A Standard Visitor visa covers short visits for a range of purposes. It does not allow you to work or make the UK your home, and refusals can affect later applications.
Information checked against the sources listed below on 10 October 2026. Rules, fees and thresholds change; this is general information, not advice on your case, and does not assess whether you qualify.
What the official guidance says.
- Permitted activities include tourism, visiting family or friends, volunteering for up to 30 days with a registered charity, transit, certain business activities such as meetings or interviews, permitted paid engagements, study (courses up to 6 months), academic work, and medical treatment.
- Not allowed: paid or unpaid work for a UK company or self-employment (unless a permitted paid engagement), claiming public funds, living in the UK long-term through repeated visits, and marrying or registering a civil partnership (that needs a Marriage Visitor visa).
- A stay is usually up to 6 months, with possible longer stays in certain cases such as medical treatment.
- Depending on nationality, you must apply for a Standard Visitor visa, apply for an ETA, or enter without either.
- You need a valid passport, must show you will leave at the end of your visit, can support yourself and pay for your return journey, and will not make the UK your main home.
- Visa applications are made online before you travel, and you can apply up to 3 months before your trip.
What usually decides the outcome.
- Whether your planned activities are all permitted, particularly business activities.
- Your ties to your home country and your finances, which affect whether the Home Office believes you will leave.
- Previous UK visits, refusals or overstays.
- Whether you need a visa or an ETA based on your nationality.
How we can help.
Depending on what you need, support can range from a first conversation to full representation. Ask for the scope of any work, and an explanation of our fees and separate government charges, in writing before you instruct the firm.
- Initial consultation and eligibility assessment. A conversation about your circumstances, the routes that may apply and the risks.
- Written advice and immigration planning. A considered view on your options and a plan that looks ahead to extensions, settlement or citizenship.
- Document and application checking. A review of an application or evidence you have prepared, before you submit it.
- Full application preparation and representation. Preparing and submitting the application, and dealing with the Home Office on your behalf.
- Responses to Home Office requests. Help answering requests for further information, interviews or evidence.
- Refusal analysis and next steps. Understanding why an application failed and whether to seek review, appeal, judicial review or make a fresh application.
Before you contact us
- Write a short summary of your circumstances and what you want to achieve.
- Note any decision dates, expiry dates or deadlines.
- Do not send passport numbers or sensitive documents in the first enquiry. We will explain how to share them securely.