UK Standard Visitor Visa: Who Can Apply and What You Need to Know

UK Standard Visitor Visa: Who Can Apply and What You Need to Know

The UK Standard Visitor Visa is a popular option for travellers seeking to visit the United Kingdom for a variety of reasons. It allows individuals to travel and stay in the UK for up to six months.

The scope of the UK Visit Visa is comprehensive, catering to travellers who wish to visit the UK for short-term purposes. Reasons for visiting can range from tourism to business activities such as attending meetings or conferences.

The Standard Visitor Visa has replaced nine previous visa categories:

• Family Visitors

• General Visitor Visa

• Child Visitor Visa

• Sports Visitors

• Business Visitor Visa, including visas for academics, doctors and dentists

• Entertainer Visitor Visa

• Prospective Entrepreneur Visa

• Private Medical Treatment Visitor Visa

• Approved Destination Status (ADS) Visa

Eligibility Criteria 

The basic eligibility criteria for the UK Standard Visitor Visa are:

• The applicant must leave the UK at the end of their visit.

• The applicant must be able to support themselves without using public funds throughout their visit.

• The applicant must demonstrate that they will be engaging in a permitted activity according to the Visitor's Rules.

Visa Options and Specific Purposes

• Child Visitors: Those under 18 visiting the UK for no more than 6 months (or 12 months if travelling with an academic visitor) must have suitable travel and stay arrangements, consent from a parent or guardian, and sufficient funds for their journey and stay without working or relying on public funds.

• General Visitor Visa: This is for tourism or visiting friends, with restrictions such as not being able to get married or work.

• Family Visitors: This visa is for visiting a family member in the UK who is a British citizen, settled in the UK, or has been granted asylum or humanitarian protection, and who is from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland.

• Student Visitors: This is for those studying in the UK for up to 6 months (or up to 11 months for an English Language course), without working.

• Prospective Students: Individuals who need to finalise arrangements for a Tier 4 course of study may apply for this visa.

• Business Visit Visa: This visa is for business-related activities, such as attending conferences, meetings, or training. It can also include visiting the UK for sports events, performances as an artist or musician, research purposes or accompanying students on a study abroad program, clinical attachments, or to obtain funding for a business.

• Transit Visa: This is for transiting through the UK for up to 48 hours on the way to another country.

• Entertainer Visitor: Suited for individuals visiting the UK to take part in performances as an individual amateur entertainer or as an amateur group or perform at a major arts festival or cultural event.

• Sports Visitor Visa: Required for sportsmen participating in tournaments or events for a short time, including charity events, promotional sports activities, or as part of an amateur sports team.

• Visitors for marriage or civil partnership: If you want to get married or register a civil partnership in the UK, and you intend to leave the UK soon after the ceremony, you should apply to come here as a visitor for marriage or civil partnership.

• Visitors for private medical treatment: If you want to receive private medical treatment in the UK, you should apply to come here as a visitor for private medical treatment.

The SmartMove2UK is a UK immigration law firm, established in 2009 having professional and experienced UK immigration solicitors and experts, including a few, dedicated only for UK Visit Visa applications.