Standard Visitor visa
🇬🇧 United Kingdom visas · Tourism
What it is
For tourism, visiting family or friends, business activities, short courses of study up to 6 months, or private medical treatment in the UK.
Key facts
- Category
- Tourism
- Duration
- Up to 6 months per visit; long-term visit visas valid 2/5/10 years
- Processing time
- 3–8 weeks
- Maximum validity
- 10 years
- Extendable
- Yes
- Path to permanent residence
- No
- Dependants
- Conditional
- Work allowance
- 0 hours per week
- How to apply
- Online
- Health insurance
- Not required
Standard figures for this route. Some applicants pay a reduced fee or none at all, so confirm your own case on the official page.
Fees
- Application fee (Standard Visitor visa (6 months))
- GBP 135
- Application fee (Standard Visitor visa for medical reasons (11 months))
- GBP 234
- Application fee (Standard Visitor visa for academics (12 months))
- GBP 234
- Application fee (2 year long-term Standard Visitor visa)
- GBP 506
- Application fee (5 year long-term Standard Visitor visa)
- GBP 903
- Application fee (10 year long-term Standard Visitor visa)
- GBP 1,128
- Application fee (Extension of stay (in UK, per extension))
- GBP 1,172
Key requirements
- Valid passport for the duration of your stay
- Intend to leave the UK at the end of your visit
- Sufficient funds to support yourself and any dependants
- Can pay for your return or onward journey
- Not making the UK your main home through frequent visits
Working on this visa
No work for a UK employer; only permitted business activities (meetings, conferences). Long-term visa: 6 months per visit, up to 10-year validity.
Bringing family
If you're applying with family members, each person must have their own application and pay the fee. They need to attend their own appointment at a visa application centre.
Money you must show
You must be able to show that: you'll leave the UK at the…
Facts checked against the official source. Last updated 19 July 2026.