Short answer: A UK Standard Visitor visa lets you visit the UK for up to 6 months for tourism, to see family and friends, certain business activities, short study, medical reasons and a handful of other approved purposes. It does not let you work for a UK company, live in the UK, claim benefits or get married. GOV.UK lists 12 permitted activities, and this guide explains each one, including the limits that catch people out.
Do you need a visa at all? Depending on your nationality, you will either need a Standard Visitor visa, need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA), or be able to visit without either. The same permitted activities apply in all three cases. If you do need the visa, it costs £135 for up to 6 months, you apply online, and the earliest you can apply is 3 months before you travel.
The 12 permitted activities at a glance
| # | Activity | Key limit or condition |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tourism | None beyond the 6-month stay |
| 2 | Visiting family or friends | None beyond the 6-month stay |
| 3 | Business activities | You cannot be paid by a UK organisation or client |
| 4 | Study, placement or exam | Courses of up to 6 months; you cannot switch to a Student visa from inside the UK |
| 5 | Medical reasons | Extra requirements; longer stays may be possible |
| 6 | Transit | If it is your only reason, a Visitor in Transit visa (£74.50) may suit better |
| 7 | Recreational course | Up to 30 days |
| 8 | Charity volunteering | Up to 30 days, with a registered charity |
| 9 | Permitted paid engagement | Expert in your profession, 18 or over, written UK invitation, done in the first month |
| 10 | Academic, senior doctor or dentist | Extra requirements; some academics can stay longer |
| 11 | Erasmus+ placement | Certain placements only |
| 12 | School exchange programme | Organised exchange programmes only |
The first six are what most visitors need. The last six are specialist routes that apply to far fewer people.
The most common activities
1. Can you go on holiday on a Standard Visitor visa?
Yes. Tourism is the most common reason people visit. Sightseeing, museums, landmarks, days out and general travel around the UK are all fine, for up to 6 months per visit.
2. Can you visit family and friends?
Yes. You can stay with or spend time with family and friends in the UK, including attending family events. Visiting someone is a permitted purpose, but you still have to show that you will leave at the end of your trip and that you can support yourself, so your documents should match your plans.
3. What business activities are allowed?
You can do certain business activities for your overseas employer or your own overseas business. These include:
- attending meetings, conferences, seminars and interviews
- negotiating and signing deals
- carrying out site visits and inspections
- giving a one-off or short series of talks, as long as they are not for profit or part of a commercial event
The catch: you cannot be paid by a UK-based organisation or client for this. If a UK company is paying you, that is work, and it is not allowed unless it falls under a permitted paid engagement (see activity 9).
4. Can you study on a Standard Visitor visa?
Yes, but only briefly. GOV.UK allows study, a placement or an exam, with courses of up to 6 months. For anything longer you need a Student visa.
The catch: you cannot switch from a visitor visa to the Student route from inside the UK. If you decide to study longer after arriving, you would have to return home and apply from there.
5. Can you come to the UK for medical reasons?
Yes. Visiting for medical reasons is a permitted activity, and there are extra requirements. You will usually need to show details of the treatment and how you will pay for it. GOV.UK also notes that in some circumstances, such as medical treatment, you may be able to apply to stay longer than 6 months.
6. Can you pass through the UK in transit?
Yes. You can pass through the UK on the way to another country on a Standard Visitor visa. If transit is your only reason for travelling, you can apply for a Visitor in Transit visa instead, which costs £74.50.
7. Can you take a short recreational course?
Yes, for up to 30 days. This covers leisure courses such as dance, art or music. If you want to study something for longer, see activity 4.
8. Can you volunteer?
Yes, but only for up to 30 days and only with a registered charity. Volunteering for anyone else, or for longer, is not covered. This is one of the limits people most often get wrong.
9. Can you be paid for anything? (Permitted paid engagement)
Only in one narrow case. A permitted paid engagement lets some professionals do a specific paid job, such as giving a lecture or performing. You must:
- be an expert in your profession
- be 18 or over
- have a written invitation from a UK-based organisation or client for a pre-arranged event or engagement
- be doing something relevant to your expertise, qualifications and main job in your home country
The catch: you can stay up to 6 months, but the engagement itself must take place in the first month. It is not a general right to work.
10. What can academics, senior doctors and dentists do?
GOV.UK has a dedicated route for visiting as an academic, senior doctor or dentist, with its own extra eligibility requirements. Academics may be able to stay longer than the usual 6 months in some cases, so if this is you, read GOV.UK's academic guidance before you apply.
11. What is an Erasmus+ placement?
Certain Erasmus+ placements, such as job shadowing, are permitted. This is a narrow category, and most visitors will never need it.
12. Can you take part in a school exchange?
Yes. You can take part in a school exchange programme. As with the other specialist routes, check the GOV.UK guidance for any extra requirements, including the rules for anyone under 18.
ASKVisas is an independent guidance service. We are not a law firm and are not affiliated with the UK government. This article offers general guidance, not legal advice.
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