Standard Visitor Visa UK

What Is The UK Standard Visitor Visa And Who Is It For?

Standard Visitor visas in the UK are short term visas allow you to travel and stays up to six months and can be used for leisure, family visit and business, among other purposes. If you want to stay in the UK, you will likely need to apply for a Standard Visitor Visa.

There are several types of visitor visas depending on the purpose of your visit in the UK. Subcategories include a business visit visa, a tourist visa for UK holidays, an academic visit visa, a medical treatment visa, a marriage visitor visa to get married or enter a civil partnership, and more. 

As a general rule, all Standard UK Visitor Visas are short-term visas, limiting the holder to a maximum stay of six months. When your visa is valid, you can enter and leave the UK at will. 

Only visa-required nationals need to apply for Visitor visas to enter the UK. Visa-exempt nationals should apply for an Electronic Travel Authorisation instead.

Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) For Visa-Exempt Nationals

Electronic Travel Authorisations (ETAs) are a method of pre-authorisation that most visa-exempt nationals will need to obtain before travelling to the UK.

If you do not require a Visitor visa to travel to the UK, don’t own a UK or Irish passport or have the right to work or settle in the UK already, you will likely need to apply for an ETA to visit the UK.

ETAs allow individuals to visit the UK for up to 6 months at a time for purposes such as tourism, visiting friends and family and for business activities.

Nationalities Eligible for the ETA

Citizens of the following countries will have to apply for an ETA when coming to the UK:

Standard Visitor Visa Category: Types of UK Visit Visas

The standard visitor visa allows foreign nationals subject to UK immigration laws to enter the country for a short period for various reasons. This is because the standard UK visit visa covers a range of visas for UK travel and various sub-categories of visas, including:

Family Visit Visa

• Family Visit Visa – For non-EEA nationals wanting to travel to the UK for a family visit, applying for the UK family visitor visa category is necessary. As standard, this visa allows you to stay in the UK for up to six months to see family. When visiting the UK under the family visit visa, you cannot work or claim public funds while here. You also can’t bring dependents with you, meaning that if you plan on travelling with other family members, you’ll need to ensure that each family member has a valid UK family visit visa.

It’s also the case that UK family visit visas are difficult to obtain compared to other types of UK visas. For foreign nationals subject to UK immigration laws, family visas have stringent requirements and a challenging application process.

You’ll need to prove that you have sufficient funds to support yourself throughout your stay and provide proof that you fully intend to return home at the end of your maximum six-month stay. The family visitor visa (UK) requirements are difficult to meet, but our IAA-regulated immigration lawyers can help you understand the process.

Child Visitor Visa

• Child Visitor Visa – Any non-EEA national under the age of 18 needs to apply for a child visitor visa before travelling to the UK. This visa falls under the standard visitor visa category and is required for anyone under 18 with UK travel plans. Whether travelling to visit family or friends, as part of an exchange programme, or for education, the child visitor visa covers you for up to six months of UK travel. Visa applications for child visas need to be thorough.

Whether the child or the parent is making the application, it’s necessary to prove that the under-18 will have suitable accommodation and care during their stay. This might include proving they have sufficient funds and travel plans as part of the application. You also need to confirm that the minor has a recognised parent or guardian responsible for their care in their home country.

Business Visitor Visa

• Business Visitor Visa – It’s important not to confuse the business visitor visa with other UK work and business visas, such as the investor visa, the skilled worker visa, or the tier 1 entrepreneur visa. The Business Visitor Visa allows you to visit the UK for up to six months, and there’s a limited list of specific business activities you can perform here.

For example, some permitted activities on a business visitor visa include:

• attending conferences and training
• complete academic work
• participate in some sporting events
• negotiate and sign deals and contracts
• carry out inspections

However, you can’t do paid work, work for a UK company or access public funds in the UK. You’re eligible for the business visitor visa regardless of whether you work for an employer or are a self-employed person.

