The Standard Visitor visa covers most short visits to the UK: tourism, seeing family and friends, business activities, short courses, medical treatment and some other permitted activities. Nationals of visa-national countries must apply before travelling; others may need an electronic travel authorisation instead.

The genuine visitor test

The decision-maker must be satisfied that you:

will leave the UK at the end of the visit;
will not live in the UK through frequent or successive visits or make it your main home;
are genuinely seeking entry for a permitted purpose;
will not do work or activities the visitor rules prohibit;
have enough money for the trip without working or relying on public funds.

Evidence of ties to your home country (employment, business, property, family) and of funds (your own or a sponsor's, with the sponsor's status and finances) is what decides most applications.

What you can and cannot do

You can attend meetings and conferences, negotiate contracts, study a course of up to six months, receive private medical treatment, and visit family. You cannot take employment, provide services to a UK business, live in the UK, or marry or register a civil partnership (that needs the Marriage Visitor visa).

Length

Up to six months per visit. Frequent visitors can apply for long-term visit visas of two, five or ten years, each visit still limited to six months.

Why visit visas are refused

Unexplained funds, inconsistent documents, previous immigration history, weak ties, or an itinerary that does not fit the stated purpose. There is no right of appeal; you reapply with the problem addressed, or in limited cases seek judicial review.

What we do

We assess the application before it is made, prepare the covering letter and evidence to the test, and advise on reapplying after a refusal. See also visitor visa from India.

Fees

Home Office fees and the immigration health surcharge change each April; we confirm the current figures when we advise you. Our fee is fixed and quoted before you instruct us; see our fees.