How to apply for a UK visit visa?

You need to apply for a Standard Visitor visa if you want to visit the UK for up to 6 months for tourism, to see friends & family or other permitted activities.

Please contact our immigration lawyer on 0161 989 9370 or fill in the enquiry form to take the first step towards your successful UK Standard Visitor visa application.

Below is the step-by-step process to apply for a Standard Visitor visa UK:

1. Check if you need a visa
2. Determine the type of visa you need
3. Gather the required documents
4. Fill out the online application form
5. Pay the visa fee
6. Attend your appointment
7. Wait for a decision

Step 1: Check if you need a visa

You can check whether you need a visa to enter the UK on the UK government website.

Step 2: Determine the type of visa you need

You need to apply for a Standard Visitor visa if you want to visit the UK for up to 6 months for tourism, business, medical treatment, or academic research. If you plan to stay longer or want to work in the UK, you may need a different type of visa.

Step 3: Gather the required documents

You will need to provide various documents with your visa application, including your passport, proof of funds to cover your stay, proof of accommodation, and evidence of your travel plans. The exact documents you need will depend on your specific circumstances.

Step 4: Fill out the online application form

You can apply for your visitor visa online on the UK government website. You will need to create an account and fill out the application form with your personal and travel details.

Step 5: Pay the visa fee

You will need to pay a fee to submit your visa application. The fee varies depending on the type of visa you are applying for and the length of your stay.

Step 6: Attend your appointment

You will need to attend an appointment at a visa application centre to provide your biometric information, including fingerprints and a photograph.

Step 7: Wait for a decision

The processing time for a UK Standard Visitor Visa can vary, but it usually takes around 3 weeks. You can check the status of your application online.

What is the purpose of the UK Visitor visa?

You can apply for a UK visit visa for:

• tourism, including visiting family and friends
• business, including sports and entertainment
• transit through the UK
• academic visit, including teaching, exchange and visiting as a dependant of an academic visitor
• marriage or civil partnership
• private medical treatment
• short-term study (up to 6 months), including recreational course
• a Permitted Paid Engagement

UK Visitor visa requirements

To be eligible for a UK Visitor visa, you 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.

What documents are required 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.

How to send the supporting documents?

First, you need to scan all the supporting documents including the submission sheet in the correct format. If you do not have a scanner then you can also take pictures of the supporting documents.

Once all the documents are ready then you can send them to the email address given on the submission sheet.

Make sure that all the supporting documents:

• are in PDF, JPEG or PNG format
• have descriptive titles, with 25 or fewer characters
• are high enough quality to be read

If documents are not in English or Welsh, you must provide a certified translation.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)