Visitor Visa
You can visit the UK as a Standard Visitor for tourism, business, study (courses up to 6 months) and other permitted activities. You can usually stay in the UK for up to 6 months. You might be able to apply to stay for longer in certain circumstances, such as getting medical treatment.
STANDARD VISITOR VISAS
To apply for a Standard Visitor visa, you must be able to show that:
• you will leave the UK at the end of your visit;
• you can support yourself and your dependents during your trip (or have funding from someone else to support you);
• you can pay for your return or onward journey (or have funding from someone else to pay for the trip);
• you will not live in the UK for extended periods through frequent or successive visits or make the UK your main home.
BUSINESS VISITORS
You may be able to come to the UK on a short-term basis for business-related reasons or activities without formally taking part in the UK labour market or being employed in the UK.
You can visit the UK for up to 6 months to do the following business activities:
• attend interviews, meetings, conferences and seminars;
• negotiate and sign deals and contracts;
• attend trade fairs to promote your business (you cannot sell things);
• get work-related training if you're employed overseas, and the training is not available in your home country;
• give a one-off or short series of talks as long as they're not for profit or a commercial event (this must be unpaid);
• carry out site visits and inspections;
• oversee the delivery of goods and services provided by a UK company to your overseas company or organisation;
• deliver training or share knowledge on internal projects with UK employees of the company you work for overseas;
• Install, dismantle, repair, service or advise on equipment, computer software and hardware, if your overseas company has a contract with a UK company or organisation.
STUDY VISITORS
You can visit the UK for up to 6 months to:
• study at an accredited institution (this includes English language courses);
• do a short piece of research that's relevant to your course overseas;
• do an 'elective' such as an optional additional placement, if you're studying medicine, veterinary medicine and science, nursing or dentistry;
• sit an entrance exam, retake an exam or course module, or do a PhD oral exam (a viva);
• do an unpaid clinical attachment if you're a graduate of a medical, dental or nursing school;
• take the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) test or the Professional and Linguistic Assessment Board (PLAB) test.
ACADEMIC VISITORS
If you are from an academic institution overseas, you can:
• take part in formal exchange arrangements with UK counterparts
• carry out your own research during a sabbatical
If you are a senior doctor or dentist, you can also:
• take part in research
• teach (as long as it's not a permanent teaching post)
• undertake clinical practice (as long as it's not a permanent position)
If you want to stay for more than six months as an Academic Visitor, you can apply for a 12-month Standard Visitor visa or extend your 6-month visa when you arrive in the UK. You must be able to prove that you are:
• highly qualified in your field of expertise - this will usually mean you have a PhD or higher
• currently working in that field of expertise at an academic institution overseas
• not filling a permanent teaching post
If you are an academic but not a senior doctor or dentist, you must also prove your visit is to do research or a formal exchange.
If you are a senior doctor or dentist, you must also prove you are visiting to do research, clinical practice, a formal exchange, or teach.
VISITING FOR MEDICAL REASONS
You can visit the UK for up to 6 months to:
• have private medical treatment at a hospital or other medical facility;
• have treatment at an NHS hospital, as long as your government pays for the care under a reciprocal healthcare arrangement;
• donate an organ to a family member or close friend - this includes being assessed for suitability as a donor match.
If your treatment lasts longer than six months, you can apply for an 11-months Standard Visitor visa before you come to the UK or extend your 6-months visa after you arrive in the UK. There is no limit on how many times you can extend your stay.
LONG-TERM STANDARD VISITOR VISAS
You can choose to apply for a long-term Standard Visitor visa if you visit the UK regularly. This visa lasts 2, 5 or 10 years. You can stay for a maximum of 6 months on each visit.
