Standard Visitor Visa UK
Visa Applications For Travel To the UK
Short-stays of up to 90 days for tourism, business or family visits.
TEL: (0044) 330 232 0221
Important Travel Document Information – Please Read
The Standard Visitor Visa UK (often called the UK Visitor Visa) is for temporary visits to the United Kingdom for tourism, business activities, short study, or private medical care.
Depending on your nationality and reason for travel, you may not need a visa. Please check if you need a visa before applying via the Official UK Visa Guidance.
Who can apply for a Standard Visitor Visa UK?
If you are in the following categories, you may apply for a UK Standard Visitor Visa:
- Travel to the UK for a holiday or general tourism.
- Visit family or friends.
- Volunteer with a registered charity for up to 30 days.
- Transit through the UK on your way to another country.
- Attend a conference, meeting, training, seminar, or interview.
- Negotiate contracts or conduct short-term business activities.
Ready to apply? Click below to start your Standard Visitor Visa application. The process is simple, complete your form, pay the fee, and follow the on-screen instructions to book your appointment.
Start ApplicationWhat is the UK Standard Visitor Visa?
The Standard Visitor Visa UK allows short stays in the UK, typically up to 6 months per visit. In some cases, travellers may apply for a long-term visitor visa (for example, 2 or 5 years), but each visit is still limited to 6 months.
This route covers:
- Short-term business activities.
- Academic visits/exchanges.
- Private medical treatment.
- Tourism and family visits.
(Always check current Official UK Visa Guidance before applying.)
Eligibility for a Standard Visitor Visa UK
To qualify, you should be able to demonstrate that you:
- Will leave the UK at the end of your visit.
- Can support yourself (and any dependants) during your stay.
- Can pay for your return/onward journey.
- Have a clear purpose for the visit (e.g., tourism, specific business meeting, short study, medical treatment)
and can provide details if requested.
Tip: Be specific about your itinerary, accommodation, and funding. Consistency across your application and supporting documents helps avoid delays.
What Should I Know About the UK Standard Visitor Visa?
There is no need to apply for a Visitor Visa if you are a citizen of a restricted group of nations. This includes the countries of the EEA, many Commonwealth nations, and Switzerland. On the Home Office website, you can complete the examination to see if you require a visa.
The Standard Visitor Visa permits the holder to:
Participate in commercial activities connected to your visa.
Study for a maximum of 30 days (provided this is not the primary purpose of your visit).
Participate in an exchange programme or academic visit.
Transform a civil partnership into a wedding.
Pass through the United Kingdom.
UK Standard Visitor Visa Permitted Activites
- Tourism & leisure: holidays, sightseeing, visiting family or friends.
- Business activities: attend meetings, interviews, conferences; negotiate contracts; site visits; sign deals; give non-paid talks (within visitor rules).
- Short study: enrol in a recreational or short course for up to 30 days (not as your main purpose for travel).
- Academic visits/exchanges: including professors and senior doctors or dentists for specific permitted activities.
- Transit: pass through the UK en route to another country.
- Volunteering: up to 30 days with a registered UK charity.
- Medical treatment: receive private medical care subject to evidence and payment capability.
UK Standard Visitor Visa Non-Permitted Activities
The Standard Visitor Visa is not for working or long-term residence. You cannot:
- Work in the UK (paid or unpaid), or access public funds.
- Live in the UK for extended periods by making frequent or back-to-back visits.
- Marry or register a civil partnership (or give notice) on this visa.
- Switch into other long-term routes from within the UK under visitor conditions.
For detailed information on what you can and cannot do on a UK Standard Visitor Visa , please read: UK Standard Visitor Visa – Permitted / Non Permitted Activities.
Visiting the UK for business
Standard Visitor Visa UK
If you’re travelling for short-term business, apply under the Standard Visitor Visa. Typical reasons include:
- Attending conferences, events, trade shows, interviews, or training.
- Negotiating contracts or seeking investment/financing.
- Observational roles such as clinical attachments (no direct patient treatment).
- Participating in specific sporting or cultural events.
- Sitting professional exams (e.g., PLAB or OSCE).
If you are a doctor or dentist, ensure you meet the professional requirements for any observational roles or exams.
