Current ATAS processing times are available on the GOV.UK webpages. We recommend taking a look at these webpages for the most up-to-date information on ATAS.
At the moment, ATAS applications are taking at least 30 working days (6 weeks) to process. We are aware that there are delays with processing ATAS applications, particularly at certain times of the year.
If you need to apply for ATAS for your programme of study, we strongly recommending applying in plenty of time before you need to show it. This is particularly important if you need to extend your visa, as you will need to show new ATAS clearance. If you need to extend your Student Visa and your studies require ATAS clearance, the Visa Compliance Team will need to see your new ATAS certificate before issuing a new CAS so it’s extremely important to not delay your ATAS application.