Visit the UK as a Standard Visitor (2023)

FAQs

How long can I stay in the UK as a standard visitor? ›

You can visit the UK as a Standard Visitor for tourism, business, study (courses up to 6 months) and other permitted activities. You can usually stay in the UK for up to 6 months. You might be able to apply to stay for longer in certain circumstances, for example to get medical treatment.

If you need a visa, you must apply for a Standard Visitor visa before you arrive in the UK. Your visa will be multiple entry, so you can leave during breaks and return to the UK using the same visa as long as it is valid.

You should get a decision on your visa within 3 weeks once you attend your appointment at the visa application centre, if you are applying for a visa to visit the UK: for a holiday or to see family or friends.

Quick Facts. TOURIST VISA REQUIRED: Not required for stays less than six months.

One of the most common UK immigration myths is that there is a maximum permitted stay of 180 days in a year (or six months in 12 months) for UK visit visa holders. This myth has been propagated not just by migrants but also by advisers and even UK Border Force staff. In reality, there is no such rule.

This means that the visa-holder can depart and re-enter the UK as many times as they want within the visa's validity period, up to a maximum of 6 months.

It's not easy to get the UK tourist visa, there is a long list of required documents. Check the following list : Valid passport.

In these cases, you can submit a written statement or provide other documentation in place of an interview. If you believe that you may be eligible to apply for a UK visa without an interview, you should contact the UK visa application centre or the British embassy or consulate in your country for more information.

You'll need either: £1,334 per month (for up to 9 months) for courses in London. £1,023 per month (for up to 9 months) for courses outside London.

Who can enter UK without visa? ›

EU , EEA and Swiss citizens can travel to the UK for holidays or short trips without needing a visa. In other cases, find out if you need to apply for a visa to enter the UK . You can cross the UK border using a valid passport which should be valid for the whole time you are in the UK .

Do Green Card Holders Need Visa for UK? Yes, they do. If you would normally require a visa to enter the UK, then you will have to apply for one even if you have a Green Card. Unfortunately, a Green Card does not allow the holder to enter the UK just like it does not allow them to enter the European Union.

Nationals of countries/territories who do not need a visa to enter the UK: All EU countries, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong, Israel, Japan, Kiribati, Macau, Malaysia, ...

Your identity document (for example your passport or identity card) will be checked when you arrive at a UK port or airport to make sure you're allowed to come into the country. It should be valid for the whole of your stay. You may also need a visa to come into or travel through the UK, depending on your nationality.

You may be able to extend your stay if you have permission to be in the UK for less than 6 months. You can extend your stay up to a total of 6 months. You can only apply to stay in the UK for longer than 6 months if you're: a patient receiving medical treatment.

Because Americans are known as non-visa nationals in the UK, to answer the question do American citizens need a visa for UK? They don't.

If you've spent time outside the UK

You must have spent no more than 180 days outside the UK in any 12 months. If you think you're affected by this rule, the Home Office has guidance about how to calculate your time in the UK ('continuous residence').

As of 15 July 2022, holders of a United States passport may travel to 186 countries and territories without a travel visa, or with a visa on arrival.

The UK visa fee system is already amongst the most expensive in the World. Charging high fees for biometric appointments, due to a shortage of appointments, makes it even more expensive and more unaffordable for migrants. There should be significant cuts in excessive fees that migrants currently have to pay.

Why would a UK tourist visa be denied? ›

Such are the cases of: Failing to present an employment and professional qualification that matches the presented financial situation. Incapacity to provide documents that support the purpose of travel and stay in the UK. The inability to offer unchanging declarations about the purpose of travel and stay.

If you're eligible you can choose the 'priority service' when you apply. You'll need to pay £500 in addition to the application fee. You'll get a decision within 5 working days.

Walk In Without Appointment*

If you need to submit your visa application on an urgent basis, walk into our Visa Application Centre and opt for this service. VFS Global will process your visa application without a pre-booked appointment.

