UK Visitor Visa Applications
UK Visitor Visa Applications
A UK visitor visa is a type of visa required for visits to the UK for tourism, business, education or other permitted activities that will last less than 6 months.
A type C UK visitor visa is used to spend holidays in the UK, visit family or friends, volunteer for up to 30 days at a registered charity, and attend meetings, interviews or a school exchange programme.
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What is a C Visit UK Visa?
The C visit UK visa is a standard visitor visa that allows multiple entries to the UK for 180 days. After obtaining at least one or two 6-month short-term UK C visas, the applicant can then apply for a 2, 5 or 10-year long-term visitor visa for family visits, tourism and business.
What is a UK Multi-Year Visitor Visa?
The UK multi-year visitor visa is a type of visa that allows people who travel to the UK regularly to stay in the UK for 6 months at each entry with a validity period of 2 years, 5 years and 10 years after documenting the reason for their travel.
What are the UK Visitor Visa Requirements?
UK visitor visa requirements are listed below.
- The visitor must leave the UK at the end of their trip.
- The visitor must be able to finance his or her own needs and the needs of his or her dependants during the trip, or these needs must be met by another person.
- The visitor must be financially able to pay for his/her return or onward journey, or these costs must be covered by a third party.
- The visitor must not reside in the UK for an extended period of time through frequent or repeated visits or make the UK their regular place of residence.
Additional conditions may be required for UK visitor visa applications depending on the purpose of travel, but the conditions listed above apply to all applicants.
Who is Eligible for a UK Visitor Visa?
People who will travel to the UK for the purposes given below and for a maximum period of 6 months can obtain a standard visitor visa.
- For touristic purposes such as vacation or travel
- For visiting family or friends
- Volunteer for up to 30 days at an officially registered charity
- For the purpose of transiting through the UK to another country
- To attend certain business events such as a business meeting or interview
- To participate in a school exchange program
- To participate in recreational trainings lasting less than 30 days, such as dance courses
- To receive education, enroll in an educational institution or take an exam
- As an academic, specialist doctor or dentist
- To receive medical treatment
Who is Granted a UK Business Visit Visa?
The UK business visitor visa is a standard visitor visa applied for by those who wish to visit the UK for a short period of time for business purposes. The UK standard visitor visa covers business conferences and events, as well as other business meetings and appointments.
If the visitor’s travel is for the purpose of undertaking business activities in the UK, documentation such as letters from the organisation inviting the visitor, detailing what will be done in the UK, is required to obtain a UK business visa .
Who is Granted a UK Academic Visit Visa?
A UK academic visit visa is granted to visitors who wish to stay in the UK for up to 12 months as academics.
Academics who can demonstrate that they are highly qualified in their specialist field and who intend to come to the UK to undertake their own research or to take part in someone else’s research, teaching or clinical practice, or to participate in a formal exchange programme with a colleague in the UK, are eligible to apply for a UK academic visitor visa .
Who is Granted a UK Student Visitor Visa?
A UK student visitor visa is granted to adults who plan to take a work-related training course or short-term education in the UK, such as a beginner English language course. A UK student visitor visa holder is entitled to travel to the UK for educational purposes of less than six months.
Who is Granted a UK Visitor Marriage Visa?
The UK visitor marriage visa is available to people who are planning to enter the UK to get married or have a civil partnership and will be leaving the UK within 6 months.
Couples who wish to marry in the UK, either through marriage or a civil partnership, are not permitted to apply to enter the UK as marriage visitors if they intend to reside in the UK.
How to Get a UK Visitor Visa?
UK visitor visas can be obtained by applying online to the UK government website, through an intermediary visa application centre or through accredited visa agencies.
After the application form on the online application portal accessible via Gov.uk is filled out completely with information such as identity information and travel purpose, the necessary fees must be paid and a visa appointment must be made. During the UK visitor visa application process, the necessary visa documents must be prepared, and the document delivery and biometric procedures must be completed in person by going to the application center on the appointment date.
The applicant can upload the documents required for the UK visitor visa online. Applicants who use the online upload option for the UK visitor visa application only need to go to the intermediary institution for passport delivery and biometric procedures.
