Volunteer Visit

About the visa

The Volunteer Visit (within the UK Standard Visitor route, Appendix V) allows overseas nationals to carry out limited volunteering with a registered charity for up to 30 days during a visit of up to 6 months.

Volunteering must not exceed 30 days in total and must be with a registered charity. It must not amount to unpaid work that would normally be done by a paid employee. The charity must be registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales, the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland, or the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator.

Eligibility & key rules

You must satisfy the genuine visitor test and ensure your volunteering meets the specific conditions:

• Maximum 30 days of volunteering in total during the visit
• Volunteering must be with a registered charity
• Volunteering must be with a registered charity
• Must not fill a role that would otherwise be a paid position
• Sufficient funds for the visit without working

Important: If your primary purpose is volunteering, or if you wish to volunteer for longer than 30 days, you will need a Charity Worker visa (Temporary Worker) or another appropriate route. The visitor route only covers short volunteering of up to 30 days.

Permitted activities

Volunteer visitors may:

• Volunteer with a registered charity for up to 30 days total
• Help with charity events, community projects or fundraising activities
• Provide general assistance that does not replace a paid role
• Combine volunteering with tourism, visiting family or other permitted activities

What you can and cannot do

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
• Letter from the registered charity confirming: charity registration number, activities, dates, duration, and that the role is voluntary
• Details of the main purpose of your visit alongside the volunteering
• Proof of funds for the visit
• 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

• Volunteering exceeds 30 days or appears to replace a paid role
• Charity is not properly registered with a UK charity regulator
• Role appears to replace a paid position (amounts to work)
• Duration of volunteering exceeds 30 days
• Insufficient funds or ties to home country