Standard Visitor Visa
You can visit the UK as a Standard Visitor for tourism, business, study (courses up to 6 months) and other permitted activities.
The route does not lead to settlement and all applicants must submit separate applications, even when travelling as a group.
Requirements for a Standard Visitor Visa
The exact requirements you will need to satisfy will vary depending on your circumstances. You may wish to speak to an immigration lawyer for an individual expert advice.
You need to show that:
you’ll leave the UK at the end of your visit
you’re able to support yourself and your dependants during your trip (or have funding from someone else to support you)
you’re able to pay for your return or onward journey (or have funding from someone else to pay for the journey)
you’ll not live in the UK for extended periods through frequent or successive visits, or make the UK your main home
Check if you need a visa to visit the UK
Depending on your nationality, you’ll either:
have to apply for a Standard Visitor visa before you travel to the UK
be able to visit the UK for up to 6 months without needing a visa
You can check if you need a visa before you apply.
If you do not need a visa, you must still meet the Standard Visitor eligibility requirements to visit the UK. You may be asked questions at the UK border about your eligibility and the activities you plan to do.
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You must have a passport or travel document that is valid for the whole of your stay in the UK. There must be a blank page in your passport for your Standard Visitor visa.
You’ll need to provide the following information in your online application:
the dates you’re planning to travel to the UK
where you’ll be staying during your visit
how much you think 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 criminal, civil or immigration offences you may have committed
Depending on your circumstances, you might also need to provide:
details of your travel history for the past 10 years
your employer’s address and telephone number
your partner’s name, date of birth and passport number
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’re visiting for more than 6 months
You need to provide additional documents if you’re visiting the UK:
to study
as an academic
for certain paid engagements or events (a ‘permitted paid engagement’
for medical reasons
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Once you’ve applied, proved your identity and provided your documents, you’ll usually get a decision on your visa within 3 weeks.
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You can visit the UK as a Standard Visitor:
for tourism, for example on a holiday or vacation
to see your family or friends
to volunteer for up to 30 days with a registered charity
to pass through the UK to another country (‘in transit’)
for certain business activities, for example attending a meeting or interview
for certain paid engagements or events (a ‘permitted paid engagement’) as an expert in your profession, for example to give lectures or perform
to take part in a school exchange programme
to do a recreational course of up to 30 days, for example a dance course
to study, do a placement or take an exam
as an academic, senior doctor or dentist
for medical reasons
You cannot:
do paid or unpaid work for a UK company or as a self-employed person, unless you’re doing a permitted paid engagement or event
claim public funds (benefits)
live in the UK for long periods of time through frequent or successive visits
marry or register a civil partnership, or give notice of marriage or civil partnership - you’ll need to apply for a Marriage Visitor visa
