UK Visitor Visas
As Advantage Solicitors, we understand that the visa application process can be complicated and time-consuming, especially if you’re unfamiliar with the requirements and procedures. That’s why our team of experienced immigration solicitors is here to help you every step of the way.
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UK Visitor Visa Overview
The Standard Visitor visa sanctions one to visit the UK for the purposes of tourism, business, study (for those courses up to 6 months) and other permitted activities. Typically, when taking this route, you are able to stay in the UK for a temporary period of up to 6 months. In certain circumstances, such as receiving medical treatment, you might be able to apply to stay for longer. This route, however, does not provide the opportunity to settle in the UK long-term.
What you need to do:
Check if what you intend on doing in the UK is permitted as a Standard Visitor.
Check you meet the eligibility requirements.
Check if you need to apply for a visa to visit the UK.
Apply for a Standard Visitor visa online, in the case that you need one.
What you can and cannot do (‘permitted activities’):
If you wish to qualify for this visa, you must meet the UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) requirements. This includes the purpose for which you seek the visa. You must genuinely be seeking entry to the UK for a purpose that is permitted by this visa route. These ‘permitted activities’ are listed below.
You can visit the UK as a Standard Visitor if:
You are here for tourism purposes; such as holidays or vacations
You wish to visit your family or friends
You intend on volunteering with a registered charity for up to 30 days
You need to pass through the UK to another country (‘in transit’)
You are to participate in certain business activities, such as attending a meeting or interview
You have certain paid engagements or events (‘a permitted paid engagement’) as an expert in your profession, such as giving lectures or performing
You are to take part in a school exchange programme
You seek to take a recreational course of up to 30 days, such as a dance course
You wish to study, take an exam or do a placement
You are an academic, dentist or senior doctor
You seek medical attention
You cannot:
participate in paid or unpaid work whether for a UK company or as a self-employed individual, unless you’re doing a permitted paid engagement or event
claim public funds (benefits)
through frequent or successive visits, live in the UK for long periods of time
marry or register a civil partnership, or give notice of marriage or civil partnership – if you wish to you can apply for a Marriage Visitor visa.
Eligibility requirements
In order to enter the UK, you must be in possession of a passport or travel document. The document in question should be valid for the entirety of your stay.
You must be able to provide evidence that supports these requirements:
you are genuinely seeking entry to the UK for a purpose that is permitted under this visa
you will not participate in any prohibited activities
you will leave the UK at the end of your visit
you have the means to support both yourself and your dependants during your trip (or have funding from an external party/parties to support you)
you can pay for your return or onward journey (or, again, have funding from an external party/parties to pay for the journey)
you will not make the UK your main home or live in the UK for extended periods through frequent or successive visits
If you’re visiting the UK, there may be extra eligibility requirements that you may have to meet:
to study, take an exam or do a placement
as an academic, dentist or senior doctor
for a permitted paid engagement
for medical purposes
The requirements for what you’ll need to enter the UK may differ if you’re travelling from Ireland, Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man linked for your ease.
Check if you need a visa to visit the UK
Depending on your nationality, you’ll either:
(a) have to apply for a Standard Visitor visa prior to travelling to the UK
(b) have the means to visit the UK for up to 6 months without needing a visa
Regardless of whether you require a visa or not, you must still meet the Standard Visitor eligibility requirements to visit the UK. At the UK border you may be questioned about your eligibility and the activities you intend to do.
In the case that you have previously been denied entry to the UK or are in possession of a criminal record, you may want to apply for a Standard Visitor visa (even where you do not need one).
If you have to apply for a Standard Visitor visa
You must apply for a Standard Visitor visa online before travelling to the UK.
A Standard Visitor visa currently costs £115 for up to 6 months. The earliest you can apply is 3 months before you travel.
If you frequent the UK on a regular basis, you can choose to apply for a long-term Standard Visitor visa instead.
Apply for a Standard Visitor visa
If Standard Visitor visa is needed, prior to travelling to the UK and attending an appointment at a visa application centre, you must apply online. The earliest you can apply for this visa being 3 months before you travel.
Long-term Standard Visitor visas
If you visit the UK regularly, you may choose to apply for a long-term Standard Visitor visa. This visa can last for either 2, 5 or 10 years. Each visit permits a maximum stay of 6 months.
If, when applying, you are under the age of 18, your long-term Standard Visitor visa will only hold validity for up to 6 months after you turn 18. The fee cannot be refunded.
If UKVI believe you cannot meet the eligibility requirements for your selected visa you may be given a shorter visa than requested. You will not be issued a refund of the application fee if you get a shorter visa than requested or if your application is refused. Your visa may be annulled if your travel history indicates that you are recurrently living in the UK for extended periods.
Documents and information you’ll need for your application
For the duration of your stay in the UK you must be in possession of a passport or travel document that is valid for the entirety of your trip. There must be a blank page in your passport for your Standard Visitor visa.
