Short Stay and Tourist Visas

General Visitor

General Visitor Visa is for non-EEA (European Economic Area) nationals who wish to come to the UK for the purpose of visiting friends and family or for a short holiday. You are usually permitted to stay in the UK for up to 6 months. In order to be granted a General Visitor Visa, you will need to satisfy UK Visas and Immigration that you are a genuine visitor. This means that you must:

Be able to show that you intend to return to your home country.
Not intend to remain in the UK longer than 6 months.
Have adequate funds for your visit.
Be able to pay for your return or onward journey and any other costs relating to your visit.

You can apply for General Visitor Visa up to 3 months prior to your date of first entry to the UK. Most applications conclude within 3 weeks.

Business Visitor

Business Visitor Visa is for non-EEA nationals who wish to visit the UK on business including attending conferences or meetings, arranging deals, negotiating or signing trade contracts or agreement.

In order to be eligible to apply for Business Visitor Visa, applicants must:

Be able to show that you intend to visit the UK for a genuine business activity.
Demonstrate that you only intend to visit the UK for a short period.
Not intend to remain in the UK longer than 6 months.
Have adequate funds for your visit.
Be able to pay for your return or onward journey and any other costs relating to your visit.

Business Visitor Visa is valid for up to 6 months, 180 days per visit. You should usually get a decision on your visa within 3 weeks.

Family Visitor

Family Visitor Visa is for visitors including wife, husband, civil partner or unmarried partner to the UK from outside the EEA who are visiting a family member. Family Visitor Visa allows you to stay in the UK for a maximum of 6 months.

You may also apply for a long-term Family Visitor Visa if you can prove you need to make repeat visits over a longer period. It will be valid up to 6 months at a time and for 1, 2, 5 or 10 years.

To be eligible for a Family Visitor Visa, you must satisfy the Home Office that you are a genuine visitor by showing you meet the following eligibility criteria:

Be genuinely seeking entry for a purpose that is permitted by the visitor routes and will not undertake any prohibited activities
Be aged 18 or over.

Visit the UK for less than 6 months.
Have adequate funds for your visit including cost of the return or onward journey and other costs without working or help from public funds.

The earliest you can apply for Family Visitor Visa is 3 months before you travel, and you should get a decision within around 3 weeks.

Medical Visitor

Medical Visitor Visa, mostly known as the Private Medical Treatment Visit Visa, is for non-EEA nationals who wish to come to the with the objective of receiving private medical treatment. It is valid for up to 6 months. Medical Visitor Visa can be for up to 11 months if receiving private medical treatment or up to 12 months for academic research.

In order to be eligible to apply for Medical Visitor Visa, applicants must:

Be genuinely seeking entry for a purpose that is permitted by the visitor routes and will not undertake any prohibited activities.
Leave the UK at the end of your visit
Not live in the UK for extended periods through frequent or successive visits
Have adequate funds for your visit including cost of the return or onward journey and other costs without working or help from public funds

The earliest you can apply for Medical Visitor Visa is 3 months before you travel, and you should get a decision within around 3 weeks.

Marriage Visitor

Marriage Visitor Visa is for non-EEA nationals over the age of 18 who wish to visit the UK to marry or form a civil partnership, or give notice of a marriage or civil partnership. UK citizens and permanent residents are able to apply to sponsor their spouses or partners for a marriage visa. Dependent children can also be included on Marriage Visitor Visa applications.

In order to be eligible to apply for Marriage Visitor Visa, applicants must:

In a genuine relationship.
Be free to give notice of marriage and to marry or enter into a civil partnership in the UK within six months of your arrival.
Visit the UK for less than six months and leave the UK at the end of your visit
Have adequate funds for your visit including cost of the return or onward journey and other costs without working or help from public funds

The earliest you can apply for Marriage Visitor Visa is 3 months before you travel, and you should get a decision within around 3 weeks.

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