OverstayCheckUK

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UK visa overstay calculator

Enter your visa expiry date to see where you stand: whether the 14-day window is still open, how long you have overstayed, and what happens next.

Use the end date of your permission to stay, shown on your visa, BRP or eVisa account.

Calculated in your browser. Your date is never sent anywhere or stored.

The key thresholds

UK immigration rules mark specific points where the consequences of an overstay escalate. These are summaries: always check the current rules or take advice.

14 days

If you apply for new permission within 14 days of your old permission expiring and the Home Office accepts a good reason beyond your control, such as hospitalisation or bereavement, the overstay can be disregarded. Forgetting is not a good reason.

30 days

If you leave the UK voluntarily, at your own expense, within 30 days of your permission ending, no re-entry ban applies. This is the last point at which leaving carries no automatic ban.

Over 30 days

Leaving voluntarily at your own expense after more than 30 days leads to a 12-month ban on applications. Leaving at the Home Office's expense leads to a 2-year or 5-year ban depending on timing.

Removal or deception

Being removed or deported, or using deception in an application, leads to the longest refusal period: 10 years.

How it works

  1. 1

    Find your expiry date

    Check the end date of your permission to stay on your visa, BRP or eVisa account.

  2. 2

    Enter it above

    The calculator counts the days since your permission ended, or the days you have left.

  3. 3

    See where you stand

    Get the threshold that applies today and where to find free, regulated advice.

Guides

Plain-English explanations of the rules, your options and what happens next.

Frequently asked questions

Straight answers to the questions people actually ask.

Does the UK have a grace period after my visa expires?

There is no general grace period: you are an overstayer from the day after your permission ends. Two narrow rules can help. A late application made within 14 days of expiry may have the overstay disregarded if you had a good reason beyond your control. And if you leave the UK voluntarily, at your own expense, within 30 days of your permission ending, no re-entry ban applies.

What is the 14-day rule?

If you apply for new permission within 14 days of your old permission expiring, and the Home Office accepts you had a good reason beyond your control (for example emergency hospital treatment or a close family bereavement), the overstay can be disregarded. Forgetting the date, or not understanding it, is not a good reason. It is decided case by case, so get advice.

What is the 30-day rule?

If you overstay by 30 days or less and leave the UK voluntarily at your own expense, no re-entry ban applies. If you stay longer than 30 days before leaving voluntarily at your own expense, a 12-month ban on applications usually applies.

What is Section 3C leave?

If you apply to extend or change your permission before it expires, Section 3C of the Immigration Act 1971 usually continues your existing permission and conditions until the application is decided (and until any administrative review or appeal is finished). You are not an overstayer while it applies. It does not apply to applications made after your permission has ended.

How long is the UK re-entry ban?

It depends on how you leave. No ban if you leave voluntarily at your own expense within 30 days of your permission ending. 12 months if you leave voluntarily at your own expense after more than 30 days. 2 years if you leave voluntarily at public expense within 6 months of being notified, and 5 years if later than that. 10 years if you are removed or deported, or if deception was used. Check the current Immigration Rules or take advice for your case.

Does the ban apply while I'm still in the UK?

No. The refusal periods apply to future applications after you leave. But staying has its own consequences: you cannot lawfully work or rent, and many routes require you not to be an overstayer when you apply.

Will a UK overstay affect my US, Schengen, or other visa applications?

It can. Many countries ask on visa forms whether you have ever overstayed or been refused entry, and you must answer truthfully. A UK overstay is treated as a negative factor by many immigration authorities.

Is overstaying a UK visa a criminal offence?

It can be. Under section 24 of the Immigration Act 1971, knowingly remaining beyond the time allowed is an offence punishable by a fine or up to six months in prison. Prosecutions for overstaying alone are uncommon, but the offence and the overstay are recorded.

What should I do right now if I've overstayed?

Work out exactly how many days you have overstayed, then get advice from a solicitor, an OISC-regulated adviser or Citizens Advice before you act. The right choice depends on your days overstayed, any pending application, and your ties to the UK. Do not ignore it, and do not use unregulated agents.

Understanding UK visa overstays

Every year, hundreds of thousands of people visit the United Kingdom on temporary visas — tourist visas, student visas, skilled worker visas, and visitor entry clearances. The vast majority leave on time. But sometimes circumstances intervene: a medical emergency, a change in personal situation, or simply losing track of the deadline. When your visa expires and you remain in the UK, you become an overstayer from that day — with no grace period and immediate legal consequences.

There Is No Grace Period in the UK

Unlike some other countries, the UK does not automatically give you extra days after your visa expires. Day one after your visa end date is day one of overstaying. Two narrow rules can help. If you apply for new permission within 14 days of your old permission ending and can show a good reason beyond your control, such as a medical emergency, the Home Office may disregard the overstay. And if you leave voluntarily, at your own expense, within 30 days, no re-entry ban applies. Neither is a standard allowance.

If you applied to extend your visa before it expired, you may be protected by Section 3C leave, which keeps you lawfully in the UK while your application is pending. If you did not apply before your visa expired, no such protection exists.

The Consequences of Overstaying

Knowingly overstaying can be a criminal offence under Section 24 of the Immigration Act 1971. In practice, prosecutions for straightforward overstaying are uncommon — but the overstay is permanently recorded. Future UK visa applications, and visa applications for many other countries including the US, Canada, Australia, and Schengen nations, require you to declare any previous immigration violations. A UK overstay is treated as a serious negative factor by immigration authorities worldwide.

When you leave the UK, whether a re-entry ban applies depends on how long you overstayed and how you leave. Leaving voluntarily at your own expense within 30 days means no ban. After that, a 12-month ban on applications usually applies. Leaving at the Home Office's expense can mean 2 or 5 years, and removal, deportation or deception can mean 10 years.

What This Calculator Does

This tool takes your UK visa expiry date and calculates exactly where you stand today. It tells you whether the 14-day exception window is still open, how long you have overstayed, what re-entry consequences apply, and what your immediate options are. The calculator is based on the Immigration Rules and published Home Office guidance. Rules change, so always check the current wording.

This is a free informational tool — no data is stored, no registration required. If your situation is complex, especially if you have a pending application, a criminal record, or family ties in the UK, you should speak to a qualified UK immigration solicitor before taking any action.

How this calculator works and its limits →