The following information is required for your online application:
the dates for your stay in the UK
the accommodation for your visit
how much you anticipate your trip will cost
your current home address and how long you’ve lived there
your parents’ names and dates of birth (if known)
how much you earn in a year (if you have an income)
details of any offences, criminal, civil or immigration, you may have committed
According to your circumstances you may also need to provide:
details of your travel history for the past 10 years
your employer’s address and telephone number
the name, date of birth and passport number of your partner
the name and address of anyone paying for your trip
the name, address and passport number of any family members you have in the UK
a certificate proving that you’ve had a tuberculosis (TB) test if you intend on visiting for more than 6 months
It is imperative that you provide certified translations of any documents that are not in English or Welsh.
Proving your identity and providing your documents
Your online application process requires you to book an appointment at a visa application centre.
At your appointment, you’ll need to:
prove your identity with your passport or travel document
have your fingerprints and photograph (known as ‘biometric information’) taken
provide the necessary documents that demonstrate that you’re eligible for a Standard Visitor visa
Throughout the duration of your visa submission being processed the application centre may keep your passport and documents.
Business UK Visitor Visa - Visit on business
You can visit the UK for up to 6 months to participate in the following business activities:
attending interviews, meetings, conferences and seminars
negotiating and signing deals and contracts
attending trade fairs in order to promote your business (though you are not permitted to sell things)
receiving work-related training if you’re employed overseas and the training in question is not a service provided in your home country
giving a one-off or short series of talks providing that they are not for profit or a commercial event. You are only permitted to be paid for speaking for certain paid engagements or events (‘a permitted paid engagement’)
carrying out site visits and inspections
supervising the delivery of goods and services provided by a company within the UK to your overseas company or organisation
delivering training or sharing knowledge on internal projects with UK employees of the company you work for overseas
providing IT services such as installing, dismantling, repairing, servicing or advising on equipment, computer software and hardware, if your overseas company has a contract with a UK company or organisation
Study UK Visitor Visa - Visit to study
As a student you may visit the UK for up to 6 months to:
study at an accredited institution (including English language courses)
take on a short piece of research that holds relevance to your course overseas
do an ‘elective’. An elective being an optional additional placement for those studying medicine, veterinary medicine and science, nursing, midwifery or dentistry
sit an entrance exam, retake an exam or course module, or do a PhD oral exam (a viva)
participate in an unpaid clinical attachment in the case that you have graduated from a medical, dental or nursing school
take the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) test or the Professional and Linguistic Assessment Board (PLAB) test
For those visiting to study at an accredited institution
You must be able to demonstrate that:
an accredited UK institution has accepted you onto a course
the course does not exceed the 6-month limit (this does not apply to distance learning courses)
The accredited UK institution cannot be an academy or state-funded school.
Distance learning courses
For those undertaking a distance learning course, your course is permitted to go beyond 6 months since most of your study will occur outside of the UK.
You can visit the UK to do certain activities as part of your course, such as:
attending induction weeks
participating in face-to-face intensive learning
having progress checks
sitting exams or assessments
If you’re visiting to do a short piece of research
You must show that:
you’re at least 16 years’ old
you’re already enrolled on a UK degree-equivalent course overseas
A higher education institution in the UK has accepted you to take part in research that’s relevant to the course you’re studying overseas
You can still take advantage of the visa and visit for up to 6 months to do your research.
Documents you must provide for a short piece of research
Validation from your overseas course provider is required to confirm that the research or research tuition is part of, or relevant to, the course you’re doing overseas.
If you’re visiting to do an elective
You must prove that you’re:
at least aged 16 or above
already enrolled on a course overseas that is adjacent to a UK degree. The conditions for elective visits determine that the course must be in medicine, veterinary medicine and science, nursing, midwifery or dentistry
doing an elective at a UK higher education institution as part of your course
You can visit for up to 6 months to do your elective.
Documents you must provide for an elective
It is required that you have written confirmation from your UK higher education provider to affirm that you will not be treating patients or being paid for the elective.
If you’re visiting to do an unpaid clinical attachment or dental observer post
For those overseas who have graduated from a medical, dental or nursing school, you are permitted to take on an unpaid clinical attachment or dental observer post for up to 6 months. It is strictly forbidden for you to treat patients.
Documents you must provide for an unpaid clinical attachment or dental observer post
You must provide written confirmation:
of the offer you were given for this clinical attachment or dental observer post
that you’ve not participated in a clinical attachment or dental observer post in the UK before
If you’re taking the OSCE or PLAB test
You are given the option to visit the UK for up to 6 months if you wish to take the OSCE or PLAB test.
In the instance that you do not pass the PLAB test, you can apply to stay in the UK and extend your visit for a further 6 months to retake the test.
In the case that you do pass the PLAB test, you may apply to stay in the UK to take on an unpaid clinical attachment or dental observer post. Hence, in this situation, you will be permitted a total stay of up to 18 months in the UK.
Documents you must provide
You will require written confirmation in the form of a letter from the Nursing and Midwifery Council confirming your OSCE test registration. You will also need a letter from the General Medical Council confirming your PLAB test registration.
Applying for a UK Visitor Visa?
If you need to apply for a UK Visitor Visa, our experienced immigration solicitors are here to assist. Please fill in the form below and a member of our team will contact you shortly to guide you through the process.