Once you have submitted your application you can expect to receive a decision within 3 weeks of submission.
The UK Standard Visitor visa allows individuals to visit the UK for tourism, business, short-term study (up to 6 months), or other approved activities. Typically, you can stay for up to 6 months, but in certain situations, such as receiving medical treatment, you may be able to apply for an extended stay.
Depending on your nationality, a visa may not be required to visit the UK, so it’s important to check whether you need one before applying.
Check if you need a visa to visit the UK
Depending on your nationality, you’ll either:
You can check if you need a visa before you apply.
To visit the UK, you must have a valid passport or travel document covering the length of your stay. Additionally, you’ll need to demonstrate that:
Additional requirements may apply if you’re visiting for specific reasons, such as studying, taking exams, or engaging in paid professional activities.
Traveling from Ireland, Jersey, Guernsey, or the Isle of Man may involve different rules for entry into the UK.
Need support with your visa application call us on 051-8485550 or enquire online to book your advice session with one of Ascent Immigration lawyers.
Ascent Immigration specialize in guiding clients through the Standard Visitor visa application process. We can help you understand whether a visa is necessary based on your nationality and planned activities.
If a visa is required, we’ll assist you with gathering the necessary documentation and ensuring that your application meets all eligibility criteria, such as demonstrating sufficient funds and proving your intention to leave the UK at the end of your visit.
Our team of experienced immigration lawyers will also help clarify any restrictions that may apply to your visit, such as limitations on work or extended stays.
We offer personalised support throughout the process, from preparing your application to liaising with UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) on your behalf. Whether you’re visiting for leisure, business, or study, Ascent Immigration is here to ensure your UK visit is smooth and successful.
You can visit the UK as a Standard Visitor for:
As a Standard Visitor, you are not permitted to:
As a business visitor, you can stay in the UK for up to 6 months to carry out a variety of business activities. These include attending interviews, meetings, conferences, and seminars, negotiating or signing deals and contracts, and promoting your business at trade fairs (though selling products is not allowed). You can also undertake work-related training if your employment is based overseas and the training is unavailable in your home country. Additionally, you can deliver one-off or short talks, as long as they are not part of a commercial event or for-profit; you may receive payment for certain engagements known as ‘permitted paid engagements.’
You can also conduct site visits, oversee the delivery of goods or services from a UK company to your overseas organization, or provide training to UK employees of your overseas company. If your overseas company has a contract with a UK organization, you are permitted to install, dismantle, repair, service, or advise on equipment and software.
To enter the UK for business purposes, ensure you meet the eligibility requirements for a Standard Visitor visa and confirm whether you need to apply for a visa. If required, the application process can be completed online. It’s important to remember that you cannot take on employment or self-employment for a UK company unless it’s part of a permitted paid engagement. For any other type of paid or unpaid work, you’ll need a different visa.
If you’re employed abroad, certain additional activities are permitted under a Standard Visitor visa. These may include work related to fields such as archaeology, entertainment, journalism, religious work, and academia. You could also visit as a bodyguard, driver, internal auditor, pilot, sports professional, or member of a film or production crew, among other roles. For specific details on permitted activities within your profession, consult the UK Visitor Rules.
You can visit the UK for up to 6 months for various study-related activities. These include studying at an accredited institution, conducting short research relevant to your overseas course, participating in an elective (if you’re studying medicine, veterinary medicine, nursing, midwifery, or dentistry), or taking exams such as entrance exams, PhD vivas, or retaking modules. You may also come for an unpaid clinical attachment if you’ve graduated from a medical, dental, or nursing school, or to take the OSCE or PLAB tests.
To visit for study, you should first check that you meet the basic eligibility requirements for a Standard Visitor visa, as well as any specific requirements for your activity. Make sure to prepare the necessary documentation to prove your eligibility and determine whether you need to apply for a visa before your visit. If required, the application process can be completed online.
To visit for study at an accredited institution, you’ll need to prove that you’ve been accepted onto a course that lasts no longer than 6 months (unless it’s a distance learning course, which can be longer). The institution must be accredited, and it cannot be an academy or state-funded school. For distance learning, the majority of your study will take place outside the UK, but you can visit for activities like induction, face-to-face learning, and exams.
