Visitor Visa

The UK visitor visa also been known as a tourist visa is designed to visit the UK for up to 6 months for tourism, study, business and other permitted activities. Note that people of  certain nationalities are able to visit Britain for the same period without the need for a visa. You are advised to familiarise yourself with the rules before applying.

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What is the purpose of a Visitor visa

Visitor visa holders have access to such activities in the UK for 6 months:

  • Tourism

  • Visiting family, friends and loved ones

  • Getting married (If you intend to live in another country after marriage)

  • Volunteering for up to 30 days with an organization registered in Britain

  • Transiting through the UK

  • Receiving medical treatment

Endorsement Letter
  • Conducting specific business activities (meeting, attend interviews, negotiate deals, etc.)

  • Participating in school exchange program

  • Taking an exam

  • Attending recreational classes (max. 30 days)

  • Engaging in study (for a maximum of 6 months)

  • Completing a work placement

Visitor visa requirements 2024

To successfully apply for a visitor visa, applicants must necessarily follow these requirements:

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  • You must prove your intentions to leave the UK at the end of your stay.

  • You must have sufficient funds to support yourself during your visit to the UK

  • You have the budget to pay for your return journey

  • You do not plan to continue living in the UK by extending your visitor visa.

  • Evidence of the activities you specify for the purpose of the visit

  • If the purpose of your visit is related to examinations, studies or other special activities, we recommend you to contact our immigration specialists for assistance.

Intention to leave the UK

You will need to demonstrate your sincere intentions to leave the country in order to satisfy the  for assessment by the UK Home Office, this involves providing the details of the reason for your visit, your immigration history, economic and personal ties to your home country and any other relevant information.

Enough support funds

No specific amount is stated in the requirements for funds, but the Home Office will determine your anticipated expenses (such as accommodation, food, etc.) to a specified budget. All of your financial obligations will also be taken into account.

Intention not to live in the UK

The Home Office needs to ensure that you are not trying to use the Visitor Visa as a means to reside in the UK permanently through repeated visits. They will review your travel record, the purpose of your visit, how long you plan to stay, your UK visits in the past year (including durations), the gap since your last visit, and whether you have spent more time in the UK than in your home country.

Visitor Visa required documents

There is a different set of documents for each reason for the visit. In most cases, these are:

  • Dates of travel to and from the UK

  • Your address of stay during your visit to the UK

  • A summary of your expenses during your stay

  • Your home address

  • Length of stay at your current address

  • Information about your parents (name and dates of birth)

  • Your annual income

  • Details of criminal, immigration or civil offenses

  • Travel history for the last 10 years

  • Details of your employer (address and telephone number)

  • Information about your partner (name, date of birth and passport number)

  • Details of your family members in the UK

  • Tuberculosis (TB) test certificate

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How to apply for a visitor visa

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  • To apply for a UK visitor visa, you should follow these basic steps:

  • Complete and submit your UK tourist visa application online. (each family member must complete and submit their application separately and pay the applicable fee)

  • Pay the application fee

  • Schedule an appointment at your local VAC (Visa Application Centre)

  • Attend the appointment at the VAC to provide all necessary documents to the Home Office, have your photo taken, and provide biometrics (fingerprinting)

Visitor visa fee

Before you start your visa application, it is important to find out the cost of your visitor visa. For non-EEA travellers, the cost of a UK visitor visa can vary. However, the standard UK visitor visa fee remains unchanged at £100. If you intend to extend your stay beyond 6 months, you may need to apply for a long-stay standard visa, which will incur additional costs:

2-Year Visa

To extend the validity of the visa to 2 years, the cost will be as follows

£432

5-Year Visa

For a visa valid for 5 years, the cost will increase to

£771

The cost of a 10-year visitor visa will increase to

The cost of a 10-year visitor visa will increase to

£963

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Visitor visa processing time

  • The approximate decision time for a visitor visa is 3 weeks.

  • Conditions for extending a visitor visa:

  • It is possible to extend a Visitor Visa if it was originally issued for less than 6 months, up to a maximum of 6 months. Extensions beyond 6 months are only permitted for medical reasons, for academic purposes or for graduates who need to retake the PLAB test or undertake a clinical placement. The fee for extending a visitor visa is currently £1,000.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is it possible to change from a visitor visa to another visa in the UK

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No, it is not possible to change from a visitor visa to another type of visa in the UK.

Can I get married in the UK on a visitor visa

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If you are planning to get married or enter into a civil partnership in the UK, you must make a special application for a marriage visitor visa. You need to get married within 6 months of coming to the UK and use a licensed venue.
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