Overview

You can visit the UK as a Standard Visitor for tourism, business, study (courses up to 6 months) and other permitted activities.

You can usually stay in the UK for up to 6 months. You might be able to apply to stay for longer in certain circumstances, for example to get medical treatment.

Depending on your nationality, you may not need a visa to visit the UK.  You should check if you need a visa before you apply.

What you need to do

  1. Check if what you plan to do in the UK is allowed as a Standard Visitor.

  2. Check you meet the eligibility requirements.

  3. Check if you need to apply for a visa to visit the UK.

  4. Apply for a Standard Visitor visa online - if you need one.

What you can and cannot do (‘permitted activities’)

You can visit the UK as a Standard Visitor:

You cannot:

  • do paid or unpaid work for a UK company or as a self-employed person, unless you’re doing a permitted paid engagement or event
  • claim public funds (benefits)
  • live in the UK for long periods of time through frequent or successive visits
  • marry or register a civil partnership, or give notice of marriage or civil partnership - you’ll need to apply for a Marriage Visitor visa

Check you meet the eligibility requirements

You must have a passport or travel document to enter the UK. It should be valid for the whole of your stay.

You must be able to show that:

  • you’ll leave the UK at the end of your visit
  • you’re able to support yourself and your dependants during your trip (or have funding from someone else to support you)
  • you’re able to pay for your return or onward journey (or have funding from someone else to pay for the journey)
  • you’ll not live in the UK for extended periods through frequent or successive visits, or make the UK your main home

You may need to meet extra eligibility requirements if you’re visiting the UK:

The rules on what you’ll need to enter the UK may be different if you’re travelling from Ireland, Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man.

Check if you need a visa to visit the UK

Depending on your nationality, you’ll either:

  • have to apply for a Standard Visitor visa before you travel to the UK
  • have to apply for an electronic travel authorisation (ETA), which allows you to visit the UK for up to 6 months without needing a visa
  • be able to visit the UK for up to 6 months without needing a visa or an ETA

You can check if you need a visa before you apply.

If you do not need a visa, you must still meet the Standard Visitor eligibility requirements to visit the UK. You may be asked questions at the UK border about your eligibility and the activities you plan to do.

If you’ve previously been refused entry to the UK or have a criminal record, you may want to apply for a Standard Visitor visa (even if you do not need one).

If you have to apply for a Standard Visitor visa

You must apply for a Standard Visitor visa online before you travel to the UK.

A Standard Visitor visa costs £115 for up to 6 months. The earliest you can apply is 3 months before you travel.

If you visit the UK regularly, you can choose to apply for a long-term Standard Visitor visa instead.

You can pass through the UK to another country on a Standard Visitor visa. If transiting is your only reason for coming to the UK, you can apply for a Visitor in Transit visa instead for £64.

  1. Step 1 Check if you’re eligible

    1. Find out what medical treatment you can have and if you’re eligible

    You must meet the Standard Visitor eligibility requirements even if you do not need a visa.

  2. Step 2 Check if you need a visa

    Depending on the country you're from, you might be able to visit the UK without a visa or by applying for an electronic travel authorisation (ETA).

    1. Check if you need a visa or an ETA to come to the UK
  3. Step 3 Apply for a visa

    1. Apply for a Standard Visitor visa for medical treatment

    A Standard Visitor visa costs £115 and allows you to stay in the UK for up to 6 months.

    If your treatment will last longer than 6 months, you can apply to stay for up to 11 months. This costs £200.

  4. or Apply for an electronic travel authorisation

    1. Apply for an electronic travel authorisation (ETA)

    An ETA costs £10 and allows you to stay in the UK for up to 6 months.

    You may want to apply for a Standard Visitor visa if your treatment will last longer than 6 months.

  5. or Apply for a family permit

    You may be able to visit on a family permit if you have a family member who is:

    • a citizen of an EU country, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland
    • a Person of Northern Ireland
    • a British citizen
    1. Check if you can apply for a family permit
  6. Step 4 Check what you can bring with you

  7. Step 5 Check what you need to show at the UK border

  8. Step 6 Extend your stay

    You may be able to extend your stay by 6 months if you need further treatment. It costs £993 each time you extend.

    1. Find out how to extend your visa