United Kingdom
UK visitor visas
The UK visitor category covers short stays — tourism, visiting family or friends, limited business activities, short courses and private medical treatment. Depending on your nationality you may need a Standard Visitor visa, an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), or nothing at all. This section groups the UK’s short-stay visitor routes and links to the official gov.uk guidance so you can confirm exactly what applies to you before you travel.
- SHORT STAYVISITORSUP TO 6 MONTHSStandard Visitor visaPopularFor 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.View visa details
- SHORT STAYVISA-FREEDIGITALElectronic Travel Authorisation (ETA)PopularA 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.View visa details
- BUSINESSSHORT VISITMEETINGSBusiness Visitor visaFor 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.View visa details
- SHORT STAYGET MARRIEDCIVIL PARTNERSHIPMarriage Visitor visaFor 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.View visa details
- WORKSHORT ENGAGEMENTINVITED EXPERTSPermitted Paid Engagement visaFor 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.View visa details
- SHORT STAYPRIVATE TREATMENTPATIENTSMedical Visitor visaFor 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.View visa details
- SHORT STAYACADEMICSRESEARCHAcademic Visitor visaFor 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.View visa details
- SHORT STAYTRANSITPASSING THROUGHTransit visaFor 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.View visa details