Complete Guide to UK Visitor Visas

Whether you are planning a trip as a tourist, for business, or to see family, it can be a daunting process to apply for a UK Visitor Visa. In this guide, our specialist UK immigration lawyers explain the UK Visitor Visa application process.

The guide covers:

• Introduction to UK Visitor Visas
• What is a UK Visitor Visa?
• Types of UK Visitor Visas
• Eligibility requirements for a UK Visitor Visa
• How to apply for a UK Visitor Visa
• Supporting documents for the application
• Common reasons for UK Visitor Visa refusals
• How to appeal a UK Visitor Visa refusal
• Tips for a smooth UK Visitor Visa application
• Processing time for UK Visitor Visas
• Frequently Asked Questions on UK Visitor Visas
• About OTS Solicitors

Introduction to UK Visitor Visas

Not all visitors to the UK require a Visitor Visa. A UK immigration solicitor can advise whether you will require a Visitor Visa, or explain that although one is not strictly necessary, in your circumstances, it would be advisable to apply for one to avoid potential difficulties with securing entry clearance on arrival in the UK.

It is essential to check to see if you require a visa before visiting the UK, as otherwise you may be refused entry clearance. This could have an impact on your UK immigration record and affect the prospects of your securing another short-term visa or long-term visa should you decide that you want to move to the UK for work or to reunite with family members.

What is a UK Visitor Visa?

A UK Visitor Visa allows foreign nationals to visit the UK for up to six months. During the visit, the visitor is allowed to do permitted activities. At the end of their planned visit, the visitor must leave the UK. If a visitor wants to return to the UK, they will either require another short-term Visit Visa or apply for an appropriate long-term visa, such as a Spouse Visa or Skilled Worker Visa.

Types of UK Visitor Visas

There are many reasons why you may want to travel to the UK. The reason for your visit is important because it will affect whether you meet the Home Office eligibility criteria for a temporary visa and the evidence you need to provide to apply for UK Visitor Visa.

Types of Visitor Visas include:

1. Standard Visitor Visa or Tourist Visa for leisure, tourism, and holidays to the UK.
2. Business Visitor Visa enabling business visitors to undertake permitted business activities whilst in the UK.
3. Family Visitor Visa for visiting family members or friends.
4. Short-Term Study Visa for those studying a short course (up to 6 months).
5. Medical Treatment Visa for those coming to the UK for private medical treatment.
6. Marriage Visitor Visa for those planning to get married or enter a civil partnership in the UK.
7. Child Visitor Visa for children under the age of 18.
8. Transit Visitor Visa for those passing through the UK to an onward destination.

Each type of short-term visa has restrictions on what you can do while in the UK temporarily on the visa.

Eligibility requirements for a UK Visitor Visa

The general eligibility requirements to apply for UK Visitor Visa are:

1. You must have a passport or travel document to enter the UK. The passport or document must be valid for the entire duration of your stay.
2. You must intend to leave the UK at the end of your Visitor Visa.
3. You must be able to financially support yourself and your dependants for the duration of your UK visit.
4. You can pay for your return journey.
5. You will not use a series of Visitor Visas to stay in the UK by making frequent successive visits.

There are additional specific Visitor Visa requirements depending on your reasons for visiting the UK. For example, if you apply for a Visitor Visa for business, you are only allowed to undertake permissible business activities whilst visiting the UK.

How to apply for a UK Visitor Visa

To apply for UK Visitor Visa, you need to follow these seven steps:

1. Check to see if you need a Visitor Visa.
2. Work out the type of Visitor Visa you require.
3. Check the eligibility criteria and paperwork required for the visa type.
4. Apply online, but you cannot apply more than three months before your planned trip to the UK.
5. Pay the Home Office Visitor Visa application fee. If you require your visa urgently, you may have the option to pay the Home Office an additional fee for expedited or priority processing of your application.
6. Book a biometric appointment at a visa application centre in your home country for photographs and fingerprints to be taken.
7. Wait for the Home Office to approve your application.

The process of applying for a Visitor Visa may seem straightforward, but it is essential to submit documents to show that you meet both the general and visa-specific eligibility criteria for your chosen type of Visitor Visa.

