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Who Needs Entry Clearance as a Visitor
Non-visa nationals generally do not need entry clearance (a visa) before travelling to the UK. They can get permission to enter at the border.
However, non-visa nationals need a visa if they are:
Coming to the UK as a marriage visitor, or
Coming for more than six months, for example as a medical visitor or for permitted activities allowing visits over six months.
Visa nationals must obtain a visa before travelling.
A full list of visa nationals can be found in the Appendix Visitor: Visa National List of the Immigration Rules.
Length of stay for visitors:
Visitors are generally allowed to stay up to 6 months in the UK.
There is no official limit on the frequency or cumulative duration of visits (e.g., 6 months out of any 12 months is not a formal rule).
However, frequent or prolonged visits may raise concerns with immigration officers about whether the visit is genuine.
Recommendation from UK immigration consultants:
Aim to spend less than six months in the UK within any 12-month period, if possible.
If you spend more, be prepared to explain exceptional and temporary circumstances and prove that your main home remains outside the UK.
Inviting Your Family to Visit You in the UK
Whether you have indefinite leave to remain in the UK or hold a temporary status (such as student or worker), you can invite your family members to visit you.
You must be precise about the proposed duration of their visit and show how the trip will be funded.
If you are providing accommodation and maintenance, it is recommended to:
Provide bank statements covering at least three months to demonstrate funds.
Include a letter of invitation confirming the type of accommodation you will offer your visitors.
It is good practice to provide evidence of relationship, such as birth certificates, especially for close relatives.
Visitors will need to provide evidence of their social and economic ties to their home country and prove, as far as possible, their intention to return home.
This may be especially important for visitors from “high risk” countries, or retired and single people who have stronger family ties to the UK than their country of residence.
It is important that family visitors are not invited for specific household chores, such as childcare or domestic work.
Normally, a good immigration history indicates an intention to comply with immigration rules.
It is very important that the first visitor visa application is successful, as this facilitates subsequent applications, provided the visitor does not overstay or breach conditions.
There is no requirement for visitors to have travel insurance, but it is highly recommended, since visitors cannot use the NHS and private medical treatment in the UK can be very expensive.
Marriage Visitor Visa
Non-UK residents need a visitor visa if they want to get married in the UK but do not plan to live in the UK after marriage.
This includes non-visa nationals who would normally be allowed entry at the border without prior application if visiting for up to six months.
The Marriage Visitor Visa should not be confused with a fiancé visa, which is for those planning to marry in the UK and then switch to a spouse visa to remain with their British partner.
- This visa is also required if you are travelling to the UK to give notice of intention to marry.
- The visa is granted for six months and is suitable for both filing notice of intention to marry and for the marriage ceremony and reception.
Interestingly, fiancés of British citizens may find it harder to get a marriage visitor visa than others without UK connections because their intention to leave the UK after the wedding is scrutinised more strictly.
Medical Visitors
Visitors coming to the UK for private medical treatment must provide a letter from a UK-based consultant.
The letter should detail:
The medical condition.
Estimated costs of treatment.
Likely duration of the treatment.
Where the consultation or treatment will take place.
The treatment must have a clear end date.
Treatment should not be expected to last more than 11 months.
Business visitors
Business visitors do not need special permission to undertake these activities in the UK:
Attend meetings, conferences, seminars, or interviews.
Negotiate or sign business contracts.
Carry out site visits and inspections.
Be briefed on UK customer requirements, if the work is done outside the UK.
Give a one-off or short series of talks, as long as they are not commercial events and do not generate profit for the organiser.
Employees of foreign manufacturers or suppliers may install, dismantle, repair, service, or advise on equipment or software supplied to the UK.
Clients of UK export companies may be seconded to the UK to oversee goods and services provided under a contract, provided the UK company and overseas client are not part of the same corporate group.
Intra-Corporate Visitors
Employees of international corporations may visit the UK branch but cannot work directly with or for clients.
If the visit involves providing services or filling a role within the company, the hosting company must sponsor the worker under:
The Skilled Worker route, or
The Senior or Specialist Worker category under the Global Business Mobility route.
The employee will need a Skilled Worker or Specialist Worker visa accordingly.
Internships or work placements are not allowed for visitors.
Visitors may come to the UK for training in work practices and techniques only if:
The training is necessary for their overseas employment, and
The training is not available in their home country.
Activities Not Permitted for Visitors
Visitors are not allowed to:
Sell goods or provide services;
Take up employment;
Set up or run a business;
Do a work placement or internship;
Do work for an organisation or business in the UK, including providing short-term cover for a role;
Study in the UK unless expressly permitted;
Get married or form a civil partnership in the UK.
Permitted paid engagements for visitors
Academics
An academic may be invited to examine students or participate in selection panels, if they have been invited by a UK Higher Education Institution or a UK-based research or arts organisation.
They may also give lectures in their subject area provided this does not amount to filling a teaching position for the host organisation.
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Artists
A professional artist, entertainer or musician may give performances individually or as part of a group; take part in competitions or auditions and take part in promotional activities.
