United Kingdom eVisa & Travel Information (2025)

1. Overview

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.

Depending on your nationality, you may not need a visa to visit the UK. You should check if you need a visa before you apply.

What you need to do

• Check if what you plan to do in the UK is allowed as a Standard Visitor.
• Check you meet the eligibility requirements.
• Check if you need to apply for a visa to visit the UK.
• Apply for a Standard Visitor visa online - if you need one.

What you can and cannot do (‘permitted activities’)

You can visit the UK as a Standard Visitor:

• for tourism, for example on a holiday or vacation
• to see your family or friends
• to volunteer for up to 30 days with a registered charity
• to pass through the UK to another country (‘in transit’)
• for certain business activities, for example attending a meeting or interview
• for certain paid engagements or events as an expert in your profession
• to take part in a school exchange programme
• to do a recreational course of up to 30 days
• to study, do a placement or take an exam
• as an academic, senior doctor or dentist
• for medical reasons

You cannot:

• do paid or unpaid work for a UK company or as a self-employed person (unless permitted)
• claim public funds (benefits)
• live in the UK for long periods through frequent or successive visits
• marry or register a civil partnership, or give notice of marriage — you need a Marriage Visitor visa

Check you meet the eligibility requirements

You must have a passport valid for the whole duration of your stay.

You must be able to show that:

• you’ll leave the UK at the end of your visit
• you can support yourself and your dependants
• you can pay for your return or onward journey
• you will not live in the UK for extended periods

You may need extra eligibility if visiting the UK:

• to study, do a placement or take an exam
• as an academic, senior doctor or dentist
• for a permitted paid engagement
• for medical reasons

The entry rules may differ if travelling from Ireland, Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man.

Check if you need a visa to visit the UK

Depending on nationality, you will either:

• need to apply for a Standard Visitor visa before travelling
• need to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA)
• be able to visit the UK without a visa or ETA

If you do not need a visa, you must still meet the Standard Visitor requirements at the UK border.

If you’ve been refused entry before or have a criminal record, you may want to apply for a visa even if not required.

If you have to apply for a Standard Visitor visa

You must apply online before travelling.

The visa costs £127 for up to 6 months.

If you transit the UK only, you may apply for a Visitor in Transit visa (£70).

2. Visit on business

You can visit the UK for up to 6 months to do the following business activities:

• attend interviews, meetings, conferences and seminars
• negotiate and sign deals and contracts
• attend trade fairs to promote your business (no selling)
• receive work-related training unavailable in your home country
• give a one-off talk or short series of talks (non-commercial)
• carry out site visits and inspections
• oversee delivery of goods/services by a UK company
• deliver training or share knowledge with UK staff
• install, dismantle, repair, service or advise on equipment provided through an overseas contract

You should:

• check you meet the basic eligibility requirements
• check if you need a visa
• apply for a Standard Visitor visa if required

As a visitor, you cannot work for a UK company unless it is a permitted paid engagement.

Doing activities as part of an overseas job role

You can do additional activities if you are employed overseas as:

• archaeologist
• artist, entertainer or musician
• bodyguard
• camera operator
• driver
• internal auditor
• journalist or correspondent
• lawyer or expert witness
• market researcher or analyst
• personal assistant
• pilot or cabin crew (Wet Lease Agreement)
• professor
• religious worker
• scientist or researcher
• seafarer
• sportsperson or official
• tour group courier
• translator or interpreter
• film crew member
• production team member
• technical staff supporting performers or athletes

3. Visit to study

You can visit the UK for up to 6 months to:

• study at an accredited institution
• do research relevant to your course overseas
• do an elective (medicine, veterinary, nursing, midwifery, dentistry)
• sit an exam, resit a module, or complete a PhD viva
• do an unpaid clinical attachment
• take the OSCE or PLAB test

You should:

• check you meet eligibility requirements
• prepare required documents
• check if you need a visa
• apply online if required

Some postgraduate research subjects require an ATAS certificate.

If you’re visiting to study at an accredited institution

You must prove that:

• you’ve been accepted onto a course
• the course lasts no more than 6 months (unless distance learning)

Distance learning

• attend inductions
• face-to-face intensive classes
• progress checks
• exams

If you want to study more than 6 months

• Short-term study visa (English courses up to 11 months)
• Student visa
• Child Student visa

Short research visits

You must prove that:

• you are 16+
• you are enrolled on a degree-level course overseas
• you’ve been accepted by a UK higher education institution

Documents

You must provide confirmation that the research forms part of your overseas course.

Electives

You must prove that:

• you are 16+
• you are enrolled on a degree equivalent to a UK degree
• you are undertaking an elective in the UK

Documents

You must provide confirmation you will not treat patients or be paid.

Unpaid clinical attachment or dental observer post

Allowed for up to 6 months. You must not treat patients.

