The United Kingdom (UK) offers opportunities for foreign nationals to visit the UK to carry out certain activities. A visitor visa is valid for six months. This is also known as a standard visitor visa or UK tourist visa.
Before you enter the UK, you should familiarise yourself with the rules on your rights as a visitor, as well as required documents and visa fees. Our specialist immigration lawyers are on hand to help you answer any questions about your time in the UK.
If you’re looking for help with other areas of immigration law, try our services for individuals listed above.
What is a UK visitor visa?
A standard visitor visa allows you to live in the UK for up to six months. During this time, you can engage in tourist activities, as well as some other permitted activities.
There are strict requirements for foreign nationals to secure a visitor visa. You should have enough funds to cover your trip, and proof that you intend to leave after six months. Your visa will also only allow certain activities, some of which are covered by specialist visas. In other cases, there may be extra requirements, such as study placements.
In specialist circumstances, you might be able to stay longer, for example, if you’re having medical treatment. Before you apply, it’s always best to check with the Home Office to see if you’re eligible and what you’ll need to do. Our trained immigration solicitors can help you with your application.
What you can do with a standard UK visitor visa
While there may be factors affecting your individual circumstances, you can generally take part in these activities on a standard visitor visa:
Travel and tourism you can do on a UK visitor visa:
- Holiday/tour
- Visit friends and family
- Get married (though you must live elsewhere after six months)
- Pass through the UK to get to another country
Studying you can do on a UK visitor visa:
- Study an academic course for up to six months
- Attend a recreational course for up to 30 days
- Be part of a school exchange programme
- Take an exam
Work you can do on a UK visitor visa:
- Attend meetings or interviews
- Complete a work placement (up to six months)
- Conduct research in academic or medical roles
- Volunteer for a registered UK charity for up to 30 days
You can also receive medical treatment on this type of visa. If you’re not sure which visa type is best for you, feel free to arrange a consultation with our expert immigration lawyers.
What you can’t do with a standard UK visitor visa
Your visitor visa will not cover work, marriage or permanent residence in the UK. This means that you cannot:
- Work, paid or unpaid (though charity volunteering is permitted)
- Make visits so regularly that you essentially live in the UK
- Claim from the UK welfare system (benefits).
You can only get married in the UK if you intend to leave after a maximum of six months and have a marriage visitor visa.
Who can apply for a UK tourist visa?
If you apply for a UK tourist visa, you’ll become known as a ‘visa national’. However, people from some countries are known as ‘non-visa nationals’, which means they don’t need to apply for a visa.
To find out if you’re on the visa national list and need to apply, see the latest guidance on the Gov.uk website. Our friendly team is on hand to answer any questions you might have.
UK visitor visa requirements
Your successful UK visitor visa application relies on two things: your funds and your intentions to leave the country.
What funds you need for a UK visitor visa:
You must be able to show that you can support yourself financially during your time in the UK. While the Home Office will not give you an exact figure, they may calculate how much your stay could cost, including accommodation, food and travel. You’ll need to have enough funds to cover this, as well as enough to fund your departure from the UK.
Intent to leave
Secondly, you must have genuine intentions to leave the UK. This means you cannot make regular successive visits. The Home Office may look at your reasons to visit, as well as how many times you’ve been here before, if you spent more time in the UK than your home country, and how many times you came. Checks will also include your immigration history and any economic ties to the UK, such as work.
Types of UK visitor visas
There are short-term visitor visas covering tourism, work and study, or there are distinct types. The commonest are:
Family, tourism, leisure
You can come to the UK on a tourist visa or to visit family and friends. This would be considered a ‘general visitor’ visa, but you’ll still go through the usual checks. An immigration officer will review your application, particularly if you’re from a country that’s deemed high-risk.
Business visitor
A business visitor visa is a type of general visitor visa that allows you to attend business-like activities. These may include interviews, conferences, meetings and seminars.
You may also engage in ‘intra-corporate’ activities. This means you’re representing an overseas company working on an internal project with the company’s UK employees.