They can receive remuneration for activities relating to their profession when invited by a creative organisation, agent or broadcaster based in the UK or if they are taking part in one of the approved permit free festivals in the UK.
Consultants
A qualified consultants may provide advocacy for a court or tribunal hearing, arbitration or other form of dispute resolution for legal proceedings within the UK, if they have been invited by a client.
Pilots
Pilot examiners may visit the UK to assess UK based pilots to ensure they meet the national aviation requirements for other countries
Artists, Entertainers and Musicians
An artist is anyone coming to the UK to undertake activities connected to the arts, including literature, performing arts, visual arts, and culinary arts. Both amateur and professional artists may do permitted activities.
They may:
(a) Give performances individually or as part of a group;
(b) Take part in competitions or auditions;
(c) Make personal appearances and participate in promotional activities;
(d) Take part in one or more cultural events or festivals on the list of permit-free festivals.
Sports Persons
Sports persons may visit the UK for these purposes:
Take part in a sports tournament or event as an individual or team member;
Participate in promotional activities;
Take part in trials, provided they are not in front of a paying audience;
Engage in short training periods, provided they are not paid by a UK sporting body;
Join an amateur team or club to gain experience if they are amateur in that sport.
Sports persons may also bring their personal or technical staff to support their activities while in the UK.
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Permitted Duration and Frequency of Visits to the UK and Visitor Visa Validity
Visitor visas can be single entry or multiple entry, which will be stated on the visa.
Most applicants receive a multiple entry visa.
Single entry visas are usually issued for specific, one-off occasions such as business activities, attending a one-time event, or court-related visits.
Visas for permitted paid engagements are normally single entry and valid for only one month.
Standard visitor visas are typically valid for six months, but longer-term visitor visas can be issued for two, five, or ten years.
Long-term visas do not allow visitors to stay in the UK for more than six months per visit.
There is no strict limit on the amount of time a visitor can spend in the UK within any 12-month period; however, immigration officers may curtail the visa if the visitor appears to be living in the UK rather than just visiting.
Spending more time in the UK than in the visitor’s home country may indicate that their true home is the UK
Most Common Grounds for UK Visitor Visa Refusals
The most frequent reason for refusal is doubt about the genuineness of the applicant’s intention to visit the UK temporarily and return home after the visit.
In assessing intention, the Entry Clearance Officer considers:
Applicant’s previous immigration history and length of past UK visits;
Applicant’s financial situation and social and economic background;
Ties to their country of residence (family, job, property, etc.);
Political, economic, and security conditions in the applicant’s country of nationality;
Any known immigration non-compliance issues in the applicant’s geographical area.
Visa refusals may also occur if the applicant plans to do activities not allowed on a visitor visa, for example:
Coming as an au-pair;
Providing services as a business visitor beyond permitted activities;
Undertaking internships or work placements.
If the refusal is due to deception (e.g., false information in this or previous applications), the applicant faces an automatic 10-year ban from entering the UK, unless they successfully challenge the refusal
Challenging UK Visitor Visa Refusals
There is no right of appeal or administrative review against a visitor visa refusal.
You can complain to the Home Office if:
They failed to consider evidence you submitted, or
There was an error in applying immigration rules or policy.
The only legal remedy is to seek a judicial review of the decision.
It is strongly recommended to get advice from an immigration specialist consultants before pursuing any challenge.
UK visitor visa frequently asked questions
Who can visit the UK for more than six months
Academic visitors and their dependants may be granted a visit visa for up to 12 months.
A visitor who has successfully passed PLAB Test may extend visitor visa in the UK for a further 12 months (provided the total duration off stay does not exceed 18 months) to undertake the Objective Structured Clinical Examinations for overseas.
Are visitors allowed to study in the UK?
Visitors are allowed to take a recreational course for a maximum of 30 days during their visit provided that the main purpose of the visit is not to study and the course is not state funded.
Visitors are allowed to study a course at an accredited institution for up to 6 months or undertake a study abroad programme.
Visitors may also come to the UK to resit an exam or take an entrance exam or for a PhD viva.
Can visitors do voluntary work?
There is a legal difference between volunteering and doing voluntary work. Voluntary worker is under a contractual obligation to the charity. This is not allowed for visitors. There is a special visa for this type of work – see Tier 5 voluntary worker
Can a visitor work remotely for the overseas employer?
How Immigration Solicitors Can Help with UK Visitor Visa Applications
Consultation on the best strategy
A 30-minute consultation is recommended for first-time visitors without adverse immigration history.
The consultation covers identifying potential issues and advice on the most helpful supporting documents.
Advice after visa refusal
For those previously refused a UK visa, an in-depth consultation with an immigration consultants is advised.
The consultants will review the refusal letter to check if you are eligible to apply again.
They will recommend the best application approach and strongest supporting evidence.
Full representation
Legal assistance is available for high-risk applications or when the stakes are high and refusal is not an option.
Support is provided to corporate clients and universities arranging visits from “high risk” countries, including African, Middle Eastern, and Latin American nations.