In order to qualify for a Visit Visa you will need to satisfy UK Visas & Immigration that:

         ➤ You are a visa national (a non-visa national can normally seek entry as a Visitor on arrival at the UK border);

         ➤ You are genuinely seeking entry to the UK for a purpose that is permitted by the visitor routes;

         ➤ You will not undertake any prohibited activities;

         ➤ You have sufficient funds to cover all reasonable costs in relation to your visit (including travel, maintenance and accommodation costs) without working or accessing public funds;

         ➤ You will leave the UK at the end of your visit;

         ➤ You will not live in the UK for extended periods through frequent or successive visits, or make the UK your main home;

         ➤ Your application does not fall for refusal under the general grounds for refusal;

         ➤ You have obtained an Electronic Travel Authorisation, if required.

The exact requirements you will need to satisfy may vary depending on your circumstances.  You may want to speak to an immigration lawyer for expert advice.

Visa National Requirement

A visa national is someone who, by reason of their nationality, requires a Visit Visa in order to enter the UK as a Visitor.  Visa nationals must generally apply for a Visit Visa before travelling to the UK.

The Home Office has published a list of nationalities that are required to apply for a Visit Visa prior to travelling to the UK as a Visitor.  The list includes a number of exceptions, which allow certain visa nationals to seek entry as a Visitor on arrival in the UK.

A non-visa national can normally seek entry as a Visitor on arrival in the UK.   A non-visa national must still satisfy the requirements for entry as a Visitor and so, on arrival, should be prepared to explain, for example, the purpose of their visit and how they will be maintained and accommodated in the UK, as well as their return travel arrangements.  

EU citizens are non-visa nationals and can seek entry as a Visitor on arrival in the UK without needing to apply for a Visit Visa.

As well as preparing Visit Visa applications for visa nationals, our barristers regularly assist non-visa nationals to satisfy the requirements for entry as a Visitor on arrival in the UK.

Visit Visa Permitted Activities 

In order to qualify for a Tourism, Leisure or Family Visit Visa you will need to satisfy UK Visas & Immigration that you are genuinely seeking entry to the UK for a purpose that is permitted by the visitor routes and will not undertake any prohibited activities.

Tourism, Leisure and Family Visit Visa holders may undertake the following permitted activities:

         ➤ Visit friends and family in the UK;

         ➤ Travel to the UK for a holiday;

         ➤ Take part in an educational exchange or visit with a state funded school, academy or independent school; 

         ➤ Attend a course of study (other than an English language course) for a maximum of 30 days.

Because the Tourism, Leisure and Family Visit Visa is a sub-category of the Standard Visitor route, Tourism, Leisure and Family Visitors may also undertake other activities that are permitted under other sub-categories of the Standard Visitor route. This includes permitted paid engagements, provided the paid engagement is arranged before travelling to the UK and is completed within 30 days of arrival in the UK.

Intention to Leave the UK Requirement for a Visit Visa

In addition to satisfying the Home Office that you are genuinely seeking to enter the UK for a permitted purpose, as part of your application for a Visit Visa you will also need to satisfy the Home Office that you will leave the UK at the end of your visit and will not live in the UK for extended periods through frequent or successive visits, or make the UK your main home.

In assessing your application, the Home Office will consider a range of factors including:

         ➤ Your previous immigration history, including visits to the UK and other countries;

         ➤ Your financial circumstances as well as your family, social and economic background;

         ➤ Your personal and economic ties to your country of residence.

Factors which may cause the Home Office to doubt that you are a genuine visitor include having few or no family and economic ties to your country of residence, whilst having several family members in the UK, previous attempts to deceive the Home Office in an immigration application and discrepancies between statements made by yourself and your sponsor.

Visit Visa Financial Requirement

You will need to have sufficient funds to cover all reasonable costs in relation to your visit (including travel, maintenance and accommodation costs) without working or accessing public funds.

Your funds will need to be held in a permitted financial institution.

Your travel, maintenance and accommodation costs may be met by a third party if the third party has a genuine professional or personal relationship with you, they are not, and will not be, in breach of immigration laws and they can support you throughout the duration of your stay as a Visitor.

Visit Visa English Language Requirement

Tourism, Leisure and Family Visit Visa applicants do not need to satisfy an English language requirement.

Visit Visa Validity Period

If you wish to enter the UK for the purpose of a Tourism, Leisure or Family Visit you may apply for a Visit Visa that is valid for either 6 months, 2 years, 5 years or 10 years.  

You may enter and leave the UK multiple times during the validity period of your Visit Visa, unless your Visit Visa is endorsed for a single or dual entry.

Each visit to the UK must not exceed 6 months.

Visit Visa Right to Work

Tourism, Leisure and Family Visitors are not permitted to work in the UK or, with few exceptions, receive payment from a UK source for any activities undertaken in the UK.

This means that Tourism, Leisure and Family Visitors cannot take employment, establish or run a business as a self-employed person, work for an organisation or business in the UK, undertake a work placement or internship in the UK or otherwise provide or sell goods or services in the UK.

Because the Tourism, Leisure and Family Visit Visa is a sub-category of the Standard Visitor route, Tourism, Leisure and Family Visitors may also undertake other activities that are permitted under other sub-categories of the Standard Visitor route. This includes permitted paid engagements, provided the paid engagement is arranged before travelling to the UK and is completed within 30 days of arrival in the UK.

Tourism, Leisure and Family Visitors are permitted to work remotely while in the UK, but remote working must not be the primary purpose of the visit. The main purpose of the visit to the UK should be to undertake a permitted activity, rather than specifically to work remotely from the UK.

Tourism, Leisure and Family Visitors are also permitted to come to the UK to seek employment and attend job interviews. However, if successful in obtaining employment, you will be expected to leave the UK and seek the appropriate entry clearance prior to commencing work.

Visit Visa Application Fees

The Home Office application fee for a Tourism, Leisure or Family Visit Visa for a short stay of up to 6 months is currently £115.

If you wish to apply for a Tourism, Leisure or Family Visit Visa that is valid for either 2 years, 5 years or 10 years then the Home Office application fee will be £400, £771 or £963 respectively.