Visitor visa is used by travelers to enter UK temporarily to visit the country as a tourist, visit family and friends, do business or transit through UK.
Purpose – this visa lets you to visit UK for holidays, to visit your family and friends, for business, or to take part in sports or creative events or to receive private medical treatment.
Tourism related activities
Eligibility – to have enough funds for your travel and stay in UK, short-term visit for a holiday, sightseeing or visiting relations or friends.
Business related activities
Eligibility – to have enough funds for your travel and stay in UK, participation in a conference, trade fair, meeting or training in the UK, to take part in specific sport event, you are an artist, entertainer or musician and coming to the UK to perform, you are a doctor or dentist and coming to the UK to do clinical attachment or observer post, you are an academic and are doing research or accompanying students on a study abroad programme, or you want to get funding to start, take over, join or run a business in the UK.
Important – depending on the country you are from, you might be able to visit the UK without a visa or by applying for a visa waiver. With this visa you can study up to 30 days, but you are not allowed to do paid or unpaid work.
Length of stay – up to 6 months.
Visa processing fee – GBP 95 (additional fee applies if you are obliged to provide biometrics at the nearest Visa Application Centre (VAC)). This is the fee which is payable to Immigration UK to process your application.
Processing time – up to 15 days.
Purpose – you may be able to get this visa if you are invited to the UK as an expert in your profession for a short-term visit (up to 1 month).
Eligibility – you are invited by the UK organization or a client (official invitation letter), intends to do a specific paid work in UK without having be sponsored under the points-based visa system and have enough funds to support you travel and stay in the UK.
Important – you are not allowed to do specific paid work unrelated to your main job area of expertise and cannot extend this visa or switch to another visa in the UK.
Length of stay – up to 1 month.
Visa processing fee – GBP 95 (additional fee applies if you are obliged to provide biometrics at the nearest Visa Application Centre (VAC)). This is the fee which is payable to Immigration UK to process your application.
Processing time – up to 3 weeks.
If your intention is to study in UK, you must obtain a student visa.
Purpose – this category is for students coming to UK for a short course of study and for the students who are outside the EEA and Switzerland.
Eligibility – you must have enough funds for your entire study and stay in UK, to be enrolled as a full-time student in course of study, your education provider must hold a license for a Tier 4 sponsor, have adequate health insurance and that you have genuine intention to study.
Important – with this visa you can do a short course such an English language course or do a short period of research as a part of your degree course if you study abroad. You are not allowed to work or carry out any business.
Length of stay – your visa will be valid for the whole length of your course or research. If you are 16 or over and study English, you may stay an extra 30 days at the end of your course if your total stay in UK would be no more 6 or 11 months.
Visa processing fee – GBP £97 for a 6-month visa and GBP £186 for an 11-month visa (additional fee applies if you are obliged to provide biometrics at the nearest Visa Application Center (VAC)). This is the fee which is payable to Immigration UK to process your application.
Processing time – up to 3 weeks.
Purpose – this category is for students coming to UK for post-16 education.
Eligibility – you must be at least 16 years old, you must have enough funds for your entire study and stay in UK, to be enrolled as a full-time student in course of study and to provide evidence (A Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS)), your school must be approved as licensed Tier 4 sponsor, to meet the English language requirements, have adequate health insurance and that you have genuine intention to study.
Important – you are allowed to work in most jobs, depending on your course level and sponsor.
Length of stay – your visa will be valid for the whole length of your course.
Visa processing fee – GBP £348 (additional fee applies if you are obliged to provide biometrics at the nearest Visa Application Centre (VAC)). This is the fee which is payable to Immigration UK to process your application.
Processing time – up to 3 weeks.
Purpose – this category is for students aged 4-17.
Eligibility – you intend to study at an independent school in UK, you must have enough funds for your entire study and stay in UK, to be enrolled as a full-time student in course of study and to provide evidence (A Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS)), your school must be approved as licensed Tier 4 sponsor, have the consent from your parent or guardian for your study in the UK, have adequate health insurance and that you have genuine intention to study.
Important – you can work if you are 16 or over part-time during term up to 10 hours per week and full time during holidays and vacations.
Length of stay – your age and the length of your study will determine for how long you can stay in the UK.
Visa processing fee – GBP £348 (additional fee applies if you are obliged to provide biometrics at the nearest Visa Application Centre (VAC)). This is the fee which is payable to Immigration UK to process your application.
Processing time – up to 3 weeks.