Student Visitor Visa

• Student Visitor Visa—If you’re a visiting UK visa national hoping to study on a short-term basis, you’ll need to apply for a student visitor visa. The student visa allows foreign nationals to study in the UK for more than six months. It is measured on a points-based system. A short-term study visa allows you to travel to the UK to study for longer, but it must be an English language course.

Essentially, if you or the applicant plans to travel and study at a UK institution for an undergraduate degree or other long-term course, the student visitor visa won’t cover your needs.

If, however, you’re an international student planning on studying for a maximum period of six months for a short-term qualification, then this is the visa you need to apply for.

Visitor In Transit Visa

• Visitor In Transit Visa—If you’re travelling to the UK on a ‘stopover flight,’ we recommend checking your visa requirements by visiting the UK Home Office website. Visitor visas for travellers in transit work a little differently.
• If you’re stopping off in the UK and plan to leave the airport while waiting for your next flight, you’ll likely need a visitor-in-transit visa.

If you’re stopping in the UK for up to 48 hours before flying somewhere else, you’ll need to prove to immigration authorities both your right to stay in the UK for this time and your intention to leave. For this type of visa, UK immigration laws require you to provide travel documents and proof of your inward and onward journey plans.

This kind of travel is known as ‘transiting landside’ and falls under the UK transit visa category of the standard visitor visa. You’ll need this visa if you plan on passing through immigration control before leaving the UK within 48 hours.

When it comes to transit visas, UK immigration laws take into account a range of different factors. Your UK visa requirements can vary depending on your nationality, your airline, and the nature of your stay (whether airside or landside transit). If you arrive in the UK for transit without permission, you risk being denied entry by an immigration officer.

Permitted Activities on a UK Visitor Visa

Before you are planning to come to the UK for a short stay, please take note of the list of permitted activities for a Standard Visitor visa holder in the UK. Even if you are coming to the UK from a visa-exempt country and therefore do not need to apply for a visit visa, you will not be permitted to perform any activities that are not allowed by UK Visa and Immigration (UKVI).

While visiting the UK as a Standard Visitor, you may:

• Travel through the country as a tourist
• Visit your family or friends in the country
• Receive medical treatment
• Perform certain business activities, e.g. take part in meetings or business negotiations, attend conferences or visit trade fairs etc.
• Study or research for up to six months, take a test, or do an elective placement
• Participate in a student exchange programme
• Take a short recreational course, the duration of which must not exceed 30 days
• Take part in certain permitted paid engagements or events as a professional expert
• Visit as a scientist, researcher, academic, senior doctor or dentist
• Volunteer with a registered charity for up to a month
• Transit through to another country

You will not, however, be allowed to:

• Work in the UK – even if unpaid – as an employee or as a self-employed person
• Claim social benefits or access UK public funds
• Get married or register a civil partnership, or give notice of marriage/civil partnership

Additionally, a visitor visa will not allow you to live in the UK for long periods of time through frequent or successive visits.

Visitor Visa Types At a Glance

Below is a table setting out the different types of Standard Visitor visa, along with their primary permitted activities and any additional notes you may have to keep in mind when applying.

What Documentation Do I Need To Prove My Eligibility For UK Visitor Visa?

To prove your eligibility for the UK visitor visa, it’s essential to provide the Home Office with evidence and required documents as part of your UK visit visa application. As a non-EEA visa national, you’ll need to prove that:

• You intend to leave the UK at the end of your visit and do not plan to stay for more than six months.
• You have evidence of any activities you intend to perform in the UK, including business and other activities.
• You can afford your inward and outward journeys, including flights.
• You will have sufficient funds to support and house yourself and any dependents throughout your stay without accessing public funds.

To have your visa approved, you’ll need to give details of your current and previous passport numbers or an alternative valid travel identification. 

Any documentation must be accompanied by a certified translation if it isn’t in English or Welsh. 

Additional documents required for standard visitor visa might include:

• Travel documents that detail the dates on which you plan to travel.
• An immigration record and history of international travel. Visa UK laws require a lot of information to be provided.
• An estimate for the cost of your visit as well proof of sufficient funds such as bank statements.
• Your overseas contact details and address.
• Details of any overseas employer or company for whom you are travelling to the UK.
• Where you’ll be staying during your visit in the UK.
• Details of any criminal, civil or immigration offences.

