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A UK Visit Visa enables a person to enter the UK for up to 6 months. It is primarily aimed at tourists but other specific 'permitted' activities are allowed.
According to Home Office data 2.1 million UK visit visas were granted for the year ending 30 September 2024, making it the most popular UK visa.
If you are from a visa national country, you will need to apply for a visit visa before travelling to the UK.
If you're from a non-visa national country you will require an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) in advance of travelling. An ETA is not a visa and so does not guarantee entry to the UK.
A person can be denied entry to the UK if the immigration service believes the purpose of the visit is not genuine.
Visitors to the UK are:
Statistically speaking, some nationalities are less likely to be given a visitor visa than others, for example, those from countries with high asylum claims, (House of Commons Library report of 10 June 2025).
It is therefore important to understand the UK Visit Visa requirements.
As there is no automatic right of appeal against a visit visa refusal, the number of refusals is much higher than for other visa categories.
There are four types of UK Visit Visas:
A visit visa is usually issued for up to a maximum of 6 months during which the individual can travel to and from the UK. You will need to satisfy the Immigration Officer that you are a still a genuine visitor on each arrival.
It is possible to request a multiple entry visit visa to be issued for 2, 5 or 10 years and allows an individual to enter the UK for up to 6 months on each occasion. Again visitors can be questioned on each arrival.
Anyone intending to make a visit visa application should ensure they meet the immigration rules in full.
It is generally not possible to extend a visit visa unless it is a medical or academic visit visa.
An individual can stay in the UK for up to 6 months on each entry to the UK. There is no rule that they can only stay for up to 180 days in a 12 month period which is a common misconception.
However, this does not mean that a person can use successive 6 month visits to stay in the UK for longer periods. Although, you may be readmitted as a visitor, there is a very significant risk of refusal of entry if you cannot demonstrate a genuine reason for the visit and the intention to leave the UK.
If questioned by an immigration officer, the decision whether to grant entry to the UK will take into account the length and frequency of any previous visits, the purpose of the visit, overseas ties and so forth.
Each case depends on its own circumstances. Challenging such refusals can only be done through judicial review, or, if there is a human rights element, by appeal to the First Tier Tribunal.
The permitted activities can be summarised as follows:
Tourism and leisure - to sightsee or see family and friends
Volunteer - up to 30 days through a registered charity
Business - take part in meetings
Undertake specified paid engagements
Study - medical related degree students wishing to undertake placements or undergo specific testing such as the PLAB
Academics, doctors and dentists - to undertake research or teach during an organised exchange.
Tourism and Leisure
The most common purpose for those coming to the UK as a visitor is for tourism or to see family and friends.
Those coming here through this category enables them to take part in educational exchanges or to attend recreational courses up to 30 days - but not to study English.
Volunteering
Allowed for up to 30 days through a recognised body such as a charity.
Undertake a general business activity
Enables a business executive to:
(a) attend various type of meetings, conventions, formal discussions, interviews; and
(b) give a one off or short series of talks and speeches so long as is not for profit or the organiser does make a profit
(c) negotiate and sign deals and contracts
(d) attend trade fairs for promotional work with no selling involved
(e) carry out site visits and inspections
(f) obtain information for the home business
(g) carry out briefing from a UK customer on the proviso that any work is done in the home country
(h) perform overseas employment remotely so long as this is not the main purpose of the visit.
Intra-company activity
Enables a worker of an overseas UK arm on an internal project to:
(a) advise and consult
(b) troubleshoot
(c) provide training
(d) share skills and knowledge.
The following client facing activities are permitted:
(i) through intra company set up so long as it is a small part of their overseas employment
(ii) required for delivery of a project serviced by the UK branch and not the overseas entity.
Internal auditor
Auditors can carry out financial or regulatory audits of the Group.
Manufacture and supply of goods to the UK
Overseas employee of a connected company can undertake certain roles where there is a business relationship with a UK company.
