Choose a visa
You may need a visa to come to the UK to study, work, visit or join family. There are different visas depending on: where you come from why you wan...
Prepare your application
You can apply and pay for most visas online. If you have dependants who want to come to the UK with you, each person will need to apply and pay sep...
Prove your identity
When you apply, you’ll need to prove your identity and provide documents to show your eligibility. How you do this depends on where you’re from and...
Getting a decision on your application
You’ll get a letter or an email with the result of your application. It will explain what you need to do next. If your application is successful Yo...
When will the EU change visa requirements?
There will not be any changes to visa requirements for EU nationals until at least December 31, 2020, when the Brexit transitional period is due to end. Until then, EU nationals can continue to travel to the UK without a visa for short trips and holidays.
What is a visitor in transit visa?
Visitor in Transit Visa. This type of visa is needed if you will pass through British border control but you intend to depart the country within 48 hours. You need a Visitor in Transit Visa if you are from a country that typically requires UK visitor visas (see above).
Do I Need a Transit Visa for the UK?
If you typically need a visa to enter the UK as a tourist, you will also need a transit visa. However, there are two types of transit visas for the UK, and the requirements change depending on what country you are from:
Do I Need a Visa for the UK?
If you are from the US , an EU Member State, or certain Commonwealth countries, you do not need a visa for the UK for up to six months.
How long do you have to provide your contact details before you arrive in the UK?
You need to provide your journey and contact details in the 48 hours before you arrive in the UK. You must do this by completing the online passenger locator form.
How long do you have to stay in England to get on the red list?
You must follow the red list rules if you arrive in England either: from a red list country via a green or amber list country, if you’ve spent less than 10 full days outside the red list country. The day you arrive in the green or amber list country and the day you arrive in England do not count towards the 10 full days.
How long do you have to be on a visa to visit the UK?
Apply for a Standard Visitor visa to visit the UK for up to 6 months. For example:
How long do you have to stay in the UK to come back?
If you had indefinite leave to remain ( ILR) and left the UK for more than 2 years you’ll need to apply for a Returning Resident visa to come back.
What affects which visa to apply for?
Your course length, type and place of study affect which visa to apply for.
How long can a family permit last in the UK?
A family permit lets you live, work and study in the UK for up to 6 months. Close family members include your spouse or civil partner, child, grandchild, parent or grandparent. You can apply to the EU Settlement Scheme after your family permit expires.
What is a student visa?
A Student visa is usually for a longer course. You must be sponsored by a licensed college or university and have a confirmed place. You may be able to do some work on this visa. A Child Student visa is for 4 to 17 year olds who want to study at an independent school.
Do you have to be approved before you travel?
Your application must be approved before you travel.
Where is the decision to allow a passenger to transit without a visa made?
The decision to allow a passenger to transit without a visa (TWOV) under the scheme is decided by an immigration officer at the UK border.
What is an ADS visa?
a valid Schengen Approved Destination Scheme (ADS) group tourism visa where the holder is travelling to the country that issued it
Do diplomatic passport holders need a visa?
(2): Holders of diplomatic passports do not require a visa. Service passport holders may transit without a visa. Holders of a public affairs passport may not transit without a visa.
Do non-nationals need a visa?
Whether holders of non-national and refugee travel documents require a direct airside transit visa (DATV) depends on their original nationality, and whether they qualify for one of the exemptions listed above. Persons recognised as stateless under the 1954 UN Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons are not required to hold a DATV and may transit airside without a visa.
How long does it take to get a visa?
Beware that the earliest you can apply is three months before you travel.
Is the UK a member of the EU?
The United Kingdom is not a member of the European Union (EU), but it has a long-standing Common Travel Area agreement with Ireland. This means that citizens of the UK and Ireland, along with the Crown Dependencies (the Isle of Man, Bailiwick of Jersey and Bailiwick of Guernsey) can live, work or study in any of the participating countries without ...
Who is eligible for a UK visa?
Eligible for this visa are only the people who are about to enter in the UK and are at the borders because had to leave their country as their life was seriously threatened. The application for this visa is made from within the UK. To apply for such a visa, you must provide the following documents:
How to apply for a UK visa from the US?
To begin the application process for a UK visa you need to fill the online application form, by submitting correct and honest information and then pay the visa application fees . If the information in the application form doesn’t comply with the information in the other required documents, your application will be rejected.
How long does it take to get a visa after biometrics?
The earliest you can submit your visa application with all of the required documents is one or one and a half days after and the latest 2 weeks after biometric submission.
What is an optional visa?
These are optional visa services for which the applicant has to pay an extra fee in order to get an answer on their application within a shorter period of time.
What is a student visa in the UK?
The UK student visas are issued to prospective students that plan on enrolling in UK educational institutions, such as universities and schools. To apply for a student visa you must provide the following:
What is a business visa in the UK?
The UK Business visa category has been established with the sole purpose of attracting successful business people to come and invest in the UK together with their families, ranging from investors, to entrepreneurs and more. To apply for these visas, the applicant must provide the following:
What is a family visa in the UK?
The UK family visas type is for people who have family members working and living in the UK and want to join them for more than six months, as their dependents. The dependents can be husband or wife (spouse), partner, fiancé, fiancée or proposed civil partner, children, parents, other family members.
How old do you have to be to travel with one parent?
If a child (under the age of 18) is travelling with only one parent or someone who isn’t a parent or legal guardian, you may be asked to provide certain documents at the border. For further information, see the US Customs and Border Protection website.
How long is a passport valid?
Your passport should be valid for the proposed duration of your stay. You don’t need any additional period of validity on your passport beyond this.
Can US citizens enter the US?
US citizens and permanent residents of the USA, certain specified close family members and certain other limited categories of visa holders (such as UN staff and diplomats) are exempt. They will still be able to enter the USA, subject to normal entry requirements.
Is a green card valid for a new resident?
New and renewed Green Cards (a Permanent Resident Card) are not currently being issued. However, existing Green Cards remain valid, although individuals who have been away from the USA for a substantial period of time should check their validity with their nearest US Embassy or Consulate before traveling. Further details are on the US Citizens and Immigration Services website.
Do you have to quarantine if you travel domestically?
If you are travelling domestically within the US, individual states and territories may have their own quarantine requirements. A full list of local quarantine requirements is available on the CDC website. You should check the list frequently as it is likely to change, sometimes daily, as rates of COVID-19 transmission increase or decrease.
