Standard Visitor visa

At a Glance

Item	Details
Visa name	Standard Visitor visa
Stay	Usually up to 6 months
Cost	£135 for standard 6 months
Eligibility timing	Apply up to 3 months before
Work rights	No UK employment; permitted engagements only
Study	Courses up to 6 months allowed
Medicare	Reciprocal NHS or private only
Travel facility	Multiple visits; 6 months per trip
Citizenship	Not stated in the source
Family sponsorship	Apply separately; no direct sponsorship stated
Visa record	Issued as an eVisa
Decision processing	Usually within 3 weeks
In-country extension	£1,172; within 8 weeks

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Purpose and Permitted Activities

The Standard Visitor visa allows individuals to visit the UK for up to 6 months for tourism, visiting family and friends, volunteering for up to 30 days with a registered charity, transit, recreational courses (up to 30 days), and specific business, study, academic, or medical reasons.

What You Can Do

• Tourism and Leisure: Holidays, school exchanges, recreational courses up to 30 days.
• Business: Attend meetings, conferences, seminars, interviews; negotiate deals and contracts; attend trade fairs (no direct selling); undertake site visits, inspections, or internal training.
• Study: Short courses up to 6 months at accredited institutions, relevant degree research, medical/dental/nursing/veterinary electives, entrance exams, or PhD vivas.
• Overseas Job Roles: Specific activities if employed abroad as an academic, artist, entertainer, sportsperson, journalist, film crew, lawyer, internal auditor, or pilot/cabin crew under CAA-approved wet leases.
• Permitted Paid Engagements (PPE): Qualified professionals and experts (such as artists, sportspeople, guest lecturers, conference speakers, academic examiners, and air pilot examiners) can perform paid engagements pre-arranged with a UK host, provided the engagement is finished within the first 30 days.
• Academics and Senior Medical Professionals: Research, formal exchanges, teaching, or clinical practice (not filling permanent posts).
• Medical Reasons: Private consultations or treatment, NHS treatment under government reciprocal arrangements, or organ donation.

What You Cannot Do

• Work paid or unpaid for a UK company or as a self-employed person (unless completing a permitted paid engagement).
• Claim public funds (benefits).
• Make the UK your main home through frequent or successive visits.
• Marry, register a civil partnership, or give notice of marriage/civil partnership (requires a Marriage Visitor visa).

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Eligibility Requirements

All Standard Visitors must demonstrate that:

• They have a valid passport or travel document for the entire stay.
• They will leave the UK at the end of their visit.
• They have sufficient funds to cover all travel, accommodation, and living expenses for themselves and dependants without working or accessing public funds.
• They are not attempting to live in the UK long-term through repeated visits.

Category-Specific Requirements

• Under 18: Must have parental/guardian consent and suitable travel, reception, and care arrangements. If staying with a non-close relative for over 28 days (private foster care), the relevant local authority must be notified.
• Study & Research: Must have acceptance from an accredited UK institution (excluding state-funded schools/academies) or proof of an overseas degree-level enrolment for research/electives. An Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate may be required for specific postgraduate subjects.
• Academics (Visiting >6 months): Must hold high qualifications (typically a PhD or higher) and be actively working in that academic field abroad.
• Permitted Paid Engagements: Must be at least 18 years old, possess a formal invitation from a qualified UK entity, and prove established expertise in the home country.
• Medical Treatment: Must present medical documentation confirming the diagnosis, cost, duration, and arrangement details. Organ donors must show that the recipient is lawfully permitted to be in the UK and genetically related or in a close personal relationship.

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Fees and Length of Stay

Visa Category / Option	Fee	Maximum Length of Stay
Standard Visitor visa	£135	Up to 6 months
Standard Visitor (Medical reasons)	£234	Up to 11 months
Standard Visitor (Academic reasons)	£234	Up to 12 months
2-Year Long-Term Standard Visitor	£506	Up to 6 months per visit
5-Year Long-Term Standard Visitor	£903	Up to 6 months per visit
10-Year Long-Term Standard Visitor	£1,128	Up to 6 months per visit
In-Country Extension (Standard)	£1,172	Up to permitted limit
In-Country Extension (Super Priority)	Additional £1,000	Next working day

Note: For applicants under 18 applying for a long-term visitor visa, validity is limited to 6 months past their 18th birthday with no fee difference or refund.

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Application Steps and Required Documents

How to Apply

1. Prepare Documents: Collect passport, travel details, proof of funds, accommodation arrangements, and relevant category-specific letters (invitations, medical certificates, ATAS certificates, or certified English/Welsh translations).
2. Apply Online: Complete the online visa application up to 3 months prior to travel.
3. Biometrics & Appointment: Book and attend an appointment at a visa application centre to scan fingerprints, take a photo, and submit identification.
4. Decision: Standard processing from outside the UK takes approximately 3 weeks.

Extending Stay in the UK

Visitors already in the UK can apply to extend their stay up to the 6-month general maximum, or up to 12 months for academics, 11+ months for medical treatment, or up to 18 months for PLAB/clinical attachments. Extensions cost £1,172 and take roughly 8 weeks under standard processing.

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Important Rules and Warnings

• Travel Restrictions during Extension: Do not travel outside the Common Travel Area (UK, Ireland, Isle of Man, Channel Islands) while an extension application is pending, or the application will be automatically withdrawn.
• British Citizens / Right of Abode: Individuals holding British citizenship or right of abode cannot apply for a visitor visa; they must obtain a certificate of entitlement.
• Shorter Visa Granted: UKVI may issue a visa of shorter validity than requested if eligibility over the entire period is not demonstrated; fees are non-refundable.
• Tuberculosis (TB) Testing: A TB certificate may be required depending on country of origin if applying to stay for more than 6 months.