Immigration rules are strict, and the Home Office refuses many visas due to a lack of supporting evidence. Here at IAS, it’s our job to help you understand what you need to do to submit a successful application. 

You can get support in organising and submitting supporting documents and evidence that can help prove your eligibility, and support your case. If you are seeking assurance and assistance, contact the team here at IAS. Alternatively, you can call +44 (0)333 414 9244.

Our immigration lawyers are experienced and fully qualified – giving you the best chance of visa approval.

How to Apply for a Standard Visitor Visa UK?

Similar to all UK visas, applying for a Standard Visitor visa UK is an online process. Note that you can, and must, apply for a visitor visa from outside the UK only, before you travel to the country.

Citizens from certain countries can travel to the UK for less than 90 days without a visa, or with an electronic travel authorisation (ETA), based on the reciprocal agreements their respective countries have in place with the UK. So, please check whether you are visa-exempt or need an ETA instead of a visitor visa before applying for a UK Standard Visitor visa online.

Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of the UK visit visa application process:

1. Create an account with your email ID on the Home Office website to get started
2. Have your supporting documents and other relevant information ready with you before you begin the online application process
3. Start filling in the online application form. You can save your form and complete it later, if required
4. Once you have completed the online form, submit the same along with scanned copies of required supporting documents
5. Pay the required visa processing fees either by a credit or a debit card
6. Book an appointment at a UK visa application centre (VAC) near your location in your home country
7. Submit your passport and supporting documents at the VAC on your appointment date and provide your biometric details (i.e. fingerprints and facial image). You may also need to attend a visa interview

In many countries, the UK embassy/consulate outsources some parts of the consular services (such as visa documents and biometric details collection) to third-party immigration service providers like VFS Global or TLScontact. Check their websites to know more about the locations of VACs and the process of booking an appointment.

How Long Does a UK Visitor Visa Take to Process?

You can submit your visit visa application to the Home Office three months before you plan to travel. Applications more than three months before your arrival won’t be accepted. Applications are typically processed within three weeks. You will be able to check your visa status after you submit it. 

Processing can take closer to three weeks and occasionally more, particularly for those outside the EEA and Switzerland. If you’re travelling long-distance from North America, South America, Asia, Oceania, the Middle East, or Africa, it’s important to leave plenty of time while you await permission to travel. 

If you’re travelling for an urgent appointment you can’t afford to miss, you might choose one of the Home Office’s priority services: the Priority Service and the Super Priority Service. 

• Priority Service – Processed within 5 working days – £500
• Super Priority Service – Processed in a single working day – £1000

The priority services come at an extra cost but are reliable for ensuring your visa decision is delivered quickly. However, not all countries offer these services, so it’s worth checking at a local visa application centre or embassy where you apply first.

If you need to visit the UK for business or tourism as soon as possible and are struggling to compile your UK business or tourist visa application, the team at IAS is here to help out.

Our qualified immigration lawyers can offer you a fast-track application package ensuring your urgent application is submitted to tight deadlines, and with the best chance of success. 

This includes booking a Home Office Same-Day Premium slot for you, checking your required documentation, writing a Letter of Representation to the Home Office, and more. Contact us today to find out more about how we can help.

Long-term Visitor Visas for UK

Visitors from many countries, including the United States, China, Pakistan, India, and other non-EEA countries, can apply for a long-term visit visa for UK travel. These are available at an extra cost and can be held for two, five, or ten years.

Long-term visitor visas still restrict you to a maximum single visit of six months or less. However, you can enter and leave the UK multiple times within the allotted time period. A long-term visitor visa to the UK is a great route if you know you’ll need to return multiple times over the years. 

How Much Does A UK Visitor Visa Cost?

Visitor Visa fees can vary for UK travellers from non-EEA countries. However, the standard UK visitor visa fees are the same – £127. If you’re planning to visit the UK regularly you can choose to apply for a long-term Standard Visitor visa instead, in which case there are different costs involved.

