UK Standard Visit Visa

Short-term

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UK Visit Visa

An Overview of Standard Visit Visa

The UK Standard Visit Visa allows individuals to visit the UK for tourism, business, study (courses up to 6 months), and other permitted activities. The visa usually permits a stay in the UK for up to 6 months, but in certain circumstances, such as for medical treatment, it might be possible to apply for a longer stay.

Before applying for the visa, you need to ensure that what you plan to do in the UK is allowed as a Standard Visitor. You also need to check if you meet the eligibility requirements and if you need to apply for a visa to visit the UK. If you do need a visa, you can apply for a Standard Visitor visa online.

Who is this Visa For?

The UK Standard Visitor Visa is designed for individuals from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland who wish to visit the United Kingdom temporarily. Ideal for tourists, business travelers, or people seeking medical treatment, it offers access to UK for up to 6 months. Academic visitors pursuing research, musicians performing at concerts, and sports professionals participating in events also use this visa. However, it is not for those intending to work, live permanently, or study for an extended period in the UK.

What Can You Do On this Visa?

Tourism and Leisure

The Standard Visit Visa for the UK is designed to cater to individuals who wish to visit the UK for tourism or leisure purposes. This includes traveling for holidays or vacations, exploring the diverse cultures, historical landmarks, and scenic beauties of the UK. It also covers visits to family and friends residing in the UK, allowing individuals to spend quality time with loved ones.

Business Activities

Business professionals can utilize the Standard Visit Visa to engage in various business-related activities. This encompasses attending meetings, conferences, seminars, or interviews. It also covers networking events, negotiations, and other general business activities that do not involve direct selling to the public or providing goods and services.

Educational Purposes

For educational pursuits, the Standard Visit Visa permits individuals to undertake short-term study courses lasting up to 6 months. This includes English language courses or other academic pursuits at accredited institutions. Additionally, individuals can engage in short research projects relevant to their overseas course, take or retake exams, and even do a PhD oral exam (a viva).

Medical Reasons

The visa also covers visits for medical reasons, including receiving private medical treatment. Moreover, individuals can do an unpaid clinical attachment if they are a graduate from a medical, dental, or nursing school. They are also allowed to take medical examinations like the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) test or the Professional and Linguistic Assessment Board (PLAB) test.

Other Permitted Activities

A range of other activities are also permitted under this visa category. For instance, individuals can volunteer for up to 30 days with a registered charity, take part in school exchange programs, or engage in a recreational course of up to 30 days. The visa also allows individuals to pass through the UK en route to another country.

What You Cannot Do On this visa

Work Restrictions

Under the Standard Visit Visa for the UK, individuals are not permitted to engage in paid or unpaid employment, including work for a UK-based company or as a self-employed person. However, from 2024 Spring, they are giving limited permission to work on the UK Visit Visa, with pre-obtained permission condition.

Public Funds

Visitors are not allowed to claim public funds (benefits).

Extended Stay

The visa prohibits individuals from living in the UK for extended periods through frequent or successive visits, or making the UK their main home.

Marriage or Civil Partnership

Individuals cannot marry, register a civil partnership, or give notice of marriage or civil partnership on this visa. A different visa type is required for these purposes.

Other Restrictions

There might be additional restrictions based on the specific circumstances and the details of the visit. It’s crucial to adhere to the terms of the visa to avoid any legal complications during the stay in the UK.

With a UK Standard Visitor Visa, you’re granted temporary entry into the UK, but there are several restrictions to bear in mind. You are not permitted to take up employment, including unpaid work, in the UK. Moreover, you cannot establish or run a business or be self-employed. You’re also not allowed to do a course of study lasting longer than 30 days. Switching into another visa category while you’re in the UK is typically not allowed either. Access to public funds or state benefits is prohibited. Additionally, you cannot marry, form a civil partnership, or give notice of either while on this visa. It’s essential to respect these limitations to maintain the integrity of your visitor status.

