What are the different UK visit visa types?

Did you know that there are so many different types of visit visas? Below, we list some of the categories under the visit route, their validities, fees and whether multiple-entry visas are available for each category.

Dhruti Thakrar

Dhruti Thakrar is a leading UK immigration solicitor and partner at Keystone Law, with over 28 years of experience advising multinationals, blue-chip firms, startups, and high-net-worth individuals. Recognized by The Legal 500, she specializes in both corporate and personal immigration law, sponsor licence compliance, and complex casework.

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The most common reason people apply for UK visit visas is for tourism but there are a wide range of categories covering business, medical, transiting, study and more!

Studying in the UK – Visit VS Student visa?

If you’re planning to visit the UK to study, you may be unsure as to whether you should apply as a visitor or under the student route. There are 3 different types of ‘study’ visas – the route you apply under mainly depends on the length of the course you will be taking:

·       Visit visa (study category): for courses up to 6 months

·       Short-term student visa: for courses lasting between 6 – 11 months

·       Student visa: 2-5 years (depending on the course level and your age)

If you’d like to study a course in the UK for less than 6 months, there are further requirements you will need to meet to qualify for a student visit visa. Answer a few questions to see if you qualify here: https://i-migrator.com/visa/scr/nationality_study. 

Business VS working in the UK

If you’re visiting the UK to undertake business activities, you can do this under a standard visitor visa. However, you should be careful that the activities you are undertaking do not count as ‘work’. As an example, you generally should not be paid for activities in the UK as a business visitor. Examples of business activities include, but are not limited to:

·       Attend interviews, meetings, conferences and seminars;

·       Negotiate and sign deals and/or contracts;

·       Attend trade fairs to promote your business without selling anything

…and many more.

Multiple-entry visit visas

Although visit visas are generally issued for up to 6 months, multiple-entry visas are available for most categories? What does this mean? Well, you could apply for a 2, 5 or 10-year visit visa (fees vary – the current fees are listed below):

The benefit of a multiple-entry visit visa is that you do not need to reapply as often, which saves you time and money! The conditions of a multi-entry visit visa are the same as a standard, 6-month visa i.e. you can only visit the UK for up to 6 months per visit.

Whilst you technically can visit the UK for up to 6 months at time, we would usually advise against doing so. Visiting the UK frequently and maxing out your visits each time could lead the Entry Clearance Officer into suspecting that you are living in the UK more often than your home country which is not permitted. You could be refused entry if you are suspected of doing this which may impact any future applications you make.