Choose a Visa
To visit, study, work, or join family in the UK, you may need a visa. Your visa type depends on:
- Where you come from
- Why you want to come to the UK
- How long you want to stay
- Your personal circumstances and skills
Important Points:
- Check if you need a visa before applying.
- Your application must be approved before travel.
- Irish citizens do not need to apply for a visa.
Visiting the UK
Standard Visitor Visa
Apply for a Standard Visitor visa for visits up to 6 months, including:
- Holidays or visits to family and friends
- Business trips or meetings
- Short courses of study
Special Cases:
- Apply for a Marriage Visitor visa if visiting the UK to get married or register a civil partnership.
Restrictions:
- You cannot take a job in the UK with a visitor visa.
Travelling Through the UK
If you are transiting through the UK en route to another country, you might need a visa. For example, if you have a layover between flights.
- Apply for a Transit visa if required.
Studying in the UK
Types of Study Visas
- Standard Visitor Visa: For short courses lasting no more than 6 months.
- Short-term Study Visa: For English language courses lasting 6–11 months.
- Student Visa: For longer courses; requires sponsorship by a licensed college or university.
- Allows some work opportunities.
- Child Student Visa: For ages 4–17 studying at an independent school.
- For those 16 or older, some work is allowed.
Working in the UK
Types of Work Visas
Work visas are available for short or long-term employment. The type you need depends on:
- Your skills and qualifications
- Whether you have a job offer and sponsorship
- Whether you want to bring your family
- Your type of work (e.g., sporting, charitable, or religious roles)
Entrepreneurs:
- Apply for an Innovator Founder Visa to set up a business.
Joining Family in the UK
Family Visa
Apply if you are:
- A spouse, partner, or family member of someone with British citizenship or settled status.
Important Points:
- The sponsor may need to show financial support capability.
- You may apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) after a specific duration.
Joining Family Members on a Visa
You may apply to join a family member in the UK if they are:
- Your spouse or partner
- Your parent (if you’re under 18)
Check what visa you’ll need to join them.
Family Reunion for Refugees
If you were separated from your partner or child when you were forced to leave your country, they can apply to join you in the UK.
Your family members can apply if you have been given asylum or 5 years’ humanitarian protection, and not have British citizenship.
Family Members from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, or Liechtenstein
EU Settlement Scheme Family Permit
You can apply for a free family permit if your family member:
- Lived in the UK by 31 December 2020
- Has pre-settled or settled status
- Was in a relationship with you before 31 December 2020
Benefits:
- Live, work, and study in the UK for up to 6 months.
- Apply to the EU Settlement Scheme to stay longer.
If you’re from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein
If you started living in the UK by 31 December 2020, you may be able to apply to the free EU Settlement Scheme instead of applying for a visa. The deadline to apply was 30 June 2021, but you can still apply if you can show reasonable grounds for the delay in applying.
Check if you can still apply to the EU Settlement Scheme.
You can only apply from outside the UK if you have a valid passport or national identity card with a biometric chip.
Commonwealth Citizens
You can apply for an Ancestry visa to work in the UK if you have a British grandparent and meet other eligibility criteria.
You may have right of abode to live in the UK.
Note:
- If you cannot prove your right to be in the UK, consider the Windrush scheme.
Returning Residents
Apply for a Returning Resident Visa if:
- You had indefinite leave to remain under the EU Settlement Scheme (‘settled status’) and left the UK for more than 5 continuous years (or 4 continuous years if you’re a Swiss citizen or their family member).
- You had permanent permission to stay in the UK (‘indefinite leave to remain’) but it was not under the EU Settlement Scheme and you left the UK for more than 2 years.
Other Visas
Based on your circumstances, you may qualify for other types of visas.
- Check if you need a visa and explore eligibility options.
This guide provides essential information for navigating the UK visa process. Always refer to the official UK government website for the latest details and updates.