Eligibility Criteria - UK Visit Visa Requirements

To be eligible for the visa, you must have a passport or travel document that is valid for the whole of your stay. You must also be able to show that you will leave the UK at the end of your visit, you can support yourself and your dependants during your trip, you can pay for your return or onward journey, and you will not live in the UK for extended periods through frequent or successive visits, or make the UK your main home.

Eligibility Requirements

Purpose of Visit: Applicants must clearly state their reason for visiting the UK, whether it’s for leisure, business, or family reasons. This purpose must be genuine and plausible.
Financial Stability: Applicants must prove they have enough funds to support themselves during their stay without needing public funds. This includes covering the cost of the return or onward journey.
Accommodation and Maintenance: Evidence of arranged accommodation and the ability to maintain oneself during the stay is required. This could be a hotel booking or a letter from a host.
Intent to Leave the UK: Applicants must convince the visa officers that they will leave the UK at the end of their visit. This could be demonstrated through ties to their home country, like employment or family.
Travel History: A positive travel history, showing compliance with other visa regulations, can bolster an application.
Restricted Activities: Visitors must not intend to undertake prohibited activities, like marriage or civil partnership, accessing medical treatment (except for certain permitted treatments), or studying (beyond permitted short courses).

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Business Activities Under the UK Visitor Visa

The UK Standard Visitor Visa permits individuals to visit the UK for up to 6 months to engage in a range of business activities. These activities include attending interviews, meetings, conferences, and seminars; negotiating and signing deals and contracts; attending trade fairs to promote your business (though direct selling is not allowed); and receiving work-related training if you’re employed overseas and the training is not available in your home country.

Specific Business Activities

You can also give a one-off or short series of talks as long as they’re not for profit or a commercial event (you must not be paid), carry out site visits and inspections, oversee the delivery of goods and services provided by a UK company to your overseas company or organisation, and deliver training or share knowledge on internal projects with UK employees of the company you work for overseas. Additionally, you can install, dismantle, repair, service or advise on equipment, computer software and hardware, if your overseas company has a contract with a UK company or organisation.

Eligibility and Visa Application

Additional Activities for Overseas Job Roles

If you’re employed overseas in certain roles, you can do additional activities in the UK as a Standard Visitor. These roles include archaeologist, artist, entertainer or musician, bodyguard, camera operator, driver, internal auditor, journalist or correspondent, lawyer or expert witness, market researcher or analyst, personal assistant, professor from an overseas academic institution, religious worker, scientist or researcher, seafarer, sports person or sports official, tour group courier, translator or interpreter, and member of a film crew or production team supporting an artist, entertainer or musician.

Restrictions and Work Visa

However, it’s important to note that you cannot do paid or unpaid work for a UK company or as a self-employed person as a visitor. If you intend to work in the UK, you’ll need to apply for a work visa. If you’re being paid by a UK organisation as an expert in your profession, you may get permission to visit the UK for a Permitted Paid Engagement.

The UK Standard Visitor Visa offers a wide range of opportunities for business professionals to engage in important activities in the UK, from attending meetings and conferences to receiving specialized training. However, it’s crucial to understand the limitations of this visa and to ensure that all activities comply with the terms of the visa.

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Studying Under the UK Standard Visitor Visa

The UK Standard Visitor Visa allows individuals to visit the UK for up to 6 months to engage in study-related activities. These activities include studying at an accredited institution (including English language courses), conducting a short piece of research relevant to an overseas course, undertaking an ‘elective’ if studying medicine, veterinary medicine and science, nursing, midwifery or dentistry, sitting an entrance exam, retaking an exam or course module, or doing a PhD oral exam (a viva).

Eligibility and Visa Application

Before engaging in these activities, you should check that you meet the basic eligibility requirements for a Standard Visitor and any relevant extra eligibility requirements. You should also prepare any required documents that prove your eligibility, check if you need a visa to visit the UK, and apply for a Standard Visitor visa online if you need one.

