About the visa
The Medical Visit (within the UK Standard Visitor route, Appendix V) allows overseas nationals to enter the UK to receive private medical treatment, attend consultations, or donate an organ to an identified recipient. Treatment must be arranged in advance with a UK doctor or consultant.
Standard medical visitors may stay up to 6 months. If treatment is expected to exceed 6 months, you can apply for an 11-month entry clearance. Extensions from within the UK are possible if treatment is ongoing.
Eligibility & key rules
In addition to the genuine visitor test, medical visitors must meet additional requirements:
- Pre-arranged treatment: You must have arranged private medical treatment before travelling and provide a letter from your UK doctor or consultant detailing the condition, estimated costs, likely duration and treatment location
- Communicable disease: If suffering from a communicable disease, you must satisfy the medical inspector that you are not a danger to public health
- 11-month visa: Requires evidence from your UK doctor that treatment will exceed 6 months but not more than 11 months, plus a TB test if Appendix Tuberculosis applies
- Sufficient funds: You must demonstrate the ability to cover all treatment costs, living expenses and return travel
For organ donors: You must genuinely intend to donate an organ to an identified UK recipient with whom you have a genetic or close personal relationship, and provide written confirmation of donor match tests and a letter from a UK NHS consultant.
What you can and cannot do
Permitted
- Receive private medical treatment at a UK facility
- Attend medical consultations and follow-up appointments
- Donate an organ to an identified UK recipient
- Receive NHS treatment under reciprocal healthcare arrangements
- General visitor activities (tourism, visiting family) alongside treatment
Not permitted
- Access NHS treatment without a reciprocal arrangement or S2 certificate
- Work for a UK employer
- Access public funds or state benefits
- Receive payment from a UK source
Fees, documents & process
Costs
- Standard (up to 6 months): £127
- 11-month medical visa: £220
- Extension from within UK: £1,100
- No Immigration Health Surcharge for visitor visas
Required documents
- Valid passport or travel document
- Medical letter from UK doctor/consultant detailing: condition, estimated costs, likely duration, treatment location
- Or an authorisation form issued by the government of that country under a reciprocal healthcare arrangement
- Evidence of ability to fund treatment and living costs
- For organ donors: donor match evidence + NHS consultant letter
- TB test certificate if applying for 11-month visa and Appendix TB applies
Processing
- Apply online at least 3 months before travel
- Attend a visa application centre for biometrics
- Decision usually within 3 weeks
- Extensions: apply on form FLR(IR) from within the UK
Common refusal reasons
- Medical letter does not specify costs, duration or treatment location
- Insufficient evidence of funds to cover treatment and living costs
- Treatment appears to be NHS rather than private (without reciprocal arrangement)
- Vague or incomplete organ donor documentation