For UK visitor visa applications to be made through rsscanadaimmigration.com, the applicant’s personal conditions and visa documents are first examined by expert country consultants and if deemed appropriate, the application process is initiated with document upload and visa appointment procedures.
What are the Required Documents for a UK Visitor Visa?
The documents required for a UK visitor visa are listed below.
- Passport: A passport with at least 1 blank page, valid for at least 3 months after the end of the trip.
- Biometric photo: 2 biometric photos, in color, taken within 6 months
- UK visitor visa application form: Application form filled online
- Financial documents: Documents such as bank statements for the last 6 months that prove that the expenses incurred during the trip can be covered.
- Accommodation information: Documents containing information about places to stay during the trip.
- Detailed itinerary: Itinerary including dates, routes and details of your trip to the UK
- Previous travel history: Visas and entry/exit border stamps in current and previous passports covering the last 10 years
- Residence information: The applicant’s address in his/her country of residence and the duration of residence registered at that address.
- Biometric information: Biometric information such as fingerprints
- Invitation letter: Invitation letter sent on behalf of the applicant
- Visa fee receipt: Document proving that the visa fee has been paid.
- English translations of documents: sworn translations of documents not in English
- English language certificate: English language certificate from a UK-recognized institution
- Criminal record: Legal document proving that the applicant has no criminal history.
The documents to be declared vary depending on the applicant’s employment status and travel purpose.
What Should a Visa Invitation Letter for a Visit to the UK Be Like?
The visa invitation letter for a visit to the UK must be written by a UK citizen or legal resident in the UK to the applicant with whom he/she has family ties or a friendship, and must invite the applicant to stay in his/her home.
The invitation letter is proof that the person writing the letter has sufficient space for the applicant to stay in the UK . Also known as a sponsorship letter for a UK visa, the invitation letter is written to a UK consular officer in a language that includes information confirming that they are willing to accept a foreigner with family or friendship ties and that they have sufficient space for the visitor during their stay in the UK. The visa invitation letter for visiting the UK must be written in English.
A sample invitation letter for a visit to the UK is given below.
How Much Is the UK Visit Visa Application Fee?
UK visit visa application fees are given below.
| Visa type | Visa fee | Maximum residence time |
|---|---|---|
| Standard visitor visa | £100 | 6 months |
| Standard visitor visa for medical purposes | £200 | 11 months |
| Standard visitor visa for academics | £200 | 12 months |
| 2-year long-term standard visitor visa | £376 | 6 months per visit |
| 5-year long-term standard visitor visa | £670 | 6 months per visit |
| 10-year long-term standard visitor visa | £837 | 6 months per visit |
For 2024, the average cost of a UK tourist visa, including the UK visitor visa application fee, reservation procedures, petition writing, sworn translation, travel health insurance, online document uploading and consultancy fee, is 270 euros.
How to Get a Visa Appointment for Visiting the UK?
A visa appointment for a visit to the UK is made online by directing to the intermediary institution TLS contact website via the Gov.uk online application system.
The process of making an appointment for a UK visa is completed by opening the email verification email sent by Gov.uk, logging in for the application, uploading the requested documents and biometric information to the system and finally selecting the appointment date.
How Many Months Does a UK Visitor Visa Take to Grant?
A UK visitor visa is granted for a maximum of 6 months, but under certain academic or medical conditions it is possible to obtain a UK visitor visa for up to 12 months.
Can a Visitor Visa be Extended in the UK?
In the UK, it is possible to extend a visitor visa for a visitor visa of less than 6 months.
If the extension application is accepted, the UK visa extension date is valid for 6 months from the date of entry to the UK. The standard service period for UK visitor visa extension applications is approximately 8 weeks. In case of extension of the UK visitor visa, biometric information must be provided.
What Can’t You Do in the UK with a Visitor Visa?
With a visitor visa, it is not possible to do paid or unpaid work in the UK for UK companies or as a freelancer, receive public funds, reside for long periods through frequent or repeated visits, get married or have a civil partnership.