UK Standard Visitor Visa (2025)
Eligibility, Documents, Fees & How to Apply
Short-stays of up to 90 days for tourism, business or family visits.
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This page has been reviewed and verified by Michael Gibbons, UK Solicitor and Regulated Immigration Advisor, to ensure accuracy with current UK immigration policy. You can confirm visa requirements through Our UK Visa Guidance.
Important Travel Document Information 2025 – Please Read
The UK Standard Visitor Visa (often called the UK Visitor Visa) permits short stays in the UK for tourism, visiting family or friends, limited business activity, short-term study, private medical treatment, or specific testing (e.g., PLAB/OSCE). The usual maximum stay is up to 6 months per visit.
You must demonstrate you are a genuine visitor, that you can fund your trip without using public funds, and that you will leave the UK at the end of your visit. This page explains the UK Standard Visitor Visa in clear, structured terms: eligibility requirements, permitted and non-permitted activities, required documents, fees, processing, extension options, and how to apply online. It also signposts related guidance to help you prepare a complete application.
Depending on your nationality and reason for travel, you may not need a visa. Please check if you need a visa before applying via our UK Visa Guidance.
Who can apply for a UK Standard Visitor Visa?
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 route allows temporary entry to the UK for the following purposes:
- Tourism and leisure; visiting family or friends.
- Business meetings, conferences, site visits, information-gathering.
- Short courses or academic visits that do not constitute long-term study.
- Private medical treatment (time-bound and funded).
- Professional exams such as PLAB or OSCE.
Not permitted: employment (paid or unpaid), work for UK clients, running a business in the UK, long-term study leading to a qualification, or residence.
For a fuller breakdown, see Permitted & Non-Permitted Activities.
Eligibility Requirements
- Genuine visitor: Your purpose aligns with permitted activities and you will leave the UK when your visit ends.
- Financial means: You have sufficient funds for travel, accommodation, and daily costs without working or accessing public funds.
- Home ties: Evidence of circumstances outside the UK (employment or studies, property, family) supporting your return.
- Accommodation & plans: Where you will stay, and your planned itinerary where relevant.
- Good immigration history: No recent overstays, breaches, or deception.
See the detailed checklist at UK Visitor Visa Eligibility Requirements (2025).
Documents Checklist
Prepare the following documents to support your application:
- Valid passport (minimum one blank page).
- Completed online application form and proof of fee payment.
- Evidence of funds (bank statements, payslips, or sponsor evidence).
- Proof of accommodation (hotel booking or host letter) and travel plans.
- Evidence of home-country ties (employment, study, property, family).
- Invitation letters or specific documents (business/academic/medical), where applicable.
- Certified translations for non-English/Welsh documents.
Use the full guide: UK Visitor Visa Documents Checklist (2025).
Proof of Funds
There is no fixed minimum, but you must show enough money to cover the duration of your trip (travel, accommodation, daily costs). Evidence typically includes recent bank statements and payslips. Where a third party is paying, provide a sponsorship letter, their lawful status (if in the UK), and proof of their funds, plus your relationship evidence.
Detailed guidance: Proof of Funds for UK Visitor Visa (2025).
Standard Visitor Visa Fees (From 9 April 2025)
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.
Standard Visitor Visa Fees:
For wider UK fees (including transit and study), see UK Visa Fees (2025).
Standard Visitor — up to 6 months — £127 — Stay per visit usually up to 6 months.
Long-term — up to 2 years — £475 — Multiple entries; each visit up to 6 months.
Long-term — up to 5 years — £848 — Multiple entries; each visit up to 6 months.
Long-term — up to 10 years — £1,059 — Multiple entries; each visit up to 6 months.
Visiting academic (over 6, up to 12 months) — £220 — For eligible academics.
Private medical treatment (over 6, up to 12 months) — £220 — Evidence from UK provider required.
Common Permitted Activities
- 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.
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 (2025)
Many short-term business activities can be carried out under a Standard Visitor Visa, provided they do not involve employment or work for a UK organisation. This category is designed for overseas professionals attending meetings, negotiations, or events for up to six months.
Permitted Business Activities
You may visit the UK for the following short-term business purposes:
- Attending meetings, conferences, trade shows, or training events.
- Negotiating contracts or exploring investment and financing opportunities.
- Carrying out site visits, inspections, or due diligence for overseas employers or clients.
- Participating in specific sporting or cultural events as a representative of your organisation.
- Sitting professional examinations such as the PLAB or OSCE.
- Undertaking observational roles such as clinical attachments or short-term placements where you are not directly treating patients or engaging in paid work.
