Visa Guidance
How do I qualify to travel to the UK as a visitor?
There are many categories of visitors. A visitor is someone who generally intends to be in the UK for a short period, for example, to visit friends and family, to do business, to do a short course of study, to have private medical treatment. In general, you must show that:
- you want to visit the UK for no more than six months;
- you intend to leave the UK at the end of your visit;
- you have enough money to support yourself during your stay in the UK without working or needing help from public funds;
- you do not intend to take paid or unpaid employment.
Do I need a visa to visit the UK?
You will need a visa to visit the UK if any of the following apply to you:
- you are a national of one of the countries listed in the visa and transit visa nationals
(see below); - you are applying to visit the UK in order to get married;
- you are applying as an Academic Visitor and intend to stay in the UK for more than 6 months;
- you are applying as a parent of a child at school and intend to stay in the UK for more than 6 months;
- you are applying as a Prospective Student;
- you are stateless (you do not have a nationality);
- you hold a non-national travel document (a travel document which does not give you the nationality of the country that issued it), or
- you hold a passport issued by an authority that is not recognised in the UK.
What kind of visitor am I?
You will be a business visitor. This is because attending meetings or conferences comes under the Permissible Activities of business visitors.
How much is the application fee?
£70 for a short term visit (up to 6 months, single or multiple entry)
Applying for Entry Clearance
A visitor can make a visa application at the British Embassy (or High Commission or Consulate) nearest to where they live. Please see www.ukvisas.gov.uk to find the relevant Embassy contact details.
Different Embassies have varying application procedures and processing times. Although the majority of complete, valid applications are usually processed within 15 days we recommend allowing longer for an application to be processed, as Embassies get especially busy in the summer months.
Some Embassies take applications directly and some by outsourcing through an independent application or 'Visa Handling Service' (VHS) centre. Some Embassies are able to accept online applications. See the 'Visa4UK' section of the UKvisas website to see if your visitors can apply online in their country.
Biometric data collection
All applicants are required to supply 10 digit fingerscans and a digital photograph when applying for a UK visa. Applicants should enquire at their nearest Embassy for details.
Medical insurance
Those coming to the UK for less than six months are not entitled to use the National Health Service (NHS). Therefore, visitors should purchase adequate travel insurance before travelling which includes cover for any medical costs for the duration of the visit.
How long will my visa be valid for?
Generally visit visas are valid for six months.
Where can I apply for my visa?
The UK Border Agency manages the UK visa operation service around the world through visa sections at UK embassies, high commissions and consulates and through visa application centres run by their commercial partners VFS Global and WorldBridge Service. Follow this link to find your nearest visa application centre and to access their local visa service information: http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk/en/howtoapply/wheretoapply/
To apply online
Go to http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk/en/applyonline/
Immigration Rules:
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/policyandlaw/immigrationlaw/immigrationrules/part2/
Listed below are countries from which it is necessary to apply for a visa for entry into the UK:
| Afghanistan | Georgia | Occupied Palestinian Territories |
| Albania | Ghana | Oman |
| Algeria | Guinea | Pakistan |
| Angola | Guinea Bissau | Peru |
| Armenia | Guyana | Philippines |
| Azerbaijan | Haiti | Qatar |
| Bahrain | India | Russia |
| Bangladesh | Indonesia | Rwanda |
| Belarus | Iran | Sao Tome & Principe |
| Benin | Iraq | Saudi Arabia |
| Bhutan | Ivory Coast | Senegal |
| Bolivia** | Jamaica*** | Serbia |
| Bosnia-Herzegovina | Jordan | Sierra Leone |
| Burkina Faso | Kazakhstan | Somalia |
| Burma (Myanmar) | Kenya | South Africa* |
| Burundi | Korea (Dem. People's Rep) | Sri Lanka |
| Cambodia | Kosovo | Sudan |
| Cameroon | Kuwait | Surinam |
| Cape Verde | Kyrgyzstan | Swaziland* |
| Central African Republic | Laos | Syria |
| Chad | Lebanon | Tajikistan |
| China, People's Rep.of | Lesotho* | Tanzania |
| Colombia | Liberia | Taiwan**** |
| Comoros | Libya | Thailand |
| Congo, Democratic Republic of | Macau (travel permit only) | Togo |
| Congo, Republic of | Macedonia | Tunisia |
| Cuba | Madagascar | Turkey |
| Cyprus, northern part of | Malawi | Turkmenistan |
| Djibouti | Mali | Uganda |
| Dominican Republic | Mauritania | Ukraine |
| Ecuador | Moldova | United Arab Emirates |
| Egypt | Mongolia | Uzbekistan |
| Equatorial Guinea | Montenegro | Vatican City***** |
| Eritrea | Morocco | Venezuela** |
| Ethiopia | Mozambique | Vietnam |
| Fiji | Nepal | Yemen |
| Gabon | Niger | Zambia |
| Gambia | Nigeria | Zimbabwe |
* Since 1 July 2009, nationals of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland need a visa to enter or transit through the UK.
** Since 18 May 2009, nationals of Bolivia and Venezuela need a visa to enter or transit through the UK. Venezuelan nationals holding valid biometric passports containing an electronic chip issued since 2007 will be exempt from the visa requirement.
*** Since 3 March 2009, nationals of Jamaica need a visa to enter or transit through the UK.
**** Unless your passport has a personal identification number on the biometric data page
***** Holy See Service & Emergency passport holders only
Information provided by University of Warwick International Office and the Home Office UK Border Agency websites.