For Individuals

Visit Visas

Primarily for short-term stays (usually up to 6 months) for tourism, short business trips, medical reasons, or family visits.

Visa Categories

Browse UK visa categories to see route options, requirements, and supporting information.

Academic Visit

For highly qualified academics and senior doctors or dentists to carry out research, formal exchanges, or clinical practice in the UK for up to 12 months. Must be employed overseas at an academic institution.

Learn more

Business Visit

A Business Visitor Visa allows you to attend meetings, conferences, site visits and negotiations in the UK for up to six months. Employment or providing services in the UK is not allowed.

Learn more

Creative Visit

Artists, entertainers and musicians can carry out certain unpaid activities under visitor rules. Paid gigs require other routes.

Learn more

Direct Airside Transit Visa

Required by certain nationalities to transit through a UK airport without passing UK border control. You remain airside in the international departure lounge and do not enter the UK.

Learn more

Holiday Visits

Marriage Visitor Visa

Come to the UK to marry or form a civil partnership, or give notice of marriage or civil partnership, within 6 months. You must leave after the ceremony — this is not a route to settlement.

Learn more

Medical Visit

Visit the UK for private medical treatment, consultation or organ donor arrangements under visitor rules.

Learn more

Partner Visit

Visit a partner for a short stay as a visitor. Not a route to live in the UK.

Learn more

Permitted Paid Engagement Visa

For established professionals to carry out a specific, pre-arranged, paid engagement in the UK in their area of expertise. Must be invited by a UK organisation. Up to 30 days for the engagement, within a 6-month visit.

Learn more

Recreational Visit

Take part in leisure activities or hobbies that fit visitor rules. No work.

Learn more

School Exchange

Take part in a short, organised school exchange or educational visit to a UK school under the Standard Visitor rules. Students must be in full-time education overseas; accompanying adults must be employed abroad.

Learn more

Sportsperson Visit

Visit the UK to compete in a specific sporting event, undertake short training, take trials (not before a paying audience), make promotional appearances, or join an amateur club. No UK employment permitted.

Learn more

Study Visit

Take a short course of study for up to 30 days during your visit to the UK under the Standard Visitor rules. The study must be incidental to your main purpose of visit. No work permitted.

Learn more

Visitor in Transit Visa

For travellers who need to enter the UK (pass through border control) for up to 48 hours to transit to another destination — for example, to change airports or travel by land. No work or extended stay permitted.

Learn more

Volunteer Visit

Limited, incidental volunteering (up to 30 days) with a registered charity may be permitted.

Learn more