If your course is longer than 6 months, you’ll need to apply for a different visa, such as a Short-term study visa for English language courses lasting up to 11 months, a Student visa for longer courses, or a Child Student visa if you’re between 4 and 17 years old and studying at an independent school.
You can visit the UK for up to 6 months to conduct research relevant to your overseas course, provided you’re at least 16 years old and enrolled in an overseas degree-equivalent course. You must be accepted by a UK higher education institution to conduct this research.
If you’re studying medicine, veterinary medicine, nursing, midwifery, or dentistry overseas, you can participate in an elective at a UK institution as part of your course. You must be at least 16 years old and already enrolled in a relevant degree-equivalent course. Your UK institution must confirm that you will not be treating patients or receiving payment for your elective.
Graduates from medical, dental, or nursing schools abroad can take up an unpaid clinical attachment or dental observer post in the UK for up to 6 months. However, you are not permitted to treat patients, and if you want to stay beyond 6 months, you’ll need to pass the PLAB test and apply for an extension.
If you are visiting to take the OSCE or PLAB test, you can stay in the UK for up to 6 months. Should you fail the PLAB test, you can apply to stay for an additional 6 months to retake it. If you pass, you may apply to stay for up to 18 months in total to complete an unpaid clinical attachment or dental observer post.
In all cases, ensure you have the required documentation, such as confirmation letters from the relevant institutions or test registration authorities, to support your application.
If you’re a scientist, researcher, or academic, you can visit the UK for various professional activities. These include participating in formal exchange programs with UK counterparts, conducting research as part of your role or independently, and engaging in other academic endeavours. Senior doctors or dentists can also visit the UK for research, teaching (as long as it’s not a permanent teaching position), and clinical practice (excluding permanent roles). However, if your research involves certain postgraduate-level subjects, you may need an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate before starting your work.
Academics are also eligible to visit the UK for specific paid engagements, known as ‘permitted paid engagements.’ These could include giving lectures or serving as academic assessors. In these cases, you will need to demonstrate that you are an expert in your profession.
If you’re planning to visit the UK as an academic for up to 6 months, you should:
For academic visits lasting longer than 6 months, a Standard Visitor visa is required for all nationalities. You can:
In addition to meeting the basic eligibility requirements for a Standard Visitor visa, academics must also satisfy specific criteria to stay longer than 6 months.
To extend your stay beyond 6 months as an academic, you must provide evidence that you are:
For academics (excluding senior doctors or dentists), you’ll also need to demonstrate that your visit is for research or a formal academic exchange. Senior doctors or dentists will need to show their visit is for research, clinical practice, a formal exchange, or teaching.
To support your application, you’ll need to provide documents proving your eligibility, such as:
Additionally, depending on your country of origin, you may need to take a tuberculosis (TB) test and provide the relevant certification. Make sure to check the specific requirements for your nationality.
If you’re planning to visit the UK for a specific paid engagement or event, you can apply for a Standard Visitor visa if you meet the following criteria:
Your visit can last up to 6 months, but the engagement must take place within the first month of your stay.
You can visit the UK for a paid engagement if you are invited as:
Professional Artists, Entertainers, or Musicians
You can be invited to perform, give lectures, or participate in professional conferences. You’ll need to provide evidence of your established career, such as media coverage, awards, or recent performances.
Professional Sportspeople
You can take part in sporting events, matches, or exhibitions. You must be invited by a UK-based sports organisation, agent, or broadcaster. Evidence of your accomplishments, such as performance records and awards, is required.
Qualified Lawyers
You can represent a client in a UK court, tribunal, or other legal dispute. Your invitation must come from the client, and you will need to provide confirmation of your qualifications and right of audience.
Lecturers
You may be invited to give a lecture or series of lectures at a UK-based institution or arts organization. You must be highly qualified in the subject, and the lectures must align with your expertise. Proof of your qualifications and any relevant publications or past lectures should be provided.
Speakers at Conferences
You can be invited to speak at a conference or seminar relevant to your profession. Your invitation must be from the conference organizer, and you must show that the event aligns with your area of expertise.
