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Visa guides

Visitor, transit & ETA

Short stays, tourism, business visits, airport transit and the Electronic Travel Authorisation.

33 UK resources in this topic

Visa routes

  • Standard Visitor visaVisa route

    For visitors coming to the UK for tourism, business, short courses of study or medical treatment, this general route usually allows stays of up to 6 months.

  • Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA)Visa route

    A digital travel authorisation linked to your passport, for visitors who do not need a visa for short stays in the UK. It is not a visa itself, but permission to travel.

  • Business Visitor visaVisa route

    For visitors attending meetings, conferences and certain permitted business activities in the UK, this short-stay route lets you take part in business without doing paid work while you are here.

  • Marriage Visitor visaVisa route

    For couples coming to the UK to get married or register a civil partnership, this short-stay route is for those who do not plan to stay on and settle in the country afterwards.

  • Permitted Paid Engagement visaVisa route

    For invited professionals coming to the UK for a short paid engagement in their field of expertise, such as examining, lecturing or performing, arranged and agreed before they travel.

  • Medical Visitor visaVisa route

    For people visiting the UK to receive private medical treatment, this route is for patients arranging their care with a private provider rather than through the public health service.

  • Academic Visitor visaVisa route

    For academics undertaking research or attending conferences in the UK, this short-stay route is aimed at senior scholars visiting for a limited period from an overseas academic institution.

  • Transit visaVisa route

    For travellers who need to pass through the UK on their way to another country, this route covers those changing flights or briefly stopping rather than staying to visit.

Requirements & how-to guidance

Guides & explainers