It's not uncommon for travellers to be refused entry to the UK at the border. Even if you are entitled to visa-free travel to the UK, or if have been granted a UK visa in advance of travel, you're not guaranteed entry into the country.

A UK visitor visa - also known as a UK tourist visa - enables people to visit the UK for business, leisure, to get private medical treatment or donate an organ. This type of visa is popular for individuals who wish to come to the UK for tourism, business, or visiting their family members.

You must ensure that your funds are not held in an institution that the UK Visas and Immigration Agency are unable to verify. You can find the Home Office and UK Visas and Immigration list of acceptable institutions on the UK government website.

Bank or building society statements must cover a 28-day period ending no more than 31 days before the date of your application. The Home Office would normally expect a banking or building society record to: be on official stationery or an electronic record.

The UK Visas and Immigration global service standard for processing non-settlement visas is 15 working days and 60 working days for settlement visas.

At a Glance: U.S. green card holders can travel to over 170 countries without needing a visa. Most countries will first consider your passport, not your green card. However, passport and green card together with your visa are necessary before entering the country.

American passport holders are not required to obtain a visa prior to visiting France for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.

What is the strongest passport in the world? ›

Japan has the world's most powerful passport for the 5th year in a row. Holders can visit 193 out of 227 global destinations visa-free. South Korea and Singapore are tied in 2nd place on the index, with a visa-free/visa-on-arrival score of 192.

What countries do not accept U.S. passport? The only destination where it is forbidden for US citizens to travel to is North Korea, due to its closed border status for both US citizens and citizens of other countries.

Let's Look At The US Passport Visa-Free Countries

Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom, and Vatican City.

You can extend your stay up to a total of 6 months. You can only apply to stay in the UK for longer than 6 months if you're: a patient receiving medical treatment. an academic and you still meet the eligibility requirements.

There is no limit on the frequency of visits or specified maximum period visitors are allowed to spend in the UK in any 12-month period. However, if you spend more time in the UK than in your country of residence the Immigration Officer may have grounds to believe that you live in the UK.

The 180 days rule myth.

For this reason, we will explain it below. Nothing prevents a person who has been granted a six-month visitor visa from staying in the UK for the entire six-month period of their visa and returning to visit the UK not long after receiving another six-month visitor visa.

The amount of bank balance you should have for applying to the US tourist visa depends on the duration. If it is a 15-day trip, you must have $ 5,000-10,000 in your bank.

There is no set level of funds required for an applicant to show this”. The main point is that the case officer needs to be satisfied that your application is genuine and the funds you have access to fit with the purpose of your visit.

If you overstay 90 days in the EU, you risk deportation. Countries can legally imprison you, deport you, or give you a limited number of days to leave. That said, deportation is rarely enforced for a visitor who isn't attempting to work illegally or claim benefits.

You spend 183 days or more in the UK in the tax year under consideration; You have a home in the UK for a period of more than 90 days and you are present in the home on at least 30 separate days (note there are further conditions in relation to this test which you should also consider);

How long can a US citizen stay in Europe? ›

With a valid U.S. passport, you can stay up to 90 days for tourism or business during any 180-day period. Do not overstay! You must wait an additional 90 days before applying to re-enter the Schengen area. To stay longer than 90 days, you must have a visa.

You cannot do paid or unpaid work for a UK company or as a self-employed person as a visitor. You'll need to apply for a work visa. If you're being paid by a UK organisation as an expert in your profession, you may get permission to visit the UK for a Permitted Paid Engagement.

Spending your 90 days within a 180-day period— The 90 days you are allowed to spend in the Schengen zone are eligible for a 180-day period. This period is commonly referred to as a “rolling timeframe” because it's constantly moving— each day you spend in Schengen advances your 180-day period.

A valid passport and an onward or return ticket and visa are required before entering.

The coalition government committed in 2010 to reintroducing exit checks. From 8 April 2015, we will collect information on passengers leaving the UK as we do for those entering. Exit checks will provide us with vital information that confirms a person's exit from the UK.