Work-related training visa
If you’re training for a medical, dental or nursing role, you can apply for a work-related training visa. This includes on-the-job training such as clinical attachments or dental observer posts relative to your qualification.
Study visa
Short-term study visas allow you to stay in the UK for a period of up to 30 days after your studies have finished. You must only study the course you’ve signed up for and cannot carry out paid work in this time.
Other short-term visas with their own distinct types include:
Permitted paid engagement visas: These visas are for specific professions carrying out temporary visits for paid work such as lawyers, examiners and lecturers.
Marriage or civil partnership visas: If you’re visiting the UK just to get married or enter into a civil partnership, you’ll need to apply for this specific visa.
Medical treatment visitor visas: You may visit the UK to receive private (not state-funded, like the NHS) medical treatment. You’ll need a ‘medical treatment’ visitor visa.
Required supporting documents for UK visitor visas
You’ll need to provide the following supporting documents for the Home Office to inspect. Some specific visas may need additional documents.
- Your chosen travel dates
- Your home address and address in the UK
- Details of how long you’ve lived at your home address
- Your travel history over the last 10 years
- How much you expect your visit to cost
- Your parents’ names and dates of birth
- Your partner’s name, date of birth and passport number
- Details of any family members residing in the UK
- Your employer’s details including your annual income
- Declaration of any criminal records or immigration offences
You may also need a tuberculosis test certificate, depending on your home country. We can clarify this for you when you get in touch with us about your application.
Application fees for UK visitor visas
At the time of writing, the UK standard visitor visa fee is £115. This fee is higher for medical visits, at £200, or academic visits, at £200. If you’re visiting the UK regularly, you can apply for extended visas but each stay cannot exceed six months. These fees are:
- 2-year long-term standard visitor visa: £432
- 5-year long-term standard visitor visa: £771
- 10-year long-term standard visitor visa: £963
You can check for updated fees on the Gov.uk website.
How to apply for a general visitor visa in the UK
To begin your visa application process, you should start by checking if you need to apply. You can see the list of applicable countries here. Next, you’ll complete an online application form and pay your fees.
The next stage is an appointment with your local Visa Application Centre (VAC). Here you’ll need to provide supporting documents such as travel documents and details of your stay. You’ll also have your photo taken and a biometric (fingerprint) scan.
If you meet all the eligibility requirements, the processing time should be around three weeks.
Why choose Truth Legal for UK visitor visa applications?
At Truth Legal, we’re here to help guide you through the visa application process, from understanding immigration rules to gathering the right travel documents. We understand the complexities of visa law and offer multilingual staff if the English language isn’t your mother tongue.
You’ll get clear, understandable information without legal jargon. We’re here to make your visit visa application as stress-free as possible, with specialist support around the clock. Get in touch today to start your application.
UK visitor visa FAQs
How long can I stay in the UK on a visitor visa?
You can typically stay in the UK on a visitor visa for a period of no longer than six months. In some cases, such as a visit for medical reasons, you may be able to stay longer. We can advise you based on your individual circumstances.
Which UK visa is easiest to get?
The visa category you need will depend on the intentions of your stay. If you’re looking to stay in the UK temporarily, a visitor visa is a simple application that will allow you to stay for up to six months in most cases. Other visas include a transit visa, which you won’t need if you have a standard visitor visa or electronic travel authorisation (ETA). You can check the latest government guidelines here.
What documents are required for a visitor visa in the UK?
The documents required for a visitor visa will depend on your purpose for being here. For example, you may need to outline your business activities or study dates for temporary student visas. You’ll also need proof that you have sufficient funds for your stay here and your onward journey. The UKVI (a division of the Home Office) may ask for bank statements as proof.
You’ll also need details including your address, your employment status and information on any dependants travelling with you.
How much is a UK visitor visa fee?
A standard UK visitor visa fee (in January 2025) is £115. This will be higher if you’re visiting for academic or medical reasons, and more if you’re planning several successive visits. You can check the latest figures on the Gov.uk website here.