Studying at an Accredited Institution

If you’re visiting to study at an accredited institution, you must prove that you’ve been accepted onto a course provided by an accredited UK institution and that the course is no more than 6 months long (unless it’s a distance learning course). The accredited UK institution cannot be an academy or state-funded school.

Distance Learning Courses

If you’re doing a distance learning course, your course can last longer than 6 months. This is because most of your study will happen outside of the UK. You can visit the UK to do certain activities as part of your course, such as attending induction weeks, doing face-to-face intensive learning, having progress checks, and sitting exams or assessments.

Studying for More Than 6 Months

If you want to study for more than 6 months, you’ll need to apply for either a Short-term study visa (for English Language courses up to 11 months), a Student visa (for courses run by licensed student sponsors), or a Child Student visa (to study at an independent school if you’re between 4 and 17 years old).

Research and Electives

If you’re visiting to do a short piece of research, you must prove that you’re at least 16 years old, you’re already enrolled on a course overseas that is the equivalent of a UK degree, and you’ve been accepted by a UK higher education institution to take part in research that’s relevant to the course you’re studying overseas. If you’re visiting to do an elective, you must prove that you’re at least 16 years old, already enrolled on a course overseas that is the equivalent of a UK degree, and doing an elective at a UK higher education institution as part of your course.

Clinical Attachments and Exams

If you’re an overseas graduate from a medical, dental or nursing school, you can do an unpaid clinical attachment or dental observer post for up to 6 months. You can also visit for up to 6 months to take the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) or the Professional and Linguistic Assessment Board (PLAB) test.

The UK Standard Visitor Visa offers a wide range of opportunities for students and researchers to engage in important academic activities in the UK, from studying at an accredited institution to conducting research. However, it’s crucial to understand the limitations of this visa and to ensure that all activities comply with the terms of the visa.

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Academic Visit Under the UK Standard Visitor Visa

The UK Standard Visitor Visa allows academics from overseas institutions to visit the UK for various purposes. These include participating in formal exchange arrangements with UK counterparts, conducting personal research during a sabbatical, and for senior doctors or dentists, participating in research, teaching (as long as it’s not a permanent teaching post), and undertaking clinical practice (as long as it’s not a permanent position).

Eligibility and Visa Application

Before engaging in these activities, you should check that you meet the basic eligibility requirements for a Standard Visitor, check if you need a visa to visit the UK, and apply for a Standard Visitor visa online if you need one. To research certain subjects at postgraduate level or above, you may need to get an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate before you start your research.

Extended Academic Visit

If you wish to visit for more than 6 months, all academic visits lasting longer than 6 months require a Standard Visitor visa regardless of your nationality. You can apply for a Standard Visitor visa before you travel to the UK that lasts for up to 12 months and costs £200, or visit for up to 6 months and apply to stay longer when you’re in the UK for a fee of £1000 (you can stay up to 12 months in total). Your partner and children can apply to stay with you for up to 12 months. They can apply for a Standard Visitor visa in advance or visit for 6 months and extend their stay once in the UK.

Eligibility for Extended Stay

To stay longer than 6 months, you must prove you’re highly qualified in your field of expertise (usually meaning you have a PhD or higher), currently working in that field of expertise at an academic institution overseas, and not filling a permanent teaching post. If you’re an academic, but not a senior doctor or dentist, you must also prove you’re visiting to do research or a formal exchange. If you’re a senior doctor or dentist, you must also prove you’re visiting to do research, clinical practice, a formal exchange, or to teach.

Required Documents

To show you meet the eligibility requirements, you may need to provide a letter from your employer outlining the dates of your sabbatical or exchange, your employer outlining the research to be undertaken, or the UK host organisation confirming the arrangements for your research, exchange, or clinical practice. Depending on where you come from, you may need a certificate that proves you do not have tuberculosis (TB).

The UK Standard Visitor Visa offers a wide range of opportunities for academics to engage in important academic activities in the UK, from participating in formal exchange arrangements to conducting personal research. However, it’s crucial to understand the limitations of this visa and to ensure that all activities comply with the terms of the visa.