Documents

• confirmation of your placement
• proof you’ve not done one in the UK before

Taking OSCE or PLAB

You may extend your stay if retaking the test. Up to 18 months total stay if you pass PLAB and do an attachment.

Documents

• OSCE registration letter (NMC)
• PLAB registration letter (GMC)

4. Visit as an academic

If you’re a scientist, researcher or academic you can:

• take part in formal exchanges
• carry out research (independent or job-related)

Senior doctors and dentists may also:

• take part in research
• teach (not permanent)
• undertake clinical practice (not permanent)

Some research subjects require an ATAS certificate.

Visits up to 6 months

• check eligibility
• check if you need a visa
• apply online if required

Visits over 6 months

You need a Standard Visitor visa regardless of nationality.

• apply for a 12-month visa (£220)
• or enter for 6 months and extend to 12 months (£1,100)

Eligibility for visits over 6 months

• highly qualified (usually PhD+)
• working in your field overseas
• not filling a permanent post

Documents you may need

• employer letter (sabbatical or exchange dates)
• employer letter (research details)
• host organisation confirmation
• TB test certificate if required

5. Visit for a permitted paid engagement

You can visit the UK for certain paid engagements if you:

• have a written invitation
• are an expert in your profession
• are 18 or over

You must do the engagement within the first month of arrival.

You can be invited as:

• professional artist, entertainer or musician
• professional sportsperson
• qualified lawyer
• lecturer
• conference speaker
• academic examiner or assessor
• air pilot examiner

Artists, entertainers, musicians

• performances
• presentations or launches
• lectures
• judging panels
• conferences

Invitation must come from:

• creative organisation
• agency
• broadcaster

Professional sportspeople

• must show proof of sporting career

Qualified lawyers

You can be paid to represent a client in UK legal proceedings.

Documents

• invitation from client
• proof of right of audience

Lecturers

Invitation must come from:

• higher education institution
• research organisation
• arts organisation

Conference speakers

You must be able to show the conference relates to your expertise.

Academic examiners

• must be highly qualified
• must provide employer letter or published work

Air pilot examiners

• must be employed full-time by national aviation authority
• invitation must come from UK CAA-approved organisation

6. Visit for medical reasons

You can visit the UK for up to 6 months to:

• have private medical treatment
• receive NHS treatment funded by your government
• donate an organ to a family member or close friend

If visiting for private medical treatment

• you must prove you have a condition needing treatment
• you have made arrangements for treatment
• you have funding
• you will leave after treatment
• you are not a public health risk

Documents

• doctor or consultant letter with details and costs

NHS treatment under reciprocal agreement

Documents

• authorisation form from your government

Organ donors

You can donate to:

• a genetically related family member
• a close personal friend

Documents

• letter from transplant team confirming match/testing
• proof of recipient’s legal residence in the UK

Visits over 6 months

• apply for an 11-month Standard Visitor visa (£220)
• or visit for 6 months and extend for 6 more (£1,100)

7. If you're under 18

You may visit the UK if you:

• have suitable travel and stay arrangements
• have written consent from parent/guardian (if travelling alone)
• can pay for your journey
• have enough money or support

Travelling alone

Parent/guardian must provide:

• written consent
• full contact details
• housing details: name, DOB, address, relationship, consent

If not staying with a close relative

Local authority must be notified if:

• you are under 16 (or under 18 with a disability)
• you will be privately fostered for more than 28 days

Travelling with an adult

Your visa must list the adults you travel with (up to 2).

8. Apply for a Standard Visitor visa

You must apply online before travelling. The earliest application is 3 months before travel.

Visa fees

Documents and information required

• passport valid for entire stay
• travel dates
• accommodation
• trip cost
• home address
• parents’ details
• income
• offence history

You may need:

• travel history (10 years)
• employer details
• partner details
• financial sponsor details
• family in the UK
• TB test certificate
• documents for study, academic, PPE or medical visits

Proving your identity

You must attend a visa application centre to provide biometrics.

Decision time

Usually within 3 weeks.

9. When you can extend your stay

You may extend your stay up to 6 months total or longer only if you are:

• a patient receiving medical treatment
• an academic
• a graduate retaking PLAB or doing a clinical attachment

Fees

• £1,100 to extend
• £1,000 extra for super priority

Staying longer for medical treatment

• must have paid for previous treatment
• must fund upcoming treatment
• can extend multiple times (£1,100 each)

Documents

You must provide a letter from a UK medical practitioner.

Staying longer as an academic

• can extend up to 12 months
• partner and children may also extend
• must prove qualification (usually PhD)
• must not fill a permanent position

Staying longer to retake PLAB

You must provide confirmation from the General Medical Council.

Clinical attachment after PLAB

You can stay up to 18 months total. You must not treat patients.