Here’s the most up-to-date breakdown of UK visitor visa application fees.

International travelling can be costly as it is – you don’t want to overlook planning for the correct visa fee. Here at the Immigration Advice Service, we often see applicants frustrated by visa costs. If you’re visiting the UK for a family wedding, holiday, or other short-term stay, then costs can pile up. 

The gov.uk website has a tool for checking the correct visa fees for your journey before applying, and we always recommend that applicants use this.

Can I Visit the UK If I’m Under 18?

Children (i.e., under 18) are eligible to apply for a UK visit visa provided they:

• Have suitable arrangements in place with regard to their travel and accommodation in the UK
• Have written consent from their parent(s) or guardian(s) if they are travelling on their own to the UK
• Can pay for their return/onward journey from the UK
• Have sufficient funds to cover their expenses in the UK without working in the country or claiming public funds, or have family/friends in the UK who can, and will, support them financially

Moreover, for children travelling to the UK on their own, following information must be provided at the time of the UK visitor visa application:

• Written consent from parent(s) or guardians(s) for travelling to the UK
• Parent(s)’/guardian(s)’ full contact information
• Proof of suitable accommodation for the child in the UK
• Address of the place where the child will be staying
• Name and date of birth of the person that the child will be staying with
• Relationship details of the child with the person they will be staying with (and who will look after them as a responsible adult)
• Written consent from parent(s) or guardians(s) allowing the child visitor to stay with the said person in the UK

On the other hand, if the child is travelling to the UK with an adult, written consent from their parent(s) or guardian(s) regarding their travel and stay arrangements is a must. The details of the said adult must also be mentioned on the child’s online visa application form.

In case the child is going to stay with someone other than a close relative in the UK, and they are under 16 (or under 18 and have a disability), their parent(s), guardian(s), or school must inform the relevant local authority in the UK about the child’s visit.

This is also applicable in case the child is visiting the UK as part of an educational exchange programme for more than 28 days, unless they are travelling to, and staying in, the UK as part of a group accompanied by a responsible adult (e.g., travelling as a school group with a teacher).

Appealing UK Visitor Visa refusal

There are several available options when faced with a UK Visitor Visa refusal. These options are outlined below:

• Re-apply for your visa with a new application if refused entry
• Submit a request for an appeal (only possible on human rights grounds)
• Apply for a judicial review

If submitting a new application for a Visitor visa, you must be certain that the issues with the original application have been fully addressed and resolved. This may include providing more detailed information to the Home Office about your circumstances in order to present a compelling case for approval.

If you wish to submit a request for an appeal, you must be certain that the refusal you have received in some way infringes on your human rights according to the European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR).

If applying for a judicial review, you must be confident that your application has been in some way unfairly refused, such as if you know the caseworker has not properly reviewed all documents available, or taken in to account all the facts regarding your case. Be aware that judicial reviews can be lengthy and costly to undertake, and it may be preferable to simply try to apply for a Visitor visa again.

Every immigration case is different, and it is recommended that you work with an immigration adviser to ensure that your case is given the appropriate attention, and all your circumstances considered.

For expert support and advice with your UK Visitor Visa refusal case, contact our specialist immigration advisers today.

Reasons for UK Visitor Visa Rejection

The Home Office may refuse you a visitor visa or reject your visa application if:

• The reason(s) for your visit is unclear
• You fail to prove your eligibility or cannot submit required supporting documents
• You fail to prove that you will not engage in any activities not permitted under the Standard Visitor visa regulations in the UK, and will return to your home country once your leave is over
• You fail to provide proof of sufficient funds or travel medical insurance
• You have a criminal conviction, or are currently subject to a deportation order
• You have provided false or fraudulent information in the past
• You have previously breached UK immigration rules
• There are medical grounds not to allow you enter the UK (e.g., you have tuberculosis)

How to Avoid Visitor Visa Refusals

The best way to avoid a refusal for your Visitor visa is to ensure that you have compiled a comprehensive, persuasive case for your application.