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Medical Treatment Under the UK Standard Visitor Visa

The UK Standard Visitor Visa allows individuals to visit the UK for up to 6 months for medical reasons. These include having private medical treatment at a hospital or other medical facility, having treatment at an NHS hospital, as long as the care is paid for by your own government under a reciprocal healthcare arrangement, and donating an organ to a family member or close friend.

Eligibility and Visa Application

Private Medical Treatment

If you’re visiting for private medical treatment, you must prove that you have a medical condition that needs private consultation or treatment in the UK, have made arrangements for consultations or treatment, have enough money or funding to pay for your treatment, will leave the UK once your treatment is completed, or when your visa expires, and are not a danger to public health if you have an infectious disease, such as leprosy.

Treatment at an NHS Hospital

You can visit the UK for treatment at an NHS hospital. Your treatment must be paid for by your own government under a reciprocal healthcare arrangement.

Organ Donation

You can only visit the UK to donate organs to a family member who you’re genetically related to or someone you have a close personal relationship with. You must prove that the person you’re donating an organ to is legally allowed to be in the UK.

Extended Medical Visit

If your treatment will last longer than 6 months, all visits for medical treatment lasting longer than 6 months require a Standard Visitor visa regardless of your nationality. You can apply for a Standard Visitor visa before you come to the UK that lasts for up to 11 months and costs £200, or visit for up to 6 months and apply to stay for a further 6 months when you’re in the UK for a fee of £1000. There is no limit on how many times you can extend your stay. It costs £1000 each time you do.

The UK Standard Visitor Visa offers a wide range of opportunities for individuals to engage in important medical activities in the UK, from having private medical treatment to donating an organ. However, it’s crucial to understand the limitations of this visa and to ensure that all activities comply with the terms of the visa.

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UK Standard Visitor Visa If You're Under 18

The UK Standard Visitor Visa allows individuals under the age of 18 to visit the UK, provided they have made suitable arrangements for their travel and stay in the UK, have written consent from their parent or guardian to travel to the UK (if travelling alone), are able to pay for their return or onward journey, and have enough money to support themselves without working or getting help from public funds, or have family and friends that can support them.

Travelling Alone

Minors can travel to the UK without an adult. However, their parent or guardian will need to provide their written consent for the minor to travel to the UK, full contact details, and proof that the minor has somewhere suitable to live during their stay in the UK. This includes the name and date of birth of the person that the minor will be staying with, an address where the minor will be living, details of the minor’s relationship to the person who’ll be looking after them, and their written consent for the minor to stay with that person while they’re in the UK.

Not Staying with a Close Relative

If the minor is not staying with a close relative and is under 16 (or under 18 if they have a disability), their parent, guardian or school must tell the relevant local authority about their visit if they’re going to be looked after for more than 28 days by someone who is not a close relative (called ‘private foster care’). The minor should provide a reply from the local authority if they have one.

Travelling with an Adult

If the minor is travelling with an adult, they’ll need to show that their parent or guardian consents to their travel and accommodation arrangements. If the minor does not need a visa to travel, they’ll need to prove this at the border. If the minor does have to apply for a Standard Visitor visa, they’ll need to identify the adult travelling with them in their visa application. If the person the minor is travelling with is not their parent, they’ll need to provide specific information about them in their application.

Extended Medical Visit

If the minor’s treatment will last longer than 6 months, all visits for medical treatment lasting longer than 6 months require a Standard Visitor visa regardless of their nationality. They can apply for a Standard Visitor visa before they come to the UK that lasts for up to 11 months and costs £200, or visit for up to 6 months and apply to stay for a further 6 months when they’re in the UK for a fee of £1000. There is no limit on how many times they can extend their stay. It costs £1000 each time they do.

The UK Standard Visitor Visa offers a wide range of opportunities for minors to visit the UK, from travelling alone to travelling with an adult. However, it’s crucial to understand the limitations of this visa and to ensure that all activities comply with the terms of the visa.

