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.

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

to take part in a school exchange program

to do a recreational course of up to 30 days, for example, a dance course

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

claim public funds (benefits)

live in the UK for long periods of time through frequent or successive visits

marry or register a civil partnership, or give notice of marriage or civil partnership - you’ll need to apply for a Marriage Visitor visa

Check you meet the eligibility requirements:

You must have a passport or travel document to enter the UK. It should be valid for the whole of your stay.

You must be able to show that:

you’ll leave the UK at the end of your visit

you’re able to support yourself and your dependants during your trip (or have funding from someone else to support you)

you’re able to pay for your return or onward journey (or have funding from someone else to pay for the journey)

you’ll not live in the UK for extended periods through frequent or successive visits, or make the UK your main home

You may need to meet extra eligibility requirements if you’re visiting the UK:

to study, do a placement, or take an exam

as an academic, senior doctor, or dentist

for medical reasons

The rules on what you’ll need to enter the UK may be different if you’re traveling from Ireland, Jersey, Guernsey, or the Isle of Man.

Check if you need a visa to visit the UK

Depending on your nationality, you’ll either:

have to apply for a Standard Visitor visa before you travel to the UK

be able to visit the UK for up to 6 months without needing a visa

If you do not need a visa, you must still meet the Standard Visitor eligibility requirements to visit the UK. You may be asked questions at the UK border about your eligibility and the activities you plan to do.

If you’ve previously been refused entry to the UK or have a criminal record, you may want to apply for a Standard Visitor visa (even if you do not need one).

If you have to apply for a Standard Visitor visa

You must apply for a Standard Visitor visa online before you travel to the UK. The earliest you can apply is 3 months before you travel.

If you visit the UK regularly, you can choose to apply for a long-term Standard Visitor visa instead.

You can pass through the UK to another country on a Standard Visitor visa. If transiting is your only reason for coming to the UK, you can apply for a Visitor in Transit visa.