Visitor visas
UK Standard Visitor visa
The Standard Visitor route lets you come to the UK for a short stay — tourism, visiting family or friends, limited business, short-term study, private medical treatment, or professional exams such as PLAB or OSCE. Each visit is usually limited to a maximum of 6 months.
Important information
Important travel-document information — please read. Whether you need a Standard Visitor visa, an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), another form of permission, or nothing at all depends on your nationality and circumstances. Always check the latest official guidance before you travel or apply.
UK Standard Visitor visa requirements
- You are a genuine visitor whose purpose fits the permitted activities and who intends to leave the UK at the end of the visit
- You have enough money to cover your travel, accommodation and daily costs without working or accessing public funds
- You can show ties to your home country (employment, studies, property or family)
- You can provide accommodation and travel-itinerary details
- You have a clean immigration history (no recent overstays, breaches or deception)
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What is a UK Standard Visitor visa?
The Standard Visitor route allows temporary entry to the UK for tourism and leisure; visiting family or friends; business meetings, conferences, site visits and information-gathering; short courses or academic visits that are not long-term study; time-bound, self-funded private medical treatment; and professional exams such as PLAB or OSCE. Paid or unpaid work, working for UK clients, running a business, long-term study leading to a qualification, and living in the UK are not permitted.
Who is eligible?
- Travel to the UK for a holiday or general tourism
- Visit family or friends
- Volunteer with a registered charity for up to 30 days
- Transit through the UK to another country
- Attend a conference, meeting, training, seminar or interview
- Negotiate contracts or carry out short-term business activities
What you can do with a UK Standard Visitor visa
- Tourism & leisureHolidays, sightseeing, and visiting family or friends.
- Business activitiesAttend meetings, interviews and conferences, negotiate contracts, make site visits and give unpaid talks (within visitor rules).
- Short studyStudy an accredited course for up to 6 months, or a recreational course for up to 30 days.
- Academic visitsPermitted activities for academics, senior doctors and dentists on exchanges.
- TransitPass through the UK on the way to another country.
- VolunteeringUp to 30 days with a registered UK charity.
- Medical treatmentReceive private medical care with evidence and proof of payment.
Processing time
How long a decision usually takes.
Most applications are decided within around 3 weeks after you give your biometrics, though timelines vary by location and season — roughly 3–6 weeks in total from submission to decision.
Visa length
How long you can stay on this visa.
Documents required
- Valid passport (with at least one blank page)
- Completed online application form and proof of fee payment
- Evidence of funds (bank statements, payslips or sponsor evidence)
- Proof of accommodation and travel plans
- Evidence of ties to your home country
- Invitation letters or supporting documents (business, academic or medical) where applicable
- Certified translations for any documents not in English or Welsh
People also asked
Can I apply for a long-term Standard Visitor visa?
In some cases yes — for example a 2, 5 or 10-year visa — but each visit is still limited to a maximum of 6 months.
Is a Standard Visitor visa valid for multiple entries?
A Standard Visitor visa obtained before travelling from outside the UK is a multiple-entry visa, so you can return to the UK for as long as the visa is valid, subject to border-control discretion.
How long can I stay each visit?
You may remain in the UK for a maximum of six months from the date of entry.
How many times can I visit the UK in a year?
There is no fixed limit, but frequent or back-to-back stays can be treated as living in the UK, which is not allowed, and an application may be refused if a caseworker believes you are doing so.
What happens if I overstay my visa?
Overstaying without good reason is a criminal offence, can affect future applications, and may lead to removal. Seek guidance immediately if you think you might overstay.
Do I need an interview?
Most applications are decided on the documents, but an interview can happen on a case-by-case basis.
Can I switch to a work or family route from a visitor visa?
Visitor routes generally do not allow switching to another route from within the UK.
Official sources