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How to Apply for Standard Visit Visa

Visa Application

The UK Standard Visitor Visa application process is straightforward and can be completed online. The process involves meeting the eligibility requirements, filling out an online application, and attending an appointment at a visa application centre. You have to attach all your scanned documents to your online visa application through a separate portal which pops up after you have created and completed your visa application and paid the fee (through another portal which pops up at the end of your visa application).

Application Process

If you need a Standard Visitor visa, you must apply online before you travel to the UK and attend an appointment at a visa application centre. The earliest you can apply is 3 months before you travel. You must meet the eligibility requirements and only do permitted activities. Depending on your nationality, you may not need a visa to visit the UK. You can check if you need a visa before you apply.

Visa Fees

The UK Standard Visit Visa fees have been revised, coming into effect from 4 October 2023. According to the official announcements, the updated fees for various durations of the Standard Visit Visa are detailed below:

For a short-term visit visa of up to 6 months, the fee has been incremented from £100 to £115, showing a change of £15.
For a longer-term visit visa of up to 2 years, the fee now is £400, up from £376, indicating a change of £24.
If the visit visa is for up to 5 years, the fee has been adjusted from £670 to £771, marking a change of £101.
For the longest term of a visit visa up to 10 years, the fee has been raised from £837 to £963, reflecting a change of £126.

These adjustments follow the confirmation by the UK Home Office regarding the fee increase for immigration and nationality applications, a decision that was initially announced in July before being actioned in October 2023. The new Immigration and Nationality (Fees) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2023 brought about a 15% increase in the cost of most work and visit visas, and a minimum of 20% increase in the cost of priority visas, study visas, and Certificates of Sponsorship.

Individuals planning to travel to the UK are advised to stay abreast of the latest visa fees and regulations either by checking the official government website or consulting with visa and immigration experts.

The Information & Documents Required

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.

Biometrics Appointment

As part of your online application, you need 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, and provide the required documents that show you’re eligible for a Standard Visitor visa.

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After You Have Applied for the Visa

After applying for a UK Standard Visit Visa, await confirmation. It may take up to three weeks or longer, so be patient. Keep track of your application status online. Meanwhile, start preparing for your trip by researching about local customs, laws, and places you’d like to visit. It’s also essential to organise travel insurance covering health, travel delays, and losses. If you’ve not booked your flights and accommodations, wait and DO NOT buy ticket until your visa is approved to avoid potential losses. Remember to pack essential documents, including your passport with your visa, proof of financial sustenance, and return tickets. Lastly, make sure your passport validity extends beyond your travel dates.

Visa Processing Time

Once you’ve applied online, proved your identity and provided your documents, you’ll usually get a decision on your visa within 3 weeks (the actual time may vary, depending on different factors). You can check to see if you can get your visa decision faster – this depends on what country you’re in.

The UK Standard Visitor Visa application process is designed to be as straightforward as possible. However, it’s crucial to understand the requirements and steps involved to ensure a successful application.

Tracking Progress on Your Visa Application

Though there is no standard and easy way to track your visa application, you can ask for the concerned authorities for an update on your visa application. But you should not expect a quick response.

Getting a Decision on the Visa Application

In most of the cases you are informed about the decision on your visa application by the email for which the email address you gave during your visa application, is used. If you have requested an SMS alert service, you will also get an alert about the completion of your visa application processing process through an SMS.

What to Do if the Visa is Refused

In this visa category you don’t get a right of appeal or an administrative review. This means that the only option for you is to try to remove the objection and apply again (unless you were refused with 720A).

Extending Your Stay Under the UK Standard Visitor Visa

The UK Standard Visitor Visa allows individuals to extend their stay in the UK under certain circumstances. These include if you have permission to be in the UK for less than 6 months, if you’re a patient receiving medical treatment, an academic who still meets the eligibility requirements, or a graduate retaking the Professional and Linguistic Assessment Board (PLAB) test or doing a clinical attachment.

