About the visa
The Family & Friends Visit (within the UK Standard Visitor route, Appendix V) allows overseas nationals to visit relatives or friends living in the UK for up to 6 months per stay. Typical reasons include spending time with family, attending weddings, graduations and personal events.
This is a short-term visit route only. It does not permit work, long-term residence, or using successive visits to live in the UK.
Eligibility & key rules
You must satisfy the genuine visitor test. This means you must:
- Intend to leave the UK at the end of your visit
- Not live in the UK through frequent or successive visits
- Have a genuine purpose — visiting family or friends
- Have sufficient funds for the visit, including return travel and accommodation
A UK-based family member or friend can provide financial support as a third party, provided they have a genuine relationship with you and can demonstrate the ability to support you for the duration of your visit.
Permitted activities
Family and friends visitors may:
- Visit and spend time with family or friends in the UK
- Attend weddings, graduations and milestone celebrations
- General tourism and sightseeing during the visit
- Take a recreational course of up to 30 days
- Attend social, cultural or community events
What you can and cannot do
Permitted
- Visit relatives or friends and attend personal events
- Stay with your UK host or in other accommodation
- Travel for tourism during the visit
- Recreational courses up to 30 days
Not permitted
- Work for a UK employer, paid or unpaid
- Access public funds or state benefits
- Use successive visits to live in the UK
- Receive payment from a UK source
Fees, documents & process
Costs
- Standard (up to 6 months): £127
- 2-year long-term visa: £475
- 5-year long-term visa: £848
- 10-year long-term visa: £1,059
- No Immigration Health Surcharge for visitor visas
Required documents
- Valid passport or travel document
- Invitation letter from UK host detailing relationship, purpose, dates and address
- Proof of funds — your own bank statements or sponsor letter with evidence
- Accommodation details (host letter or hotel booking)
- Evidence of ties to home country (employment, education, family commitments)
- Travel plans (return flights, itinerary)
Processing
- Apply online at least 3 months before travel
- Attend a visa application centre for biometrics
- Decision usually within 3 weeks
Common refusal reasons
- Insufficient evidence of funds or unclear accommodation arrangements
- Weak evidence of ties to home country (risk of not leaving at the end of the visit)
- Vague or inconsistent invitation details (relationship, purpose, dates)
- Travel pattern suggesting an attempt to live in the UK through frequent visits
