PROVISION OF UK VISAS AT PUBLIC EXPENSE
1. When serving overseas, eligible family members require a UK Limited Leave to Enter visa/visa issued under Appendix Armed Forces to enable entry into the UK to support routine travel and enable emergency activity such as medical, welfare and compassionate travel. If an eligible family members requires a UK visa to be renewed while they continue to be resident overseas at public expense, then the cost of UK visa renewal can be reimbursed at public expense. Admissible expenses include:
a. Costs of visa renewal whilst on an overseas assignment. If eligible for ILE/settlement visa and wish to apply for this instead, the cost of the limited leave visa may be put towards the cost of the ILE/settlement visa.
b. Travel to nearest Biometric testing facility including Biometric fee.
c. Return travel to the UK to collect the Biometric Residence Permit (BRP), this includes necessary travel for one parent to accompany a child. Collection of BRP is to be via the closest available post office collection site to the UK port of entry, unless making local arrangements with family for travel and subsistence proves more economical.
d. A maximum of 1-night’s subsistence for the family members. Travel and subsistence support in pursuit of visas is to be undertaken via the most economical and cost-effective route.
2. When serving overseas, eligible family members require a UK visa to enable entry into the UK (to support routine travel and enable emergency activity such as medical, welfare and compassionate travel). However, first-time UK Limited Leave to Enter visas for eligible family members are not to be publicly funded (Less Gurkha SP who are covered by local policy). Applications for first-time UK LLE visas for eligible family members, where the SP has married or entered into a civil partnership with a non-UK national while serving overseas, are to be funded at private expense. This is in line with first-time applications from country of origin to join the SP serving in the UK or transiting via the UK to where the SP is serving. All costs associated with obtaining a first-time UK visa are to be met at private expense.
