Visitor Visa

Visitors need to show: 

• they are genuinely visiting for the time stated in their application (not more than 6 months)
• they have sufficient funds for living costs and accommodation and the cost of the return journey; and 
• they intend to leave the UK at the end of their visit. 

Visitors cannot: 

• take paid or unpaid work (volunteering with a registered charity for up to 30 days is allowed)
• live in the UK for long periods of time through frequent and successive visits 
• receive treatment on the National Health Service (NHS) services (unless it is an emergency)* 
• receive public funds 
• marry or register a civil partnership, or give notice of marriage or civil partnership 

*Before leaving their home country visitors should consider taking out travel insurance which includes medical cover while in the UK.

Visa nationals must apply for a visa before travelling to the UK, this can be done online.

The British-Irish visa scheme can allow Chinese and Indian nationals to obtain a visit visa for Ireland that also allows subsequent entry to the UK.

Non-visa nationals need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) prior to travel.  An ETA is valid for travelling to the UK as a visitor on multiple occasions for up to 2 years or until passport expiry if sooner.  Any visit should still be no longer than 6 months.  The ETA is connected to the visitor’s passport details, if the passport is changed a new ETA is required. The ETA allows travel to the UK border it is not the visa permission or ‘leave to enter’ allowing a stay in the UK; that is secured by being allowed to enter the UK e.g. by seeing a Border Officer or passing through an eGate.  For visa permission purposes it is advisable to carry relevant evidence to show the visitor requirements are met (e.g. evidence of purpose, availability of funds) in case requested.  It is possible to apply for entry clearance before travel by following the visa application process; this could make entry at the border quicker especially if there have been any previous immigration problems.  Entry to the UK from the Republic of Ireland is not always staffed and special provisions may then apply.

Certain non-visa nationals can use eGates on arrival in the UK without seeing a Border Officer. If the traveller holds no other visa or immigration permission they are deemed to have entered the UK as a Standard Visitor by passing through the eGate.

UKVI produces a guide to the required supporting documents for visitors.  

Visitors should prepare documents that demonstrate the immigration requirements are satisfied – see above: ‘What are the immigration requirements for visitors?’  These will differ depending on the nature and purpose of the trip. 

Visa nationals must submit these documents in their visa application.  Non-visa nationals seeking visitor permission at the UK port of entry should carry them in their hand luggage in case any need to be shown to a Border Officer on arrival. 

If your family or friends are planning to visit, you can help them by providing evidence of your situation in the UK, e.g. 

1.  An invitation letter (the University cannot write letters of invitation for your family and friends)
• The content of your letter should reflect the individual circumstances and be consistent with the information your visitor gives in their application.  Avoid using a standard letter that may be found on the Internet or copying a letter used by someone else, ensure your letter reflects the individual circumstances. 
• Address the letter to the relevant visa section or ‘UKVI’ and include your contact details.  
• Clearly identify the person who is visiting you by name and confirm your relationship (or friendship) to them.  Give brief details of the visit e.g. if there is a special occasion, why you wish to be visited, what you intend to do in the UK and how long the visit is expected to last.  
• If you are providing accommodation, you should confirm this and describe what is being provided.  
• If you are providing any financial support, you can also mention this, confirm what you are helping with (e.g. travel or living expenses) and how it is you can afford to provide the financial support. 
2. Copies of the photograph page from your passport and your visa details.
3. A letter from the University confirming your student status including details of your programme can be downloaded through the Student Self-Service.  More detailed letters can be requested from Student Records, the Doctoral College Office or London Student Services as appropriate. If relevant, you can ask for your expected graduation details to be included or provide the information you have already received about graduation. 
4. If you are providing accommodation for your visitor you should provide confirmation that they are permitted to stay with you (e.g. your tenancy agreement and a letter from your landlord) 
5. If you are going to financially support your visitor you need to provide evidence of your ability to do this, e.g. recent bank statements showing that you have sufficient money available for this purpose.

To show an intention to leave the UK, a visitor could provide documents to show employment, property or family in their home country.

If a visitor is employed, they could ask their employer for a letter to confirm their employment and entitlement to take leave e.g. to allow them to visit you in the UK.

To show enough money is available for travel, maintenance and accommodation a visitor would be expected to show bank statements covering the previous 6 months. 

Standard visitor permission is for 6 months, a visa will confirm the expiry date, if a visitor can enter the UK without a visa the 6 months starts on the date of entry. Visitors who have ongoing reasons for travelling to the UK can apply for longer multiple entry visas, e.g. for 2, 5 or 10 years, but within that time no individual visit should exceed 6 months.

An electronic travel authorisation (ETA) should remain useable on multiple occasions for 2 years provided the relevant passport has not expired or been changed (in which case a new ETA is required).

Regardless of the length of visa a visitor should stay for the period similar to that stated in their application.  In general, not spending more than 6 months in the UK in any period of 12 months should avoid any risk of UKVI concluding visits being too frequent and successive.