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UK Immigration Rules For Visitors

The UK immigration rules for visitors allow people from most countries to visit the UK for up to 6 months without a visa. This is known as the Standard Visitor visa. You can visit the UK for tourism, business, study (courses up to 6 months), and other permitted activities.

To be eligible for a Standard Visitor visa, you must:

  • Have a passport or travel document that is valid for the whole of your stay.
  • Be able to show that you will leave the UK at the end of your visit.
  • Be able to support yourself and your dependents during your trip (or have funding from someone else to support you).
  • Be able to pay for your return or onward journey (or have funding from someone else to pay for the journey).
  • Not live in the UK for extended periods through frequent or successive visits, or make the UK your main home.

If you are applying for a Standard Visitor visa, you will need to provide the following documents:

  • Your passport or travel document.
  • A completed application form.
  • A recent passport-style photograph.
  • Evidence of your financial support (such as bank statements, payslips, or a letter from a sponsor).
  • Evidence of your travel arrangements (such as a flight or train ticket).
  • Evidence of your purpose of visit (such as a letter from your employer or a hotel booking).UK Immigration Rules For Visitors

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You can apply for a Standard Visitor visa online or at a visa application centre. The application fee is £100 for up to 6 months.

If you are granted a Standard Visitor visa, you will be able to stay in the UK for up to 6 months. You can extend your stay for up to a total of 6 months, but you can only apply to stay for longer than 6 months if you are:

  • A patient receiving medical treatment.
  • A student taking a course that is longer than 6 months.
  • A businessperson who is coming to the UK to work on a specific project.

If you overstay your visa, you may be fined or deported.

Here are some other things to keep in mind about the UK immigration rules for visitors:

  • You may need to apply for a visa if you are from a visa required country.
  • You may need to get an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) if you are from a country that requires one.
  • You may need to provide additional documents if you are applying for a visa for a specific purpose, such as business or study.
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