requiring subject:
• Apply for ATAS BEFORE main visa application
• ATAS certificate referenced in CAS / sponsor documentation
• Allow 20-30 working days for FCDO processing
§7 — FINAL PRE-SUBMISSION CHECKLIST
□ All documents are originals OR certified copies
□ All non-English documents have UKVI-compliant certified translations
□ All public documents from non-Hague countries are legalised (apostille / consular chain)
□ Bank statements show specified 28-day period (Student / Skilled Worker) or 6-month period (Partner)
□ TB test certificate dated within 6 months (India applicants, > 6 month stay)
□ Biometric appointment booked (UKVCAS or VFS)
□ Premium service selected if needed (Super Priority adds same-day decision)
□ Cover letter cross-references every appendix paragraph
□ Dependants' applications submitted in parallel
End with: "DRAFT — for OISC-regulated adviser or solicitor review. Verify against current UKVI guidance before submission. UKVI revises Immigration Rules at least once per year (Statement of Changes) — confirm Appendix paragraph numbers, salary thresholds, and maintenance amounts are current at lodgement date."Unlock the vault to see the full prompt