Supporting documents for the application

The documents required for UK Visitor Visa must cover the general and visa-specific requirements.

The general documents for a Tourist Visa include:

1. A valid travel document or passport.
2. Evidence of the purpose of the visit.
3. Proof of accommodation and return travel.
4. Financial evidence to show you can afford to cover your expenses whilst staying in the UK.

The supporting documents required to secure your Tourist Visa will depend on the nature of your holiday. You may have booked a holiday with a major tour operator or have more fluid plans to tour the UK and to book accommodation as you sightsee around the UK.  Whatever type of tourist activities are planned, it's important to evidence that you intend to leave the UK at the end of your visit and that you have the financial resources to pay for your accommodation, subsistence costs, and return flights.

Evidence that you will be staying in the UK as a visitor is demonstrated by showing your strong ties to your home country. Typical examples include home ownership, a network of family members in your home country, your job and financial ties, or an immigration history of visiting other countries and returning to your home country.

The visa-specific documents for other types of Visitor Visa depend on the purpose of your visit. If you are coming to the UK to engage in permissible business activities, such as attending a conference, you may need a sponsorship letter for UK Visitor Visa.

Common reasons for UK Visitor Visa refusals

Common reasons for Visitor Visa refusals include:

1. Not fully completing the application form with all the Home Office required information.
2. Evidence not meeting the specific Visitor Visa criteria, such as the information required for the Medical Visitor Visa.
3. Not supplying all the documents needed to secure your visa.
4. Not fully explaining the purpose of your visit.
5. Not evidencing strong ties to your home country.
6. Not fully proving your ability to finance your planned trip.
7. Not getting your supporting documents officially translated into English.
8. Documents not being legible.

A UK Visa lawyer can help you avoid these common reasons for Visitor Visa refusals, as they have the expertise and experience to know the extent of the personal information and supporting paperwork required to secure your visa.

In many cases, a visa applicant mistakenly thinks it is self-evident that they can afford hotels and return flights or that they will restrict their work to the permissible business activities allowed under the UK immigration rules. Unfortunately, that is not the case when it comes to UK visa processing, as everything needs to be documented.

How to appeal a UK Visitor Visa refusal

If your application is refused, you have four options:

1. Apply for a new Visitor Visa.
2. Ask the Home Office to conduct an administrative review because you think the Home Office official made a mistake when processing your application.
3. Appeal the decision to an immigration tribunal.
4. Apply for a judicial review of the decision to refuse your application.

Typically, on cost and time grounds, it is usually best to reapply for a Visitor Visa or to ask the Home Office to conduct an administrative review of the decision to refuse your application.

If you decide to submit a fresh application, it is crucial to take immigration legal advice on the reasons for the visa refusal. Your Visitor Visa solicitors will need to address the reasons for the rejection and provide supporting documents to resolve the areas of concern identified by the Home Office in the refused application.

An application for an administrative review of the decision to refuse your application for a UK Visiting Visa may be appropriate if the Home Office caseworker made a mistake when refusing your application by saying, for example, that you had not provided evidence of hotel accommodation or your student studies when you had done so.

If you applied for your Visiting Visa from outside the UK, you have 28 days to request an administrative review. The review is carried out by a different Home Office caseworker from the one who made the original decision. An administrative review is not like an appeal to a court, as it is not fully independent, and you do not get the chance to file additional evidence. However, it is a good route to take if your visa solicitor thinks the Home Office made an error when reviewing your case.

Tips for a smooth UK Visitor Visa application

Tips for a smooth UK Visitor Visa application include:

1. Don’t apply too early or too late – you can apply up to three months before your planned travel date. If you make a late time-critical application, you may need to pay extra for the Home Office to provide a priority service.
2. Make sure you meet both the general and visa-specific eligibility criteria for the type of Visitor Visa you are applying for.
3. Don’t make assumptions – you may think that it is self-evident that you have strong ties to your home country or that if you are an academic, you will be attending an academic conference in your field of expertise with your trip and accommodation funded by your employer. However obvious the merits of your application, the Home Office official will require supporting paperwork.
4. Ensure that your documents are officially transcribed into English and that any photocopied documents are legible.
5. Talk to a Visitor Visa solicitor about how best to secure your visa and the alternatives to a temporary visa.

