About the visa
The Recreational Visit (within the UK Standard Visitor route, Appendix V) allows overseas nationals to come to the UK for leisure activities and non-commercial hobbies, including taking short recreational courses, for up to 6 months per visit.
Visitors may take a recreational course of up to 30 days (excluding English language training). This covers activities such as cookery classes, art workshops, photography courses, dance classes and other leisure courses that are not work-related.
Eligibility & key rules
You must satisfy the genuine visitor test:
- Intend to leave the UK at the end of your visit
- Not live in the UK through frequent or successive visits
- Have a genuine recreational purpose
- Have sufficient funds for the visit, course fees, accommodation and return travel
Important: Recreational courses must not exceed 30 days and must not include English language training. Courses longer than 30 days, or English language courses, may require study as a Standard Visitor (V 9.1\u2013V 9.5, up to 6 months at an accredited institution) or a Student visa.
Permitted activities
Recreational visitors may:
- Take a recreational course of up to 30 days (e.g. cookery, art, photography, dance, music)
- Pursue personal hobbies and leisure interests
- Attend workshops, retreats and activity holidays
- Tourism and sightseeing during the visit
- Visit friends and family alongside recreational activities
What you can and cannot do
Permitted
- Recreational courses up to 30 days
- Personal leisure and hobby activities
- Workshops, retreats and activity holidays
- Tourism and visiting friends/family
Not permitted
- Courses exceeding 30 days
- English language training
- Work-related or vocational training
- Work for a UK employer
- Access to public funds
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
- Course confirmation from the UK provider (dates, duration, content, cost)
- Evidence that the course is recreational and does not exceed 30 days
- Proof of funds covering course fees, living costs and return travel
- Accommodation details and travel plans
- Evidence of ties to home country
Processing
- Apply online at least 3 months before travel
- Attend a visa application centre for biometrics
- Decision usually within 3 weeks
Common refusal reasons
- Course exceeds 30 days or is an English language course (requires different visa)
- Course appears vocational or work-related rather than recreational
- Insufficient evidence of funds to cover course fees and living costs
- Weak ties to home country
