This route is for foreign nationals who want to visit the UK temporarily for tourism, to visit friends or family, to carry out a business activity, or to undertake a short course of study.
Categories - UK Visitor Visa
There are four main categories of a UK Visit Visa, some of which have subcategories with periods of leave:
Proof that you are going to leave the UK at the end of your visit;
Able to support yourself and pay for your journey, return or onward travel;
No intention to reside for an extended period or make the UK your main home;
That they have sufficient funds to maintain and accommodate themselves in the UK;
They should be allowed under the grounds for refusal for visitors.
Additional Requirements
UK Child Visa:
Demonstration of adequate arrangements for their travel, reception and care in the UK;
Have a parent or guardian in their home country who is responsible for their care;
Consent from parent or guardian with confirmation arrangements for the child’s travel and care in the UK.
UK Medical Treatment Visa :
Letter from their doctor detailing the medical condition with estimated costs, duration of the treatment and place of treatment;
Proof from their medical practitioner in the UK about exceeding proposed treatment but not more than 11 months;
TB test certificate (if required).
UK ADS Agreement Visa:
Chinese Citizenship;
intention to enter, leave and travel within the UK as a member of a tourist group (under the ADS agreement).
UK Academic Visa:
Carrying out one of the permitted activities for up to 12 months;
Be highly qualified within their field of expertise;
Currently working in that field at an academic institution or higher education overseas;
TB test certificate (if required).
UK Marriage Visa:
Intention to marry or a civil partnership;
No intention for a sham civil partnership or sham marriage within the validity period of the Visa.
Permitted Paid Engagement (PPE) Visa:
Intention to do one or more of the permitted paid engagements, arranged before travel and declared as part of the application evidenced by a formal invitation and related to their area of expertise and occupation overseas.
Permitted activities - UK Visitors
Tourism;
Family or friends meetings;
Volunteer activity (with a registered charity for up to 30 days);
Transit through the UK to another country;
Attending a meeting or interview;
School exchange programme;
A recreational course (up to 30 days);
Medical reasons.
Unpermitted activities - UK Visitors
Self-employed, any paid or unpaid work for a UK company;
Claim public funds (benefits);
To Live in the UK for extended periods;
To marry or register a civil partnership if not a Marriage and civil partnership visitor visa type.
Documents - UK Visitor Visa
You will need to provide certain information as part of the application process:
Passports;
Financial proof of sufficient funds to travel within the UK;
Confirmation of legal residence if you are applying from a country in which you are not a national;
Sufficient details of your employment or studies;
Documents for potential business activities (e.g. a letter from any inviting organisations).
Additional Documents:
Travel documents with exact dates of your travel;
History of international travel;
Proof of sufficient funds;
Overseas contact details and address;
Details of any overseas employer company for which you travel to the UK.
Application procedure - UK Visitors
It is required to complete the following steps for a UK Visitor Visa application:
Find out if you need this type of Visa before proceeding;
