Visitor Visa Requirements
Planning to visit the UK? This guide explains who needs a Visitor Visa, what documents you need, and how to avoid common refusal reasons.
- Section
- Visitor Visa
- Reading time
- 9 min
- Last checked
- 2 September 2026
- Source
- The published Immigration Rules and GOV.UK guidance, linked throughout this guide.
- Rowan does not
- Look at your own case, tell you which route to choose, or say what the Home Office will decide. This guide shows the published rules and where to read them.
In short
- Many nationalities can visit the UK without a visa. Check GOV.UK for your country.
- A Standard Visitor Visa costs £135 for 6 months.
- You cannot work on a Visitor Visa.
- You must prove you have enough funds and intend to leave the UK.
- Strong ties to your home country (job, property, family) help your application.
The UK Standard Visitor Visa allows you to visit the UK for up to 6 months for tourism, visiting family, attending business meetings, or receiving medical treatment. This guide explains who needs one, what the requirements are, and how to apply successfully in 2026.
Who Needs a UK Visitor Visa?
Whether you need a visa to visit the UK depends on your nationality. Citizens of many countries can enter the UK for up to 6 months without a visa, including citizens of EU countries, the US, Canada, Australia, Japan, and South Korea.
Citizens of other countries must apply for a Standard Visitor Visa before travelling. Check the GOV.UK visa checker to see if you need a visa.
Nationalities that do not need a visa need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) instead. It costs £20, covers travel of up to 6 months per visit, and lasts 2 years or until your passport expires.
What You Can Do on a Visitor Visa
If you want to work in the UK, you need a Skilled Worker visa or other work visa. A spouse visa allows you to work if joining a partner.
- Tourism and sightseeing.
- Visiting family or friends.
- Attending business meetings, conferences, or training (but not employment).
- Receiving private medical treatment.
- Taking part in sports or creative events (in some circumstances).
- Short courses of study (up to 6 months, or up to 11 months with a Short-Term Study visa).
What You Cannot Do
- Work or be employed in any capacity.
- Receive payment for work done in the UK.
- Live in the UK long-term.
- Access public funds or benefits.
- Get married or register a civil partnership (unless you have a specific Marriage Visitor visa).
Visa Costs
- Standard Visitor Visa (6 months): £135
- Long-term Visitor Visa (2 years): £506
- Long-term Visitor Visa (5 years): £903
- Long-term Visitor Visa (10 years): £1,128
Long-term visitor visas allow multiple visits over the stated period, but each visit must not exceed 6 months. They are useful for people who visit the UK regularly.
Visitors do not pay the Immigration Health Surcharge. However, you should have travel insurance to cover any medical costs during your visit.
For a comparison with other visa costs, see our UK visa fees guide.
Documents You Need
A Visitor Visa application requires the following documents:
- Valid passport: With at least one blank page. Your passport should be valid for the duration of your intended stay.
- Evidence of funds: Bank statements (typically 3-6 months) showing you can pay for your trip and accommodation. There is no fixed minimum, but you must show enough for your planned visit.
- Accommodation details: Hotel bookings, or an invitation letter from the person you are staying with, including their address and contact details.
- Travel itinerary: Evidence of your planned travel, including return or onward flights.
- Ties to your home country: Evidence of your job, business, property, or family that demonstrates you intend to return home. This is one of the most important factors.
- Invitation letter (if applicable): If you are visiting someone in the UK, a letter from them confirming the visit, your relationship, and accommodation arrangements.
How to Apply
The application process involves:
- Step 1: Complete the online application form on GOV.UK.
- Step 2: Pay the visa fee online.
- Step 3: Book and attend a biometric appointment at a visa application centre in your country.
- Step 4: Submit your supporting documents (either at the appointment or by uploading them online).
- Step 5: Wait for a decision. From outside the UK, a decision usually takes 3 weeks. The earliest you can apply is 3 months before you travel.
Common Refusal Reasons
Visitor Visa refusals are common. See our Home Office contact guide if you need to follow up. Refusals are particularly common for applicants from countries with high refusal rates. The most common reasons include:
- Insufficient funds: See our financial documents guide for what to prepare. Not showing enough money in your bank account, or recent large deposits that look like they were placed for the application.
- Weak ties to home country: If you are unemployed, have no property, or have few family connections at home, the Home Office may suspect you intend to stay in the UK.
- Vague travel plans: Not having a clear reason for your visit or a specific itinerary.
- Previous overstays or refusals: If you have previously overstayed a visa or been refused a UK visa, this will count against you. Consider using a solicitor in these cases.
- Inconsistencies: Discrepancies between your application form and your supporting documents.
If your application is refused, see our visa refused guide for your options. For help with your application, see our immigration solicitor costs guide.
Questions and answers
Do I need a visa to visit the UK?
It depends on your nationality. Citizens of EU countries, the US, Canada, Australia, and many other countries can visit the UK for up to 6 months without a visa. Citizens of other countries need a Standard Visitor Visa. Check GOV.UK for the full list.
How much does a UK Visitor Visa cost?
A Standard Visitor Visa costs £135 for a 6-month visa. Longer-duration visitor visas are available: 2 years costs £506, 5 years costs £903, and 10 years costs £1,128.
How long can I stay in the UK on a Visitor Visa?
You can stay for up to 6 months on each visit. Even if you have a multi-year visitor visa (2, 5, or 10 years), each individual stay must not exceed 6 months. The rules also say you cannot live in the UK through frequent or successive visits, though there is no fixed limit on how often you can return.
Can I work on a UK Visitor Visa?
No. You cannot work, be employed, or receive payment for work on a Visitor Visa. You can attend business meetings, conferences, and training, but you cannot take up employment. If you need to work, you need a work visa.
What documents do I need for a UK Visitor Visa?
Key documents include your passport, a completed application form, evidence of funds, accommodation details, return travel plans, employment or study evidence showing ties to your home country, and an invitation letter if visiting someone specific.
Why are UK Visitor Visas refused?
Common refusal reasons include insufficient evidence of funds, failure to demonstrate strong ties to your home country, incomplete applications, suspicion that you intend to work or stay beyond the visa period, and previous immigration violations.
This guide is general information about published immigration rules. It is not advice about an individual application under s.82 Immigration and Asylum Act 1999, and Rowan is not regulated by the Immigration Advice Authority. Immigration rules change several times a year. For advice on a particular situation, contact an adviser authorised by the Immigration Advice Authority or an immigration solicitor. Always check GOV.UK for the authoritative current rules.