If you are planning a series of visits to the UK, you may wish to consider applying for a two-year Visitor Visa, but each stay in the UK must not exceed the permitted length of stay endorsed on the Visitor Visa. This is usually six months.

Processing time for UK Visitor Visas

The average processing time for a visa is around three weeks, but the Home Office can sometimes be quicker or slower in deciding applications. If you need your visa urgently, you can pay for an expedited processing service.

Frequently Asked Questions on UK Visitor Visas

Can I extend my UK Visitor Visa?

You may be able to extend your visa if your initial visa was for less than six months. With a visa extension, you can stay in the UK as a visitor for six months.

Visitor Visas can also be extended beyond six months if you meet one of the extension criteria. These are limited to academics and patients in the UK to receive medical treatment.

If you want to stay long-term in the UK, it's best to speak to a UK immigration solicitor about your visa options.

Can you work on a Visitor Visa?

You are not allowed to work while in the UK on a Visitor Visa. However, if you enter the UK on a Business Visitor Visa, you can carry out permissible business activities, such as attend job interviews and conferences. There are several types of Work Visas if you need a more flexible type of visa.

Can I change a UK Visitor Visa to a work permit?

The UK immigration rules do not allow you to apply for a work permit while in the UK on a Visitor Visa. When you leave the UK at the end of your visit, you may meet the eligibility criteria for a Work Visa, such as a Skilled Worker Visa, and be able to apply for the new visa from overseas.

Can I switch from Visitor Visa to Spouse Visa?

You cannot switch from a standard Visitor Visa to a Spouse Visa while visiting the UK. You will need to leave the UK and apply for your Spouse Visa from overseas. If you are in the UK on a Fiancé or Marriage Visa, you can apply to switch from that to a Spouse Visa.

How long can I stay in UK on Visitor Visa?

Most visitors can only stay up to six months while visiting the UK.  You may be able to apply for a different type of visa after returning to your home country.

If you are planning a series of trips to the UK of no more than six months duration, it may be appropriate to apply for a long-term Visitor Visa. The long-term visa does not allow you to stay in the UK for more than six months at any one time, but it means you do not need to make repeat short-term applications.

Can I bring my family with me on a Visitor Visa?

If you want to bring your family to the UK, they will also require a separate Visitor Visa.

Can I study in the UK on a Visitor Visa?

You can study in the UK on a Visitor Visa if your studies are for up to six months and you meet the study eligibility criteria. The criteria include studying at an accredited institution, an unpaid clinical attachment, or carrying out research relevant to your overseas studies. If you want to study on a longer course, your best visa route may be the Student Visa.

What to do if my visa expires while I am still in the UK?

If your UK Visiting Visa expires while you are in the UK, you need to leave to avoid being classed as an overstayer by the Home Office, as this will affect the prospects of your securing another UK visa. If you need immigration legal advice on your visa options, a visa lawyer can help you.

What is the 28-day rule for a UK Visitor Visa?

The 28-day rule relates to proving you have enough money to pay for yourself while in the UK. When producing bank statements to show you have enough money to support yourself, the Home Office looks back 28 days before your visa application to check to see if you had sufficient funds in your bank account.

The Home Office does not require you to have a specific amount of money in your bank account when making a UK Visitor Visa application, but an official will consider the circumstances of your proposed stay and the funds available.

The rules on the document needed to support your Visitor Visa application are complex, but a UK immigration lawyer can help you navigate the complicated rules.

About OTS Solicitors

Central London-based OTS Solicitors specialise in immigration law. The London immigration lawyers are:

1. Accredited by the Law Society for their immigration work.
2. Ranked in the two leading law directories, Legal 500 and Chambers Guide to the Legal Profession.
3. The recipients of excellent reviews on Google and Trustpilot for their immigration legal advice.
4. Experienced in answering UK visa questions from Visitor Visa applicants from across the globe through telephone or online consultation.
5. Committed to keeping you informed about how best to secure your visa and the progress of your application.

Contact our UK immigration lawyers for expert Visitor Visa advice.