Other UK Visa Types
Foreign nationals who intend to enter the United Kingdom must apply for the appropriate UK visa before travelling, unless exempt under specific visa-free or ETA schemes. The visa category you apply for must match your main purpose of visit and meet the eligibility rules for that route. The UK offers multiple categories covering tourism, business, work, study, family, settlement, and transit. The main visa categories are listed below.
| Category: UK Visas | ||
|---|---|---|
| Standard Visitor Visa | Transit Visa | Parent Visa |
| Family Visa | Partner / Spouse Visa | Skilled Worker Visa |
| Study Visa | Business Visa | |
| Student Visas: Additional | ||
| Child Study Visa | Graduate Visa | Student Dependent Visa |
| Visitor Visas: Additional | ||
| Marriage Visitor Visa | UK Family Visa | Business Visitor Visa |
| Under-18 Visitor Visa | Student Visitor Visa | Academic Visitor Visa |
| Paid Engagement Visa | Medical Visitor Visa | |
| Family Visas – Additional | ||
| UK Parent Visa | UK Family Visa | UK Spousal/Partner Visa |
| Tier 2 Dependent Visa | ||
| Work / Business Visas – Additional | ||
| Health and Care Worker Visa | Youth Mobility Scheme Visa | Temporary Worker Visas |
| Religious Worker Visa | Charity Worker Visa | International Agreement Worker Visa |
| Government Authorised Exchange Visa | Creative Worker Visa | Overseas Domestic Worker Visa |
| Seasonal Worker Visa | India Young Professionals Scheme Visa | Senior Specialist Worker Visa |
| Expansion Worker Visa | Graduate Trainee Visa | Service Supplier Visa |
| Secondment Worker Visa | International Sportsperson Visa | Minister of Religion Visa |
| Scale-Up Worker Visa | Representative of an Overseas Business Visa | Frontier Worker Permit |
| High Potential Individual Visa | Global Talent Visa | Innovator Founder Visa |
Additional requirements for study, academic, medical or dental visits
Extra evidence is needed for certain sub-purposes. For example:
- PLAB/OSCE candidates: provide written confirmation of exam registration from the relevant body (e.g., General Medical Council).
- Clinical attachment (unpaid): provide a letter of offer/confirmation. No patient treatment is allowed on a visitor visa.
- Private medical treatment: show arranged consultations/treatment plans, proof of funds, and evidence you will leave when treatment completes or your visa expires.
How to apply for a UK Visitor Visa
Applications are made online (outside the UK). You can apply for a Standard Visitor Visa here, after submitting, you will be required to book an appointment at a Visa Application Centre to provide biometrics (fingerprints and photograph). We’ll guide you through the process and document checklist. For detailed information on how to apply for a UK Vistor Visa please read our official UK Visa guidance on how to How To Submit a UK Visa Application
Typical processing times
Processing varies by location and season. As a general guide, decisions are often made within around 3 weeks from your biometric appointment. Delays commonly arise from appointment availability or missing/incorrect information.
If you need to modify or cancel your application
If you realise you have provided incorrect or inconsistent information before attending your biometric appointment, you can cancel and reapply, or provide corrected information with a clear cover letter. Accuracy and consistency reduce the risk of refusal.
How long does it take to apply?
The processing time for a UK visa can be affected by various factors but the average processing time is usually around 3 weeks total from the day you attend an appointment. Appointment waiting times can be the biggest cause of delays when applying. Further delays can be caused if you submit incorrect or missing information.
If you need to modify or cancel your application
The provision of erroneous or inconsistent information in the visa application or the submission of such papers in support of the application is one of the leading causes of UK Visa application rejections. If after submitting your application but before attending the biometric appointment, you discover or it is revealed that you have provided incorrect or inconsistent information, you can either cancel the application or you can provide the correct information in a cover letter.
Visitor Visa Extension
You can apply to extend your visitor visa, but you must show that you have strong and humanitarian reasons why you cannot go back to your home country. For example, if you get seriously ill during your stay in the UK and need private care to recover, or if you came to the UK for medical treatment and your treatment is not finished on time.<
If you are an academic asking for an extension for research, you must show that you still meet the academic requirements and give reasons why you need an extension. You can also extend your UK Standard Visit visa if you are a graduate retaking the Professional and Linguistic Assessment Board (PLAB) exam or doing a clinical attachment. You will need to provide written confirmation from the General Medical Council that you need to retake the PLAB exam and you may be granted a six-month extension.
After you pass the PLAB exam, you can apply to extend your stay to complete an unpaid clinical attachment or dentistry observer position. If you apply for this extension, you can stay in the UK for up to 18 months. You will need to provide written confirmation of your clinical attachment offer and evidence that you have not already completed a clinical attachment in the UK. A condition of this extension is that you do not treat patients.
Documents Required For a Standard Visitor Visa
One of the most prevalent reasons why a UK Visa is denied is the failure to submit the proper documentation, here is a list of common documents required. However, depending on your circumstances more may be required.
Documentation depends on your circumstances. Typical items include:
- Valid passport/travel document.
- Bank statements or proof of funds for your stay and return.
- Itinerary/accommodation evidence and purpose of visit.
- Proof that you will leave the UK at the end of your visit
- Supporting letters (employer, host, hospital/clinic, exam body) where relevant.
One of the most common refusal reasons is insufficient evidence. Provide clear, consistent documentation
What happens if your visa is rejected?
You should receive a letter from UK Visas & Immigration explaining the reasons for your rejection and the suggested next steps. Usually this involves simply re-applying for the visa and correcting any issues from your original application. You can read our guide which explains what to do if your visa is rejected.