Academic Examiners or Assessors
You may be invited to examine students, chair panels, or assess academic work. Your invitation must come from a UK higher education institution, and you must provide evidence of your qualifications and experience in the field.
Air Pilot Examiners
You can be invited to examine UK-based air pilots to ensure they meet the requirements of your home country’s aviation regulations. You must be employed by your national aviation authority and invited by a UK-based training organization approved by the UK Civil Aviation Authority.
If you plan to visit the UK for a paid engagement or event, you should:
Each profession may have specific documentation requirements to demonstrate your expertise and qualifications. Be sure to include all necessary supporting evidence when applying for your visa.
You can visit the UK for up to 6 months for the following medical reasons:
To visit the UK for private medical treatment, you must show that:
Documents You’ll Need
You will need a letter from a doctor or consultant confirming:
You may visit the UK for treatment at an NHS hospital if the treatment is covered by your home country’s government under a reciprocal healthcare arrangement.
Documents You’ll Need
You must provide an authorization form from your government confirming they will pay for your treatment.
You can visit the UK to donate an organ to a family member (genetically related) or someone you have a close personal relationship with (e.g., a partner or close friend).
You must prove that the person you are donating to is legally allowed to be in the UK.
Documents You’ll Need
You must provide a letter from the lead nurse of the transplant team, a General Medical Council-registered specialist, or a registered NHS consultant, confirming:
The letter must be dated no more than 3 months before your intended arrival in the UK.
If the recipient is not legally resident in the UK, you must include their name, nationality, and date of birth in your application.
The recipient must check if they need a Standard Visitor visa and meet the eligibility requirements for medical treatment.
For medical treatment visits lasting more than 6 months, you will need a Standard Visitor visa, regardless of nationality.
You can:
There is no limit on the number of times you can extend your stay, but each extension will cost £1,000.
Depending on your country of origin, you may also need a certificate proving you are free of tuberculosis (TB). Be sure to check whether a TB test is required.
If you are under 18, you may visit the UK if you meet the following requirements:
If you are travelling to the UK without an adult (someone over the age of 18), your parent or guardian must provide:
They must also provide proof of where you will stay during your visit, including:
If you’re under 16 (or under 18 if you have a disability) and will be staying with someone who is not a close relative for more than 28 days (private foster care), your parent, guardian, or school must inform the relevant local authority about your visit. You should also provide a response from the local authority if available.
The same requirements apply to education exchange visits lasting more than 28 days, unless:
Note that there may be different rules for Scotland and Northern Ireland, so it’s important to refer to the local guidance for more information.
If you are travelling with an adult, you must demonstrate that your parent or guardian agrees with the travel and accommodation arrangements. If you do not need a visa, you may need to show this consent at the border.
If you are required to apply for a Standard Visitor visa, you must identify the adult traveling with you in your visa application. If the person accompanying you is not your parent, you will need to provide specific details about them in your application.
You can identify up to two adults in your visa application, and their names will appear on your visa. Each person, including you, will need to complete a separate application.
The information provided is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. While we make every effort to ensure accuracy, the law may change, and the information may not reflect the most current legal developments. No warranty is given regarding the accuracy or completeness of the information, and we do not accept liability in such cases. We recommend consulting with a qualified lawyer at Ascent Immigration before making any decisions based on the content provided.
Got Questions? We’ve Got Answers – Your UK Immigration Queries Simplified!
Once you have submitted your application you can expect to receive a decision within 3 weeks of submission.
The standard visitor visa will cost applicants £115. This fee may increase if you use an immigration lawyer to support you with your application.
The cost of other visitor visas are:
| Standard Visitor visa for medical reasons | £200 | 11 months |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Visitor visa for academics | £200 | 12 months |
| 2 year long-term Standard Visitor visa | £432 | 6 months per visit |
| 5 year long-term Standard Visitor visa | £771 | 6 months per visit |
| 10 year long-term Standard Visitor visa | £963 | 6 months per visit |
There are certain criteria you will need to meet to extend your standard visitor visa.
If your visit was intended to be less than 6 months, you can extend your visa to allow for the full 6-month period.
You can extend your stay in the UK beyond 6 months if you are:
The cost of extending your visa is £1000, you can also pay an extra £1000 for a super priority service should you require it.
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