Some standard UK visa requirements apply to most applicants in 2026. Exact documents vary by visa route, nationality and personal circumstances, but in general you should be ready to explain your travel plans, where you intend to stay, and provide financial evidence showing that you can support yourself during your stay. Use the sections below as a structured checklist when preparing your application.
Core requirements for most applicants
- Details of your planned travel, such as intended travel dates, itinerary and where you intend to stay. Flight and hotel bookings are not usually required unless specifically relevant to your application.
- Financial evidence showing you can pay for your trip, accommodation, and daily costs without accessing public funds.
- Purpose of visit that matches the visa category and the UK’s permitted activities for that route.
- Intention to leave the UK at the end of your visit (clear ties to your home country help demonstrate this).
Passport or travel document
You must present a valid passport or other acceptable travel document when applying for a visa or entering the UK.
- Your passport must be valid for the duration of your stay.
- It should contain at least one blank page for any required vignette.
- Some applicants may be asked to provide additional proof of identity or nationality, depending on their circumstances.
Demonstrating personal circumstances
To show you are a genuine visitor, provide details about your situation in your home country and what you will do in the UK. This helps evidence that you will comply with visa conditions and leave at the end of your stay. The list below is not exhaustive.
- Purpose and itinerary: a letter or statement explaining what you will do in the UK, your intended dates, and who will cover costs (include any letters from inviting or sending organisations).
- Employment or study: proof of your circumstances outside the UK, such as:
- Employer letter on letterheaded paper confirming your role, salary, start date, and approved leave.
- School/university letter on letterhead confirming enrolment and authorised absence.
- For self-employed applicants: business registration documents, recent invoices, or tax filings.
- Finances: recent bank statements or building society records showing you have access to sufficient funds.
- Travel history: copies of prior visas or passport pages that show lawful travel (if available).
- Legal residence: if you apply from a country where you are not a citizen, include proof of your right to reside there.
Translation requirements (2026)
If any document is not in English or Welsh, include a complete certified translation that can be independently verified. Each translation must include:
- A statement by the translator confirming it is an accurate translation of the original.
- The date of translation.
- The translator’s full name, signature, and contact details.
How you provide documents depends on the application route and the instructions given in your online checklist or appointment guidance. Wherever possible, digital images should be taken of original documents, not copies. If applying as a family or group, you do not need to submit duplicate copies of the same evidence for every person.
Note: Submitting documents does not guarantee approval. Decisions are based on the overall assessment of your application and compliance with the immigration rules.
If you are under 18 (children)
Applicants under 18 must include documents proving their relationship with at least one parent or legal guardian.
- Birth certificate, adoption papers, or court guardianship order.
- If the parent/guardian is not applying with you: a copy of their passport photo page showing their signature and passport number, or another official document bearing their signature.
Travelling without a parent or legal guardian
If you will travel alone or with someone who is not your parent/guardian, include a signed consent letter from a parent or legal guardian confirming:
- Permission to travel to the UK.
- Who is travelling with you (include the adult’s full name and passport number if applicable).
- Who will be responsible for you while in the UK.
If you are sponsored
If another person or organisation will pay for your travel, accommodation, or living costs, provide evidence of the sponsorship:
- What support is provided and whether it includes any dependants.
- How the support will be provided (e.g., direct payments, bookings).
- The relationship between you and the sponsor (e.g., family member, employer, host).
- Evidence that the sponsor is lawfully present in the UK where applicable (e.g., British passport or residence permit).
Visiting for training, research, or permitted paid engagements
Depending on the activity, you may need to provide role-specific documents. Examples are below.
Academics conducting research or academic activities for up to 12 months
- Letter from your employer, college or university confirming your role and the duration of sabbatical, exchange, or research.
- Letter from the UK host organisation confirming the arrangement and scope of research or exchange.
If you will bring family members, check whether tuberculosis (TB) testing is required based on where they live or have lived, the visa route and length of stay.
Performers at one or more permit-free festivals
- Invitation letter from each event organiser confirming dates of performance and payment arrangements (if any).
PLAB and OSCE tests
- Letter or email from the General Medical Council (GMC) or Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) confirming your test booking or outcome (PLAB/OSCE).
Work-related education: unpaid clinical attachments and dental observer roles
- Offer/confirmation letter for the clinical attachment or dental observer position.
- Statement confirming the role does not involve patient treatment.
- Confirmation that you have not previously undertaken these activities in the UK (where applicable).
Permitted paid engagements or events
If you are invited to carry out a permitted paid engagement, include an invitation letter from the UK-based organisation, such as:
- A higher education institution.
- An organisation in the creative arts or entertainment industries.
- A sports club, agent, or broadcaster.
- A recognised research organisation.
- An aviation training organisation regulated by the UK Civil Aviation Authority.
- A client organisation if you are a legal professional.
Provide evidence of your professional standing or expertise in your home country relevant to the engagement.
Lecturers or examiners
- List of publications or research outputs in your field.
- Dates and details of lectures/examinations you will deliver.
- Employer letter confirming your role and field of expertise.
Performers / artists / sports figures
- Programme, invitations, or contracts confirming dates and times of performances, screenings, concerts, readings, exhibitions, or fixtures.
Air pilot examiners
- Proof of invitation from a UK-based authorised training organisation regulated by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
Legal professionals
- Proof you are a qualified lawyer (e.g., certificate of practice or equivalent).
- Evidence you have been invited to represent a client in a UK court, such as confirmation of right of audience or a temporary call (where required).
Visiting for private medical treatment
- Letter from a UK-registered doctor or consultant describing your condition, treatment plan, expected duration, location, and estimated costs.
If you need to extend your stay for treatment, include:
- A letter from a registered medical practitioner explaining your medical condition and confirming the ongoing need for treatment.
- Proof that you have paid for treatment already received and can pay for further care.
Organ donors
- Letter from a GMC-registered specialist or transplant lead nurse confirming you are a match (or are being tested) and where/when the transplant or tests will occur.
- Evidence the recipient is lawfully present in the UK (or, if they are applying, their name, nationality, and date of birth).
Marriage or civil partnership visits
- Evidence you intend to marry, give notice, or form a civil partnership, such as registrar appointment confirmation.
- If previously married/in a civil partnership, evidence you are free to marry or form a new partnership.
Transit through the UK
- Confirmed departure from the UK within 48 hours of arrival (e.g., onward booking confirmation).
- Evidence you can enter the destination country (e.g., valid visa or residence permit).
Additional checks and information
- You may be asked for previous visa details or travel history to help assess your application.
- In some circumstances, authorities may request criminal record information or comparable background checks where relevant to the route and activity.
About This Page
Author: UK Visa Applications Editorial Team
Reviewed by: Michael Gibbons, UK Solicitor and Regulated Immigration Advisor
Last Updated: 6 January 2026.