Visitor Visa

Visitor Visas

If you are non-EEA citizens and plan to visit the UK for less than 6 months with various reasons, you need a visitor visa to enter the country. It consists of standard visitor visa, short-term study visa, permitted paid engagement visa, marriage visitor visa and parent of a tier 4 child visa. Most of the categories under visitor visas provide step-by-step application guides and there is a special category for visitors visiting the UK in a Chinese tour group.

Standard visitor visa

Overview

You can apply for a Standard Visitor visa if you want to visit the UK:

  • for leisure, for example on holiday or to see your family and friend
  • for business, or to take part in sports or creative events
  • for another reason, for example to receive private medical treatment.

Requirements

In general, you must always show that:

  • you will leave the UK at the end of your visit
  • you are able to support yourself and any dependents for the duration of your trip
  • you are able to pay for your return or onward journey and any other costs relating to your visit
  • you have proof of any business or other activities you want to do in the UK, as allowed by the Visitor Rules.

For other purpose of your visit to the UK, you may need to provide more evidence to meet the extra requirements.

 

Short-term study visa

Overview

You can apply for a Short-term Study visa if:

  • you are doing a short course of study in the UK
  • you are from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland
  • you meet the other eligibility requirements

Requirements

  • You have been offered a place on a course in the UK at an accepted place of study
  • You have enough money to support yourself without working or help from public funds, or that relatives and friends can support and house you
  • You can pay for your return or onward journey

If you are under 18 you must also:

  • have made arrangements for your travel and stay in the UK
  • have permission from you parent or guardian to study in the UK

 

Permitted Paid Engagement Visa

Overview

This visa is suitable for anyone who has been invited to the UK as an expert in their profession.

Applicants can apply for a Permitted Paid Engagement visa if they:

  • are invited by a UK-based organisation or client
  • want to come to the UK to do specific paid work without having to be sponsored under the points-based visa system
  • are from a country that is not in the EEA and Switzerland
  • meet the other eligibility requirements

Requirements

You must prove that you:

  • are 18 or over
  • are visiting the UK for no more than 1 month
  • will leave the UK at the end of your visit
  • have enough money without help from public funds to support and house yourself
  • can pay for your return or onward journey
  • are not in transit to a country outside the UK, Ireland, Isle of Man and the Channel Islands

Marriage Visitor Visa

Overview

You must apply for a Marriage Visitor visa if:

  • you want to get married or register a civil partnership in the UK
  • you want to give notice of a marriage or civil partnership in UK
  • you’re not planning to stay or settle in the UK after your marriage or civil partnership
  • you meet the other eligibility requirements

Requirements 

You must prove that you’re:

  • 18 or over
  • free to give notice of marriage, to marry or enter into a civil partnership in the UK within 6 months of your arrival
  • in a genuine relationship
  • visiting the UK for less than 6 months
  • leaving the UK at the end of your visit
  • able to support yourself without working or help from public funds, or that you can be supported and housed by relatives or friends
  • able to meet the cost of the return or onward journey

 

Parent of a Tier 4 child visa

Overview

You can apply for a Parent of Tier 4 child visa if:

  • your child attends an independent fee-paying day school in the UK
  • you’re from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland
  • you meet the other eligibility requirements

Requirements 

To be eligible for a Parent of a Tier 4 child visa you must:

  • have enough money to support yourself and any dependants while in the UK
  • maintain a second home outside the UK
  • plan to leave the UK at the end of your visit
  • be able to meet the cost of the return or onward journey

Your child must:

  • be under 12
  • be studying at or about to start studying at an independent fee-paying day school in the UK
  • have a Tier 4 (Child) visa or be in the category ‘students in the UK under the immigration rules in place before 31 March 2009’

 

Visit the UK in a Chinese tour group

You can come to the UK for up to 30 days as part of a tour group through the approved destination status agreement (ADS) if you’re a Chinese citizen.

To qualify you must enter the country as part of your tour group (minimum 5 people) and stay with the group for the whole of your visit.

Your tour must be organised by an ADS licensed Chinese tour operator.

You must leave the UK when your ADS visa expires. You cannot extend this visa.