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on September 6, 2024
Read Time: 8 Minutes
With a longstanding reputation as an epicentre for the arts, culture, entertainment, heritage, and business, the United Kingdom continues to be a magnet for a wide range of people from around the world who wish to undertake short visits to the country.
You may, then, be reading this due to an interest in knowing more about the visa that you might need to apply for in order to visit the UK for what may only be a few days, weeks, or months.
Fortunately, while the UK does not have just one visitor visa to cover all types of short stays in the country, this isn’t necessarily a greatly difficult part of the UK immigration system to understand and navigate. Indeed, for a relatively simple visit such as a holiday or a trip to see family and friends, the Standard Visitor visa is likely to be sufficient.
However, some people who are seeking to spend a short time in the UK will have slightly more specialised requirements that might be better served by an alternative visa type. Furthermore, whatever visa you ultimately apply for will inevitably come with certain restrictions with regard to how long you can stay in the UK, and what activities you will be permitted to do. So, below, we have explained the essentials of the main types of UK visit visas.
It is not automatically the case that any non-UK national who wishes to visit the UK for a short time will actually need a visa.
Irish citizens, for example, will not need to apply for a visa to visit the UK, or even to reside there, because of the UK and Ireland’s shared membership of the Common Travel Area (CTA). This arrangement existed prior to both UK and Irish membership of the European Union (EU), and was separate to it, so it was unaffected by Brexit.
Citizens of the EU, European Economic Area (EEA), and Switzerland are also permitted to travel to the UK for holidays or short trips without needing to apply for a UK visa. If you are unsure whether you will require a visa for your visit to the UK at the time you read this, it is quick and easy to check using the GOV.UK website.
If you do require a visa for your UK visit, there is a strong likelihood that you will need to apply for one of the below routes:
Another route through which individuals of certain nationalities can visit the UK, is the electronic travel authorisation (ETA) scheme. This is not a visa, but a form of digital permission to travel that the UK Government began to phase in from November 2023, replacing the previous electronic visa waivers (EVWs).
Nationals of the below countries can apply for an ETA. At the time of typing, nationals of other countries do not need to apply for an ETA, and even those who do have this permission will need to travel using a national passport. Other types of passports and travel documents will not be accepted.
As with all other parts of the UK immigration system, the requirements that overseas nationals need to fulfil in order to visit the UK are liable to change over time. So, if you are unsure what the exact requirements will be for you at the time of reading this, please don’t hesitate to call our experts in UK immigration law today, on 0208 215 0053, for advice and guidance.
Hopefully, the above summary of the various UK visitor visa categories will have already given you a sense of the specific type of visa that is likely to best match your requirements.
The type of visitor visa that is right for you will depend on such factors as where you come from, your reasons for wishing to visit the UK, how long you wish to spend in the country, and your personal circumstances and skills.
As we referenced above, your nationality and circumstances might not require you to obtain a visa prior to your visit or transit through the UK. So, it is crucial to first check whether you will need a visa – and if so, what type of visa you will require. If you do need to apply for a visa, your application must be approved by the UK Home Office before you travel.
You can learn about the various UK visitor visa types on the GOV.UK website, and read about the eligibility activities and permitted activities for each one. This can be followed by preparing and submitting your visa application online.
Here at Cranbrook Legal, our specialists in UK immigration law have an excellent track record of helping people from a wide range of backgrounds and circumstances to apply for a UK visitor visa. We have a high success rate and can provide this service for a pre-agreed fixed fee. Please fill in and submit our online contact form to ask for a free consultation.
When you are considering your options for a UK visitor visa, you should pay close attention to the rules on how long you will be allowed to stay. Again, it is important to check the latest rules and other information with the UK Government.
At the time of typing, the permitted durations for different types of UK visit visa were as follows:
You will need to account for not only how long your visit to the UK will be, but also how frequently you intend to visit, as this may have implications for your visa application decisions. Overseas nationals who plan regular visits to the UK may wish to consider the long-term Standard Visitor visa. This visa lasts for two, five, or 10 years, with the visa holder being permitted to stay in the UK for a maximum of six months on each visit.
Presuming you have undergone the aforementioned stages of researching the different types of UK visitor visa and deciding which visa type you will require, the next stage will be to put together and submit a visa application.
A key element of this, will be making sure you can satisfy the eligibility requirements. If, for example, you wish to apply for the Standard Visitor visa – which is an especially commonly sought visit visa for the UK – you will need to be able to show that:
Depending on your circumstances and reasons for visiting the UK on a Standard Visitor visa, there are certain other eligibility criteria that you may need to meet. These include if you intend to visit the UK:
If you require a Standard Visitor visa for your visit to the UK, you will need to submit your application prior to travelling to the UK, and it will be necessary to attend an appointment at a visa application centre. The earliest time you can submit an application for this visa is three months before the date of travel.
In the event that you will be travelling with members of your family, and all of you require a visa, it will be necessary for them to each have their own application and to pay the Home Office’s application fee. They will also each be required to attend their own appointment at the visa application centre.
Whatever your circumstances and reasons for wishing to visit the UK, you will likely appreciate benefitting from the knowhow and experience of our award-winning specialists in UK immigration law at every stage of your visa application process.
Call 0208 215 0053 today, or complete and submit our free consultation form, to discover how we can hold your hand through every step of preparing and sending an application for a UK visa.
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