Restrictions and Professional Requirements
- You cannot work or receive payment from a UK source during your visit.
- You cannot deliver services directly to a UK business or the public.
- If you are a doctor or dentist visiting for professional observation or examinations, you must meet all GMC or GDC requirements and hold valid confirmation of your exam or attachment.
For more detailed information on business travel under the visitor route, see the UK Business Visa page.
UK Visa Guidance & Resources (2025)
| UK Visa Guidance |
| UK Visas Overview (All Types) |
| UK Standard Visitor Visa: Core Guides |
| UK Application Process |
| UK Visa Letters & Templates |
| UK Visa Fees & Appointments |
| UK Visa Refusals & Next Steps |
| Visa Applications Team |
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 |
How to Apply for a UK Visitor Visa (2025)
Applications for a UK Standard Visitor Visa are made online before travelling. You must complete an on;ineapplication form, pay the relevant fee, and attend a Visa Application Centre (VAC) appointment for biometrics, fingerprints and a photograph — unless eligible to use the UK Immigration: ID Check app.
- Read Our UK Visa Guidance before applying.
- Complete the online visa form accurately and upload your supporting documents.
- Pay the applicable government fee (see UK Visa Fees 2025).
- Book and attend a biometric appointment or use the UK Immigration: ID Check app if instructed.
- Await a decision — most applications are decided within around 3 weeks after biometrics, though timelines vary by location and season.
Typical Processing Times
Average decision times are around 3 weeks from your biometric appointment, depending on the complexity of your case and local appointment availability. Delays are often caused by missing evidence or inconsistent information. Priority and super-priority services may be available for an additional fee in some locations.
If You Need to Modify or Cancel Your Application
If you realise you have provided incorrect or inconsistent information before your biometric appointment, you can cancel and reapply, or submit a correction letter when attending. Accuracy and consistency across your form and supporting documents are essential to avoid credibility issues or refusal.
Tip: Keep copies of all uploaded documents and your application summary page. This helps track details if you need to reapply or appeal a decision.
Additional Requirements for Study, Academic, Medical, or Dental Visits
Certain visitors must submit extra evidence based on their purpose:
- PLAB/OSCE candidates: Provide written confirmation of your exam registration from the General Medical Council (GMC) or Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).
- Clinical attachments (unpaid): Provide an offer or confirmation letter from the UK host institution. No patient treatment is permitted on a visitor visa.
- Private medical treatment: Include a treatment plan, consultation schedule, proof of payment ability, and confirmation you will leave when treatment ends or your visa expires.
How Long Does It Take to Apply?
The full process — form submission, document upload, appointment booking, and decision, typically takes 3–6 weeks total. The main delay factor is often appointment availability. Errors or missing information can also cause your case to be paused for manual review.
Visitor Visa Extensions (2025)
You may apply to extend a UK Standard Visitor Visa if you meet strict conditions and apply before your current permission expires. Normally, the total stay cannot exceed 6 months in any 12-month period, but limited exceptions apply for specific reasons.
When an Extension May Be Granted
- Medical treatment: You have ongoing, paid private treatment and need more time to complete it. Extensions are typically issued in 6-month blocks.
- Academic visitors: You remain eligible as an academic visitor and can justify why your stay needs to continue.
- PLAB/Clinical attachment: You are retaking the PLAB exam or undertaking a clinical attachment confirmed by the GMC. Extensions may be granted up to 18 months in total, provided you do not treat patients.
To apply, you must complete the online extension form, pay the £1,000 Home Office fee (plus optional priority service), and provide biometric data again. Evidence of ongoing purpose and sufficient funds is required.
Note: Overstaying your visa without a pending extension application can result in a re-entry ban or future refusals. Always apply before your current permission ends.
If Your UK Visitor Visa Is Refused
If your application is refused, you will receive a written decision letter from UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) explaining the reasons and which Immigration Rules were applied. Refusals are common where evidence is incomplete or inconsistent, but most can be resolved through reapplication or review.
Common Reasons for Refusal
- Insufficient or inconsistent financial evidence.
- Unclear purpose of visit or weak itinerary detail.
- Missing or untranslated documents.
- Incorrect or incomplete answers on the visa form.
- Previous immigration breaches or overstays.
Next Steps After Refusal
- Administrative Review: Available only for certain categories (not usually visitor visas) if a caseworker error is suspected.
- Reapply: Most visitors simply reapply, correcting errors or strengthening evidence according to the refusal notice.
- Judicial Review: A complex and legal route to challenge procedural unfairness — obtain professional advice before proceeding.
Read our full guidance: UK Visitor Visa Refusals & Reapplication Guidance (2025).