Visas
Click on the links below to find out more about each visa type:
Visitors (Tourist) visas
For those who want to visit the UK as a tourist or for business reasons. On arrival in the UK, you will need to show the UK Immigration Officer that you:
- Are a genuine visitor
- Intend to stay in the UK for no more than six months
- Plan to leave the UK at the end of your visit
- Have enough money to support yourself without working or relying on public funds
- Can meet the onward cost of your journey
On a Visitors visa, you are not allowed to work in the UK, whether paid or unpaid, or enrol your children in state schools. You do not qualify for free medical treatment from the National Health Service, so ensure you take out medical insurance before you travel.
As a business visitor, you are free to carry out business in the UK or in connection with your business overseas, and you may attend meetings, trade fairs, conferences and training. However, you are not allowed to take paid or unpaid employment, or sell goods or services to the public.
This type of visa is also suitable if you are an entertainer or a sportsperson coming to the UK for a trial or audition or for a personal appearance that does not involve a paid performance.
Working Holidaymaker visa
A Working Holidaymaker visa allows Commonwealth citizens between the ages of 17 and 30 to travel and work in the UK for a maximum period of two years.
Work in the UK must not be the main reason for your holiday, so you can spend no more than 12 months working. You can take most types of work, including voluntary work, but you cannot set up or run a business, or work as a professional sportsperson. You can choose when to work and when to take your holiday breaks. Any time you spend outside the UK during your visa is still counted as part of the two-year limit.
After spending 12 months on a Working Holidaymaker visa in the UK, you may be able to switch to a work permit. See the Work Permit Scheme section for details.
Student visas
If you want to study in the UK, a student visa is ideal for you. To qualify for this visa, you must be able to show that:
- You have been accepted for a course at a publicly-funded institution of further or higher education (e.g: a university); a private education institution; or an independent fee-paying school
- You will be following a recognised full-time degree course; or a course running during the week that involves at least 15 hours of full-time day-time study
- You are able to pay for your course, support and accommodate yourself and any dependents for the duration of your course without relying on public funds
- You plan to leave the UK on completion of your course when you are not studying towards a degree qualification.
With this visa, you are entitled to take on part-time work for not more than 20 hours a week, unless it is a work placement and part of a study program which your education institution has agreed to. You are not allowed to do business, be self-employed or provide services as a professional sport person.
NEW! Changes to student rules from 1 September 2007:
- A new student visitor category will be introduced for short term students who wish to study in the UK for six months or less but who do not wish to take part-time employment or seek an extension to their student visitor leave; visitors will no longer be allowed to enter the UK to undertake a course of study;
- A mandatory entry clearance requirement will be introduced for those coming to the UK as a student or as a prospective student;
- The in-country switching provisions for students and prospective students will be amended so that only those with a legitimate expectation to progress into the student route will be allowed to do so. Overseas nationals with leave as a work permit holder, as a sabbatical officer, as a Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland scheme participant and those here with leave under the Science and Engineering Graduate Scheme (or its successor the International Graduate Scheme) will be allowed to switch into the student category provided they are studying at degree level or above. Those here with entry clearance to re-sit an examination will be allowed to switch to undertake study at any level.
Student Dependent visas
If you are eligible for a student visa, your spouse and children under the age of 18 will be able to join you on a Student Dependent visa. However, your spouse must be able to support themselves either independently or with your help, and will be allowed to work full time only if your student visa is issued for twelve months or more. Students are not allowed to have unmarried partners as visa dependents.
Extension of Student visas
Provided you have attended at least 15 hours of organised daytime study per week
for the duration of your initial Student visa, and can prove that you have made
suitable progress in your studies, you may be able to extend your visa for
further study. If you are studying short courses below degree level, your
student visa will not be extended beyond two years.
Useful Links: Department
for Education and Skills
Dependent of Work Permit holder
If your spouse/unmarried partner or civil partner has been granted a UK work permit, you will be eligible to enter the UK as the Dependent of a Work Permit holder, provided that you live with them permanently.
If you are not married, you will need to prove that you have been in a relationship akin to a marriage with your partner for at least two years before the date of application. Your visa will be granted for the same period as your spouse or partners work permit, allowing you employment without restriction and multiple entries to the UK.
Children under the age of 18 who wish to accompany their parents to the UK are also eligible for this visa. Children over the age of 18 will need to qualify independently for the right to live in the UK.
Ancestral and Dependent visas
If you are a Commonwealth citizen, aged 17 or older and have a grandparent who was born in the UK, you could apply for an Ancestry visa. This visa gives you the freedom to work and eventually settle in the UK based on your ancestral ties. It is issued for five years, during which time you will be able to work without restriction in any occupation you choose, and will be allowed multiple entries to the UK.
After five continuous years in the UK you may apply for indefinite leave to remain, provided that you can prove that you have been working during the five years of your visa and have not spent more than 90 days per year outside the UK. After another year on permanent residence, you can apply to be become a British citizen, when you will receive a British passport.
If you or your parents were officially adopted, you may still be eligible for this visa.
Your spouse, unmarried or same-sex partner is also eligible to apply for a UK Ancestry Dependency Visa.
Spouse and Unmarried Partner visas
Spouse visas
If your spouse or civil partner is either a British citizen, or has indefinite leave to remain in the UK, you can join them on a Spouse visa. If you have been granted limited leave to remain in the UK, you can apply for a Spouse visa without having to leave the UK. If not, you must apply for entry clearance to ensure you enter the UK as a spouse.
You will be given a probationary period of residence for two years, after which you can apply for indefinite leave to remain in the UK, provided you can prove that you have been genuinely living together. Once the visa has been issued, you will be able to work without restriction and exit and enter the UK multiple times.
Unmarried Partner visas
If you have lived with a British citizen or a UK permanent resident in a heterosexual or same-sex relationship for at least two years, you can apply to join them in the UK. You can apply for settlement after you have lived in the UK for two years.
EEA Family visas
If you are a citizen of the EU taking up residence in the UK, you are entitled to bring your spouse / family with you. They will be given an EEA Family visa entry clearance which is valid for three months. During this period in the UK, you can apply for a residents permit, and your family can apply for five-year resident stamps in their passports.
With this visa, you and your family will be entitled to work in the UK without restriction.
Permanent Residence
Permanent residence or indefinite leave to remain (ILR) means you can stay in the UK for as long as you like, and is usually the final stage before applying for British citizenship.
This status will be given to you provided that you are settled in the UK, and that you have successfully completed one of the following:
- A five-year work permit and/or HSMP or dependency visa
- A five-year Ancestry or dependency visa
- A two-year Spousal or Unmarried partners visa
- A five-year EEA Family visa
NEW! From 2 April 2007 all applicants for indefinite leave to remain will need to provide evidence that they have passed either the Life in the UK test or English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) which includes citizenship materials. If you spend two years or more continuously outside of the UK, then your ILR status may be cancelled.
British citizenship
Once you have been given permanent residence status, you can apply to become a British citizen. To qualify, you will need to have:
- Had indefinite leave to remain (ILR) status for a year.
- During the 5 year period you should not have been absent from the UK for more than 450 days of which no more than 90 days should have been taken in the last 12 months.
- If you are married to or the civil partner of a British citizen you should not have been absent for more than 270 days during the last 3 years, of which no more than 90 days should have been taken in the last 12 months.
- Proof of up to date tax and national insurance