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How to apply for a Visitor visa (visa nationals)

Applying for a Visitor visa in advance of travelling

If you are from one of the countries on the , you are considered a 'visa national'. You must apply for and be granted your Visitor visa before you travel to the UK.

If you are not from one of the countries on the , you are considered a 'non-visa national' and this means you can enter the UK as a visitor without applying for a visa in advance of travelling (see section below).

The earliest you can apply is 3 months before you travel. You start by submitting your online (except in North Korea) and paying an application fee of £127 (rising to £135 from 08/April). There are additional fees for fast track services.

Once your application form has been submitted, you will usually need to attend an appointment at a UK Visa Application Centre to submit your original documents and enrol your biometric information. It will then take about three weeks for your visa application to be processed, depending on where you are applying. For current processing times please see the .

Entering as a Visitor on arrival (non-visa nationals only)

This option is only available to ‘non-visa nationals’ whose nationalities are not listed on the . This includes EU/EEA and Swiss nationals who do not have a status under the EU Settlement Scheme.

If your nationality is on that list, you must apply for and be granted your Visitor visa before you travel to the UK.

As a 'non-visa national' you still need immigration permission to be in the UK and will be entering as a visitor when you pass through border control. You may be asked questions at the border about your eligibility and the activities you plan to do. You do not need to make any sort of visa application in advance.

Before you travel:

You need to apply for an before you travel (except BNO passport holders).

At the border (airport, ferry, train):

, you can join that queue and will not see an Immigration Officer to present your documents. You will automatically be classed as entering the UK as a Visitor. Some travellers who go through the eGate may be asked to see a UK Border Force Officer for spot checks, so you should make sure you have all of the below documents ready anyway.

or these are not available, you will need to join the queue to see a UK Border Force Officer. On reaching the UK Border Force Officer, you will need to present the documents listed below. Your passport will be stamped with a date stamp.

Documents

Here’s a summary of the documents required; please see and for further details.

If any documents are not in English they must be accompanied by an official translation, and there are specific requirements this translation must meet. Please see here for details.

Friends or family who are visiting you in the UK will need:

• A passport: this should be valid for the whole of the stay in the UK and contain a blank page for the visa.
• Evidence that they are able to support themselves and any dependants for the duration of the trip and can pay for the return journey and any other costs relating to their visit. This could be in the form of bank statements or building society books.
• Evidence of links to their home country along with evidence of intention to return. For example, a letter from an employer confirming employment details (start date of employment, salary, role, company contact details), ownership of property or rental agreement in the home country, evidence of retirement, etc. These are just examples — if the person is from a country with a high , you can contact our team for specific advice.
• There are additional requirements for children under the age of 18; see here for details.

From you, they will need:

• Proof of your finances if you are providing financial support for their visit.
• An invitation letter written by you (the student). See below for details about what this letter should include.
• A copy of your student status (“To whom it may concern”) letter (this can be downloaded from SRS in iExeter), if you have not yet completed your studies.
• A copy of your graduation invitation email, if your friends/family are visiting to attend your graduation ceremony.
• A copy of your passport and visa.

If you are applying for the Visitor visa to attend your own graduation, you will need:

• Your passport: this should be valid for the whole of your stay in the UK and contain a blank page for the visa.
• Evidence that you are able to support yourself and any dependants for the duration of your trip and can pay for your return journey and any other costs relating to your visit.
• Your graduation invitation email, or a graduation letter (this can be requested from SID).

What do I write in my invitation letter?

You’ll need to write an invitation letter for your guests outlining their relationship to you and the purpose of their visit. You should address the letter to the ‘Visitor visa casework team’ and include these details:

• Your visitor’s full name
• Your relationship to them (parent, friend, etc.)
• The reason for their visit (graduation, holiday, etc.)
• Their planned arrival and departure dates
• Where they intend to stay; if they plan to stay with you, give your full address
• Your own immigration status (for example, Student visa and the end date of your visa).

Visitor visa conditions

Visitors:

• Are not allowed to work.  
• Can undertake up to 30 days of recreational study (unless they are visiting specifically for study purposes, see here for further details).  
• Are not entitled to free medical treatment on the National Health Service.  
• Must leave the UK at the end of the 6 months.  
• Cannot switch from a Visitor visa to any other category (for example, your visitor cannot then extend their stay in the UK as your Dependant).