UK Visitor Visa Basics

Whether you need a visa to visit the UK depends on your nationality. Citizens of the United States, Australia, Canada, Japan, and many EU countries can visit the UK without a visa for up to six months. Citizens of other countries — including many African, Asian, and Middle Eastern countries — must apply for a Standard Visitor Visa before travelling.

From April 2025, visitors from eligible countries who do not require a visa will generally need to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before travelling to the UK. ETAs are not a visa but are a pre-travel permission that must be obtained online before boarding a UK-bound flight or other transport. The ETA costs £10 and, once approved, is linked to your passport and valid for multiple trips over two years or until your passport expires, whichever is sooner.

The best way to check whether you need a visa or an ETA for your specific situation is to use the GOV.UK visa checker at gov.uk/check-uk-visa. This takes account of your nationality and the purpose of your visit.

A Standard Visitor Visa permits a range of activities but has important restrictions:

Permitted activities include:

• Tourism, sightseeing, and holidays
• Visiting family and friends
• Attending conferences, seminars, or trade fairs (as a delegate, not to present products to the public)
• Attending business meetings, negotiations, or corporate events
• Short-term study of up to 30 days with an accredited institution
• Receiving private medical treatment (though a formal medical visitor route exists for longer treatment)

Activities that are NOT permitted on a visitor visa include:

• Working in the UK, including being paid by a UK employer
• Claiming benefits or accessing the NHS for non-emergency treatment beyond what is immediately necessary
• Marrying or entering a civil partnership (unless you have a Marriage/Civil Partnership Visitor visa)
• Studying for more than 30 days
• Living in the UK for extended periods through repeated short visits

Applications for a Standard Visitor Visa are made online through the UKVI website. The process involves:

• Completing the online application form (VAF1A for most visitors)
• Paying the visa fee (currently £115 for a standard visit up to 6 months)
• Booking and attending a biometric appointment at a Visa Application Centre (VAC)
• Submitting supporting documents, which typically include a valid passport, evidence of financial means, proof of accommodation, and evidence of ties to your home country

Processing times vary by country, but most standard visitor visa applications are decided within 3 weeks. If you need a faster decision, a Priority Service (around £250 extra) or Super Priority Service (around £800 extra) may be available in your country.

The decision on your visa is made by an Entry Clearance Officer who assesses whether you meet the requirements of the Immigration Rules. If refused, you will be told the reasons and may be able to apply again addressing those concerns, but there is no right of appeal for most visitor visa refusals.

A visitor visa does not guarantee entry to the UK. On arrival, an immigration officer has the power to question you and, if not satisfied that you meet the requirements, refuse entry. To be granted entry as a visitor you must demonstrate:

• You are genuinely visiting for the stated purpose (tourism, family visit, business meeting, etc.)
• You intend to leave the UK at the end of your visit
• You have sufficient funds to cover your stay without working or claiming public funds
• You have ties to your home country (employment, property, family) that make it credible you will return

It is important not to overstay a visitor visa or breach its conditions. Overstaying is a criminal offence and will typically result in a re-entry ban. If you are in the UK and your circumstances change — for example, you wish to work or study — you cannot normally switch to another visa category from within the UK on a visitor visa.

On a Standard Visitor visa you CAN: attend business meetings, conferences, and seminars; negotiate and sign contracts; attend trade fairs (as a visitor, not an exhibitor); receive private medical treatment; take part in sports events or creative performances if not being paid; study a short course (up to 30 days or 6 months for English language); and transit through the UK.

You CANNOT: work for a UK employer or be self-employed (even unpaid work is restricted); study a course longer than 6 months; access public funds (benefits, social housing, NHS treatment except A&E); marry or give notice of marriage (a separate Marriage Visitor visa exists); or live in the UK for extended periods by making frequent visits — the Home Office monitors "frequent flyer" patterns and may refuse entry if they believe you are effectively living in the UK.