Is the UK biometrics appointment free, and where do you upload your documents?
Yes — there are free biometric appointments for UK immigration applications made from inside the UK, and you upload your supporting documents (proof of residence, work history and so on) through your online UKVCAS account, not by post. After you submit and pay for your application online, you create a UKVCAS account, book an appointment to give your fingerprints and photo, and load your evidence into the same portal.
This applies to most in-country applications, including settlement (ILR), visa extensions and citizenship. The detail below is general guidance — for your own case, follow the instructions GOV.UK gives you after you apply.
- The service is UKVCAS (UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services), run by TLScontact for the Home Office.
- Free appointments are offered at "core" service points — but availability is limited.
- You upload documents online through your UKVCAS account, or pay to have them scanned at the appointment.
- At free core sites, you must upload everything before you attend.
- Always follow the exact instructions on GOV.UK and in your UKVCAS account.
Is the appointment really free?
Yes, a basic biometric appointment can be free. GOV.UK states that how much you pay depends on the type of service point and whether you need extra services. The lowest-cost option is a core service point, where the appointment itself carries no fee.
What you pay for are the optional extras: out-of-hours or weekend slots, faster appointments, document scanning, and courier services. None of these are required to make a valid application — they are conveniences.
Free core appointments tend to have limited availability and longer waits. If your application has a deadline, book as early as you can. The application fee and Immigration Health Surcharge you pay online are completely separate from the appointment — those still apply.
Where do you upload your evidence?
You upload your supporting documents — proof of residence, employment or income evidence, your passport pages, relationship documents and anything else on your checklist — directly into your UKVCAS online account. This is the same account you use to book the appointment.
GOV.UK gives you two ways to provide documents:
- Upload them yourself into the UKVCAS online service (free), or
- Have them scanned at your appointment (a paid add-on at sites that offer it).
At core service points, assisted scanning generally is not available, so you must upload all your documents before you turn up. It is good practice to bring the original or hard-copy documents to your appointment in case anything needs to be checked.
If you are applying to the EU Settlement Scheme, the rules differ: GOV.UK says you must upload your supporting documents when you apply, and you will not be able to scan them at your appointment.
Step by step
- Apply and pay online through GOV.UK for your visa, settlement or citizenship application.
- Create a UKVCAS account when prompted and sign in.
- Book your appointment at a service point — choose a core site for a free slot.
- Upload your documents in the portal (proof of residence, work history, etc.).
- Attend your appointment to give fingerprints, a photo and a signature.
After biometrics are enrolled, the Home Office processes your decision. Note that physical Biometric Residence Permits are being phased out in favour of an online eVisa, so check GOV.UK for how your status will be issued.
What this means for your wider application
Getting biometrics and documents right is one step in a longer journey. If you are at the settlement stage, see which ILR form for a Skilled Worker visa and self-employment income for Skilled Worker ILR — what documents count. If you forgot to include a trip in your travel evidence, read forgot to include a trip in travel history. And if your next milestone is the Life in the UK test, start with free Life in the UK practice.
Because document and biometric rules can change and depend on your route, treat this as general information. For a complex or borderline case, get advice from a regulated OISC adviser or an immigration solicitor before you submit.