STANDARD VISITOR VISA CONDITIONS
You can visit the UK as a Standard Visitor:
• for tourism, i.e. a holiday or vacation
• to see your family or friends
• to volunteer for up to 30 days with a registered charity
• to pass through the UK to another country ('in transit')
• for certain business activities, for example, attending a meeting or interview
• to take part in a school exchange programme
• to do a recreational course of up to 30 days, for example, a dance course
• to study, do a placement or take an exam
• as an academic, senior doctor or dentist
• for medical reasons
You cannot:
• do paid or unpaid work for a UK company or as a self-employed person
• claim public funds (benefits)
• live in the UK for extended periods through frequent or successive visits
• marry or register a civil partnership, or give notice of marriage or civil partnership - you'll need to apply for a Marriage Visitor visa
PERMITTED PAID ENGAGEMENT VISAS
You may be able to visit the UK for a paid engagement if invited as an expert in your profession.
PERMITTED PAID ENGAGEMENT VISA REQUIREMENTS
To satisfy the requirements for a Permitted Paid Engagement visa, you must show that:
• you are 18 or over
• you are visiting the UK for no more than one month
• you are formally invited and paid by a UK-based organisation to attend an event or other permitted engagement
• you will leave the UK at the end of your visit
• you will not live in the UK for extended periods through frequent or successive visits or make the UK your main home
• you can support yourself during your trip (or have funding from someone else to support you)
• you can pay for your return or onward journey (or have funding from someone else to pay for the journey)
• you have proof of any business or other activities you want to do in the UK, as allowed by the Visitor Rules
PERMITTED PAID ENGAGEMENT VISA CONDITIONS
A UK-based organisation or client can invite you to:
• be a student examiner or assessor
• take part in selection panels as a highly qualified academic if asked by an education, arts or research organisation
• give lectures at a higher education institution, as long as it's not a part-time or full-time role
• examine UK-based pilots, so they meet the standards of the country you come from if invited by an approved UK training organisation regulated by the UK Civil Aviation Authority
• provide advocacy in a particular area of law
• take part in arts, entertainment or sporting activities, including broadcasting
• take part in fashion modelling assignments
• You can also do minor activities related to your work or business overseas, such as attending meetings.
You cannot:
• do paid work unrelated to your primary job or area of expertise at home, other than what's allowed by your visa
• extend this visa or switch to another visa
• live in the UK for extended periods
• get public funds (benefits)
• study
• marry or register a civil partnership, or give notice of marriage or civil partnership
• bring family members ('dependants') with you on your application - they must apply separately
MARRIAGE VISITOR VISAS
If you wish to have your marriage or civil partnership ceremony in the UK but do not wish to stay and live in the UK, you can apply for a marriage visitor visa for up to 6 months.
You do not need a Marriage Visitor visa to convert your civil partnership into a marriage - you can apply for a Standard Visitor visa for this purpose.
MARRIAGE VISITOR VISAS REQUIREMENTS
To satisfy the requirements of a Marriage Visitor visa, you must prove that:
• you are 18 or over
• you are free to give notice of marriage, to marry or enter into a civil partnership in the UK within six months of your arrival
• you are in a genuine relationship
• you are visiting the UK for less than six months
• you will leave the UK at the end of your visit
• you will not live in the UK for extended periods through frequent or successive visits or make the UK your main home
• you can support yourself during your trip (or have funding from someone else to support you)
• you can pay for your return or onward journey (or have funding from someone else to pay for the journey)
• you have proof of any other activities you want to do in the UK, as allowed by the Visitor Rules
MARRIAGE VISITOR VISAS CONDITIONS
You can:
• marry or enter into a civil partnership in the UK within six months of your arrival - you must use a venue licensed for this purpose
• pass through the UK in transit (on your way to another country)
You cannot:
• get public funds (benefits)
• bring your dependent family members - they must apply separately
• live in the UK for extended periods through frequent visits
• extend your visa or switch to another visa
• work - except for permitted activities related to your work or business overseas, such as attending meetings
• study
Most immigration applications have strict factual and evidential requirements that are not necessarily straightforward to comprehend or satisfy. LS Legal Solicitors are well versed and highly experienced in providing advice and assistance on immigration applications. We appreciate that many of the requirements may seem overly complex and onerous. However, we guarantee to make your experience as smooth and stress-free as possible.
For the quickest response, please WhatsApp or call us on +44 (0) 75 3595 9450. You can also contact us via email at info@LSLegaLUK.com or use the contact form to discuss your requirements further or arrange an appointment with one of our experts.
