UK Visitor Visa
If you are coming to the UK for a visit – as a tourist, to see friends and family, for academic research or a business meeting, or to receive medical treatment – you may need a UK visitor visa.
All visa nationals are required to obtain a visa prior to travelling. A list of visa nationals is in Appendix 2 to Appendix V of the Immigration Rules.
Non-visa nationals do not normally need a visa for a short visit of up to six months unless they are coming to the UK to marry or form a civil partnership. Marriage visitors are an exception to this rule – they need a visa even if coming from non-visa countries.
There is no limit on the frequency of visits or specified maximum period visitors are allowed to spend in the UK in any 12-month period. However, if you spend more time in the UK than in your country of residence the Immigration Officer may have grounds to believe that you live in the UK. You may be questioned at the border about the purpose of the visit, your source of income and activities you are planning in the UK. As a recommendation, spending less than six months in any 12-month period may be the safest option.
For those who had previously been denied entry as a visitor or who feel that the immigration officer may have reasons not to admit them to the UK, it is advisable to apply for a visitor’s visa before travelling.