Following the below steps should help with preventing refusals for your visa application. You should try to:

• Be as clear as possible when conveying the reason for your visit, including as much detail about your plans, accommodation arrangements and how you will fund your trip. You should also double check that your planned activities do not breach Standard Visitor visa guidelines.
• Provide as much evidence and documentary proof to support your case, including proof of planned activities during your stay.
• Be prepared to explain any unusual travel history, including other visa refusals, frequent previous visits to the UK or any travel movements that might arouse suspicion. The Home Office will need to be satisfied that you will definitely return to your home country once your visit to the UK is finished and that you have a genuine intention to visit the UK for legal and lawful purposes.
• Show proof of strong ties to your home country, such as ongoing employment, property ownership, business ties, social and family ties, and involvement in organisations, groups or activities in your home country.

Can I Extend My Visitor Visa in the UK?

You may be able to extend your UK visitor visa if your current visa validity is less than six months, and you wish to extend your stay for up to a total of six months. However, you may be able to extend your stay on a visitor visa for more than six months if you are one of the following:

• A patient receiving medical treatment
• An academic and you still meet the eligibility requirements
• A graduate retaking the Professional and Linguistic Assessment Board (PLAB) test or doing a clinical attachment

Visitor visa extensions cost £1,100 in all instances. You must apply while you’re still in the UK and before your current visa expires.

Requirements for Medical Treatment Extensions

If you’re in the UK to receive medical treatment, you can apply to extend your stay for another 6 months if all of the following apply:

• You’ve paid for any treatment you’ve already had in the UK
• You can and will pay the further costs of your treatment
• You continue to meet the medical treatment eligibility requirements

There is no limit to how many times you can extend your visa, but you must pay the fee each time.

To be eligible for an extension, a medical practitioner or NHS consultant who’s registered in the UK must provide details of your condition and treatment to the Home Office.

If you’re having treatment at an NHS hospital under a reciprocal healthcare arrangement, you will need to provide an additional authorisation form from your country’s government saying they will pay for your treatment.

Requirements for Academic Extensions

If you’re in the UK as a visiting academic and need to extend your stay, you can extend it in order to stay in the UK for up to 12 months at a time.

To be eligible, you must prove that you:

• Are highly qualified in your field of expertise, for example you have a PhD or higher
• Were working in that field of expertise at an academic institution overseas prior to your arrival in the UK
• Are not filling a permanent teaching post
• Are visiting to do research or a formal exchange (if you’re not a senior doctor or dentist)
• Are visiting to do research, clinical practice, a formal exchange or to teach (if you are a senior doctor or dentist)

Requirements for PLAB Test Extensions

You may be able to extend your stay in the UK if you’re a graduate who needs to retake the Professional and Linguistic Assessment Board (PLAB) test.

Your stay can be extended for up to 6 months. You must also provide the Home Office written confirmation from the General Medical Council confirming that you’re retaking the test.

After passing the PLAB test, you may also be able to stay longer to carry out an unpaid clinical attachment or dental observer post for up to 18 months in total.

You must provide the Home Office with written confirmation of your clinical attachment offer and that you’ve not done a clinical attachment in the UK before. You will not be permitted to treat patients.

Can I Switch My Visitor Visa to Other Visas in the UK?

You cannot switch to a different visa from a Standard Visitor visa in the UK. You must leave and apply for a new visa from your home country. It may, however, be possible to extend your visit visa due to medical reason(s) or compelling personal circumstances.

How Can IAS Help With UK Visitor Visa Application

Need some help to decide how to proceed with your visa application? UK’s immigration control is strict, and understanding which visa is right for you and how to apply can be a confusing process. Here at the Immigration Advice Service, our qualified and experienced immigration lawyers can provide you with the information and advice you need to add clarity to your decision. We’ll support you in making an informed decision about your visa and help you to better understand your immigration status.

Our immigration lawyers will help you to understand the various specific visa categories and can provide you with a path of further steps to take in your visa application.

Want a chance to talk in detail about your case and receive detailed information in return about how to proceed? Call us for a consultation today on +44 (0)333 414 9244 or reach out to us online using our contact form above.