When You Can Extend Your Stay

You may be able to extend your stay if you have permission to be in the UK for less than 6 months. You can extend your stay up to a total of 6 months. For example, if you have been in the UK for 3 months, you can apply to extend your stay for 3 more months. This applies if you needed a visa to visit the UK and also if you did not need one.

Extending Your Stay for Medical Treatment

If you’re already in the UK, you can apply to stay for a further 6 months if you have paid for any treatment you’ve already had in the UK, can and will pay the further costs of your treatment, and continue to meet the medical treatment eligibility requirements. There is no limit on how many times you can extend your stay. It costs £1000 each time you extend.

Extending Your Stay as an Academic

If you’re already in the UK and have permission to visit for less than 12 months, you can apply to stay for up to 12 months in total. Your partner and children can apply to stay for up to 12 months too. They must have their own application and each pay the £1000 fee. You must prove you are highly qualified in your field of expertise, were working in that field of expertise at an academic institution overseas prior to your arrival in the UK, and are not filling a permanent teaching post.

Extending Your Stay to Retake the PLAB Test

If you’re already in the UK, you can apply to extend your stay for up to 6 months to retake the PLAB test. You must provide written confirmation from the General Medical Council that you’re retaking the test.

Application Process

You must apply to extend your stay and pay the £1000 fee regardless of your nationality. You need to apply while you’re still in the UK and before your current visa or permission expires. When you apply, you’ll be asked to make an appointment at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) service point to provide your biometric information (your fingerprints and a photo). You’ll also need to submit the supporting documents that prove your eligibility.

Decision Time

If you use the standard service, a decision will usually be made within 8 weeks of providing your supporting documents and proving your identity. If you use the super priority service a decision will be made by the end of the next working day after your UKVCAS appointment if your appointment is on a weekday, or 2 working days after your UKVCAS appointment if your appointment is at the weekend.

The UK Standard Visitor Visa offers a wide range of opportunities for individuals to extend their stay in the UK under certain circumstances. However, it’s crucial to understand the requirements and steps involved to ensure a successful application.

FAQs

What is a UK Standard Visit Visa?

Who is eligible for a UK Standard Visit Visa?

The UK Standard Visitor Visa is designed for individuals from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland who wish to visit the United Kingdom temporarily. It’s ideal for tourists, business travelers, or people seeking medical treatment.

What activities are permitted under a UK Standard Visit Visa?

As a Standard Visitor, you can visit the UK for tourism, to see family or friends, volunteer for up to 30 days with a registered charity, pass through the UK to another country (‘in transit’), for certain business activities, to take part in a school exchange programme, to do a recreational course of up to 30 days, to study, do a placement or take an exam, as an academic, senior doctor or dentist, and for medical reasons.

What activities are not permitted under a UK Standard Visit Visa?

With a UK Standard Visitor Visa, you are not permitted to take up employment, including unpaid work, in the UK. Moreover, you cannot establish or run a business or be self-employed. You’re also not allowed to do a course of study lasting longer than 30 days. Switching into another visa category while you’re in the UK is typically not allowed either. Access to public funds or state benefits is prohibited. Additionally, you cannot marry, form a civil partnership, or give notice of either while on this visa.

What are the eligibility criteria for a UK Standard Visit Visa?

Can I engage in business activities under a UK Standard Visit Visa?

Can I study under a UK Standard Visit Visa?

How can I apply for a UK Standard Visit Visa?

UK Visa Pro have experts which can help you in your visa application preparation and maximize your visa chances.

What are the fees for a UK Standard Visit Visa?

The Standard Visitor visa costs £100 and allows a maximum stay of 6 months. However, if you visit the UK regularly you can choose to apply for a long-term Standard Visitor visa instead. The fees for long-term visas vary depending on the duration of the visa. For instance, a 2-year long-term Standard Visitor visa costs £376, a 5-year visa costs £670, and a 10-year visa costs £837.

Can I extend my stay under a UK Standard Visit Visa?