UK Visit Visas

Further detail

Detailed information about our Visit Visa service

Persons whom hold a normal visit visa can in most situations stay a maximum of 6 months in the last 12 month period. This does not mean that you can stay 6 months each time you enter the UK but rather that you have a total amount of 6 months that you can use for one or several trips during the length of the visa.

Some special visit visa categories such as Student Visitor and Private Medical Visitors can stay up to 11 months.

The UK used to have several specific visa categories which made the application procedure quite confusing. As a result these categories were put in to four separate visa groups that migrants can apply for. These are:

• The Standard Visitor visa
• Permitted Paid engagement visa
• Marriage Visitor Visa,
• Transit visa

Persons whom hold a normal visit visa can in most situations stay a maximum of 6 months in the last 12 month period. This does not mean that you can stay 6 months each time you enter the UK but rather that you have a total amount of 6 months that you can use for one or several trips during the length of the visa.

Some special visit visa categories such as Student Visitor and Private Medical Visitors can stay up to 11 months.

Standard Visitor Visa

The standard visitor visa is the most common visit visa category and includes the following situations:

• Tourism, leisure or to visit family
• Volunteering for a maximum of 30 days for a registered UK charity– (as long as this is not the main purpose of your trip)
• General business activities that does not amount to working. For example:
  • attending meetings or interviews
  • giving a talk as long as you are not being paid
  • signing and negotiating contracts or deals
  • attending trade shows as long as there is no selling
  • site visits
  • doing research for an overseas employer
  • meeting a UK based customer for work to be done outside the UK
• Intra-Company activities for employees of a company based outside the UK, for example:
  • consulting, provide training and knowledge to companies within the same company group.
• Perspective Start-Up or Innovators whom are meeting with an endorsing body
• Manufacturers and suppliers may advise, repair, install for a UK based company.
• Scientists and academics may take part in research, share knowledge or gather data for projects.
• Attending a court hearing as a summoned or expert witness.
• Religious workers may enter the UK to preach or provide other types of pastoral services
• Entertainer, musicians and all forms of artists may undertake performances, undertake promotional activities or take part in specified festivals
• all forms of film crew may take part in shoots filmed in a UK location, providing the film has been financed outside the UK
• Taking part in Sports events, including tournaments, promotional activities, trials or to gain experience from a sports club
• Jobs that require specific attendance in the UK, such as Translators, drivers, personal assistants, journalists, tour group leader, bodyguards, archaeologists and professors accompanying students as part of an exchange program
• Graduates in Medical, dental or nursing may undertake work related training or exams providing they are not paid to do so.
• Studying in the UK for a maximum of 30 days as long as the main reason for the visit is not to study (if so then you should apply for a Student Visitor Visa)
• Medical treatment may be received as long as it is private, finite and the applicant has demonstrated that they are able to cover the cost of their treatment
• Transit, holders of standard visitor visas may also transit in the UK

Marriage Visitor Visa

The Marriage visitor visa allows a person to enter the UK for the purpose of having a marriager ceremony and/or giving notice to undertake a marriage ceremony.
The visa should not be confused with the Fiancée visa which also allows a migrant to enter the UK for marriage to a British or settled person but also allows them to stay convert their visa to a spouse visa after they are married. As such the Marriage visitor requires the holder to leave the UK within the 6 months time limit of their visa. The marriage visitor can also be applied for as a couple, meaning two persons whom are not British or EU nationals can get married to each other inside the UK

Permitted Paid Engagement Visit

The permitted paid engagement visit visa (PPE) allows you to enter the UK for up to 1 month to conduct certain types of activities in return for payment. As such the PPE is the only way for a person to be able to “work” in the UK whilst I the UK as a visitor. To qualify for PPE you must have been invited by a UK based organisation for a specific activity which falls under one of the following activities:

• Sporting events
• Music, arts or entertainment
• broadcasting
• Fashion modelling
• examining UK based pilots
• give lectures at a University or collage
• taking part in panels as a qualified academic within your specific role
• student assessors and examiners

Transit Visit

This category is fairly obvious as it allows migrants whom require to go through the UK border control in order to wait for a connecting flight that is up to 48 hours after they arrive. Please note that you will not need a transit vista visa if you are not exciting the departure terminal

For a list of nationalities who require a visit visa to enter the UK, please contact our expert immigration law team, or check the FAQ’s Section at the bottom of this page.

Westkin’s team of expert immigration advisors lawyers are on hand to help you receive an approved visit visa whenever you require, get in touch with our team for expert advise and application assistance.