Client of a UK export company
A client of a UK export company can be seconded here so long as the companies are not connected businesses and there is some form of consideration for the services. A visitor can do the following specified tasks:
(i) translate or interpret
(ii) personal assistants//bodyguards may accompany employer
(iiI) tour group courier to undertake a tour group
(iv) members of the media to undertake functions in the UK
(v) archaeologists undertaking a one-off excavation
(vi) professor from overseas institution accompanying students can undertake incidental teaching related to the tour
(vii) market researcher and analysts can undertake market research
(viii) between 1 March and 31 October pilot and cabin crew through the CAA regulations can work here.
Drivers on international route
Can collect goods or passengers and whilst contracted by overseas company.
Can collect goods or passengers and visit up to 10 ports within 60 days.
Work-related training
Graduates from medical, dentist or nursung institutions can do clinical attachments so long as they are not engaged in them and there to observe or do the PLAB or OSCE tests.
Overseas employees can receive employment training from a connected company.
Employee of an overseas company can deliver training to a connected company.
Academics
Academics including scientists and researchers can participate in exchange programs or take part in research where they hold senior roles.
Legal
Allows experts and lawyers to attend legally connected specified activities.
Religion
Members of religious bodies can provide sermons or undertake connected lay work.
Creative
Artists, entertainers or musicians can perform in some festivals, TV adverts, auditions, participate in competitions or perform.
Also allows support staff to accompany them.
Film professionals can shoot films in the UK so long as the funding is from outside the UK.
Sports
Enables a sportsman to perform, take part in trials or TV commercials and members of sport staff to accompany them.
Medical
Fee paying medical treatment is allowed.
Permitted paid work
Allowed for up to 30 days for specified types
Study
Allowed for up to 6 months
The documents required for UK Visit application will depend on the purpose of the visit the general documents are as follows:
It is important for the individual to demonstrate ties to their home country to show there is a reason to return, this is more prevalent to countries where there are high refusal rates but should be borne in mind by any applicant. The type of documents to include are:
When providing financial documentation such as bank statements, it is important to check the deposits and expenditure as these can be questioned and is used to deny visit visa applications, particularly where there are large transactions which cannot be explained.
Otherwise, the applicant should check on the Home Office website to see what the appropriate documents are for route specific UK Visitor Visas. Although the Home Office provide a summary of the documents required when making the application through a checklist this may not address all the points.
| Visa | Fee |
| 6 months | £127 |
| 2 years | £475 |
| 5 years | £848 |
| 10 years | £1,059 |
| 6 months Academic Visit Visa | £220 |
| 6 months Medical Visit Visa | £220 |
| VFS appointment fee (varies) | £76.50 |
| ETA | £19 |
| Priority service | £500 |
An applicant must show they are a 'genuine visitor' which is assessed through the following criteria:
An officer will look at an individual's entire immigration history, the application form, ties to the home country, purpose of the visit, and documents provided when assessing this point of the UK Visit Visa rule.
Previous visits and compliance with immigration rules will be taken into account, including patterns of movement, and whether a person has been denied entry to the UK previously, or any other country.
It is essential to declare any previous refusals as a failure to do so can lead to a rejection of the application and a possible finding of deception which leads to a long ban from entering the UK.
There is no right of appeal against a visit visa refusal unless the refusal raises issues of:
The only way to challenge a refusal is to bring an application for judicial review which is a lengthy and expensive process.
If you have had a visit visa refused which you think was unfair, contact us now to see if we can help.
A Judicial Review must be done filed with the court within 3 months of the date of decision. Sending a pre-action protocol threatening judicial review can be a successful way of getting the Entry Clearance Officer to review their original decision.
David Robinson and Evan Remedios have a combined experience of more than 60 years. There aren't many scenarios we haven't encountered before. We regularly challenge refused visit visa applications by filing for judicial review. If, it would be quicker and more appropriate to lodge a fresh application, we will advise as such.
Can I change my visit visa to anything else?
No. Not unless there are exceptional circumstances in your home country, e.g. war.
Can I change my visit visa to a spouse/partner visa?
No. You should normally apply from your home country unless exceptional circumstances are in play.
Interested in our services? Contact us and one of our solicitors will contact you