Immigration, Simplified

Standard Visitor Visa

The Standard Visitor visa allows you to enter the UK for up to 6 months. This route is appropriate for tourism, visiting family or friends, short-term study, and specific business activities.

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Official UK Government Updates

For accurate and up-to-date information, always refer to the official UK Government source:

UK Standard Visitor Visa

Core Eligibility

To secure this visa, you must satisfy UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) on several points:

Visitor Status: You are a “visa national” (those from non-visa national countries can usually request entry at the border).
Clear Intent: You are visiting for a permitted purpose and plan to leave at the end of your stay.
Financial Stability: You have enough funds to cover your travel, housing, and daily costs without working or using public benefits.
Non-Residential Intent: You do not intend to live in the UK long-term through frequent or back-to-back visits.

Permitted vs. Prohibited Activities

While in the UK on this visa, you can engage in the following:

Leisure: Holidays, seeing family, or participating in school exchanges.
Study: Taking a course that lasts 6 months or less at an accredited institution.
Volunteering: Unpaid work for up to 30 days with a registered charity.
Business: Attending meetings, signing contracts, or giving one-off talks (if not for profit).
Remote Work: You may perform tasks like responding to emails or attending online calls for an employer based outside the UK, provided this is incidental and not the primary reason for your trip.

Restrictions: You cannot take a job with a UK company, sell goods to the public, or access the National Health Service (NHS) for anything other than emergency or private care.

Fees and Validity (2026 Rates)

The cost of the visa depends on its duration. All long-term visas still limit each individual stay to a maximum of 6 months.

Visa Type	Duration	2026 Application Fee
Standard Visitor	Up to 6 months	£127
Long-term Visitor	Up to 2 years	£475
Long-term Visitor	Up to 5 years	£848
Long-term Visitor	Up to 10 years	£1,059

Processing and Timing

When to apply: The earliest you can submit your application is 3 months before your intended travel date.
Decision times: Most decisions for applications made outside the UK are reached within 3 weeks. If applying from within the UK (for specific extensions), the wait is typically 8 weeks.
Expedited service: Priority (5 working days) and Super Priority (next working day) services are often available for an additional fee.

Important Considerations

If you are under 18 when you apply for a long-term visa, the validity will be limited to 6 months after you turn 18. Additionally, visa fees are generally non-refundable once the application is submitted, even if your travel plans change or the visa is refused.