Standard Visitor Visa UK

The Standard Visitor visa allows you to visit the UK for tourism, business activities, to see your family & friends and other permitted activities.

A UK Standard Visitor visa allows you short-term stays in the UK for up to 6 months. However, you might be able to apply to stay for longer in certain circumstances, for example, to get medical treatment.

If you need legal advice or help with your UK Standard Visitor visa application, our experienced immigration lawyer can provide you with the help you need.

Call Rex Law Chambers on 0161 989 9370 or fill in our enquiry form for immigration advice and help with your UK Standard Visitor visa application.

Table of Contents

• What is a Standard Visitor visa UK?
• How to apply for a UK Standard Visitor visa?
• Requirements for UK Standard Visitor visa
• Documents required for a UK Standard Visitor visa
• UK Standard Visitor visa duration of stay
• What you cannot do on a UK Standard Visitor visa
• Can you stay in the UK for longer than 6 months?
• Extend your UK Standard Visitor visa
• UK tourist visa processing time
• UK Standard Visitor visa fees
• Immigration lawyer for the UK tourist visa
• Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
• Need legal advice or help from an immigration lawyer?

What is a Standard Visitor visa UK?

A UK Standard Visitor Visa is a type of visa that allows non-EEA nationals to enter the United Kingdom for a short-term visit of up to 6 months. It is a popular visa for tourists, business visitors, and those visiting friends and family in the UK.

The Standard Visitor Visa is issued for a variety of purposes, including tourism, business, medical treatment, and academic research. It can also be used for short-term study or training courses.

The visa is issued by the Home Office (UKVI) and is required for citizens of many countries who wish to enter the UK for short stays.

How to apply for a UK Standard Visitor visa?

To apply for a UK Standard Visitor visa, applicants must follow these steps:

• Check if you need a visa
• Determine the type of visa you need
• Gather the required documents
• Fill out the online application form
• Pay the visa fee
• Attend your appointment
• Wait for a decision

Learn more about step by step process to apply for a UK Visitor visa, the required documents and fees.

UK Visitor visa requirements

To be eligible for a UK Standard Visitor visa, applicants must meet the following requirements:

• You must have a genuine reason for visiting the UK, such as tourism, business, or medical treatment.
• You must not intend to stay in the UK for longer than the period allowed by your visa (usually up to six months).
• You must be able to support yourself financially during your stay in the UK, without recourse to public funds.
• You must have suitable accommodation arranged for their stay in the UK.
• You must have strong ties to your home country, such as family, property, or employment, which will encourage you to return home after your visit.
• You must have a clean immigration history, with no previous visa refusals or immigration violations in the UK or other countries.
• You must not have a criminal record or pose a threat to national security or public safety.

Documents required for a UK Standard Visitor visa

To apply for a UK Standard Visitor visa, applicants are typically required to submit the following documents:

• A valid passport or travel document.
• A completed online application form.
• A recent passport-sized photograph.
• Evidence of the purpose of the visit, such as a letter of invitation from a UK sponsor, travel itinerary, or business documents.
• Proof of sufficient funds to cover the cost of the visit, such as bank statements or payslips.
• Evidence of accommodation arrangements in the UK, such as hotel bookings or a letter of invitation from a host.
• If the applicant is employed, a letter from their employer confirming their job and salary.
• If the applicant is a student, a letter from their school or university confirming their enrollment and holiday dates.
• If the applicant is visiting for medical treatment, a letter from their doctor or hospital confirming the treatment and arrangements.

UK Standard Visitor visa duration of stay

The UK Standard Visitor visa is typically valid for up to six months, but it can also be issued for longer periods of time in certain circumstances. During their stay, visitors are not allowed to work or study in the UK, and they must leave the country before their visa expires.

What you cannot do on a UK Standard Visitor visa?

• You cannot do paid or unpaid work for a UK company or as a self-employed person
• You cannot live in the UK for long periods through frequent visits
• You cannot claim public funds (benefits)
• You cannot do a course of study that lasts longer than 6 months
• You cannot marry or register a civil partnership or give notice of marriage or civil partnership. You will need a Marriage Visitor visa instead

Can you stay in the UK for longer than 6 months?

As a rule, all Standard UK visitor visas are short-term visas limiting the holder to a maximum stay of six months. Immigration rules also prevent you from bypassing this restriction by using the visitor visa or frequent or successive visits, but you are free to enter and leave the UK at will during the time that your visa is valid.

For visitors from the United States, China, Pakistan, India, and other non-EEA countries can, however, apply for a long-term visit visa for UK travel. These are available at an extra cost and can be held for two years, five years, or ten years.

Beware that these visas still restrict you to a maximum single visit of six months or less. However, you can enter and leave the UK multiple times within the allotted time. A long-term Visitor visa is a great route to take if you know that you will need to return to the UK multiple times within a certain period.

Extend your UK Standard Visitor visa

You cannot switch from a Standard Visitor visa to another type of visa. You can only extend your stay for specific reasons, for example needing further private medical treatment.

If you want a visa to do something other than visiting, for example, work or longer-term study, you will need to leave the UK and make a new application.

You may be able to extend your visitor visa as long as the total time you spend in the UK is less than 6 months. For example, if you apply for a 3-month visa, you can apply to extend it for 3 more months.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Here are some commonly asked questions about UK Standard Visitor visas: