What is a UK Standard Visitor visa?

This is Part 2 of our series of blogs on visiting the UK. The first blog of this series is entitled “How do I come to the UK as a visitor?”

If you intend to visit the UK, you may need to apply for a visitor visa. This will mainly depend on your nationality. UK law requires nationals of certain countries to apply for a visitor visa in advance of visiting the UK, whilst others can travel to the UK and apply to enter as visitors at the UK border. In some instances, where non-visa nationals (i.e. those who do not require a visa in advance of travelling to the UK) have a complex immigration history, they may wish to apply for a visitor visa in advance of coming to the UK to seek clarity on whether they will be allowed entry. 

The UK imposes liability on carriers, such as airlines, if they carry visa nationals (i.e. those who require a visa in advance of travelling to the UK) who do not hold the required visa. As such, those who require visas to visit the UK will usually be denied boarding. 

With the advent of the ETA system in 2024, the UK visitor visa regime is expected to change. Please check out our blog on the ETA system.

What is your purpose for visiting the UK?

A Standard Visitor visa is for those who wish to visit the UK for up to 6 months for purposes such as tourism, visiting friends or family, or volunteering for a registered charity. Specific rules apply to permitted activities while being in the UK as a Standard Visitor. You need to ensure that you comply at all times with the requirements of the visitor status in the UK.

How long is a Standard Visitor visa granted for?

When applying for a UK visitor visa, there is an option of applying for a longer validity/multiple entry visa (i.e. 6 months, 2 years, 5 years or 10 years). The decision which length to grant lies solely with the government caseworker, and applying for a longer visa does not mean that the requested length will automatically be granted.

Regardless of the length of the visa issued, the length of stay is still restricted to 6 months per entry. It is important to note that a visitor cannot use this status to live or work in the UK. It is worth noting that the more often you enter the UK as a visitor and the longer you stay on each occasion, the more likely you will be questioned at the border about your activities in the UK and the need for the repeated entries. 

What is the processing time? 

Currently, the Home Office states that the processing time for UK visitor visas is 7 weeks; however, delays often occur. In addition, priority service has been suspended for most visa applications submitted abroad due to the Home Office diverting resources to the crisis in Ukraine. 

Why instruct Gherson? 

Gherson has broad expertise in advising clients on UK visitor visa applications. Each application is unique to the client’s specific circumstances and thus may be highly complex. One of the requirements for the UK visitor visa is that one must be a genuine visitor. In order to assess this the Home Office considers the applicant’s ties to their Home Country (amongst other factors). This varies drastically between different individuals and is heavily based on each person’s specific situation. At Gherson we take time to ensure that we understand your circumstances and provide you with advice tailored to your specific situation and requirements. If you would like to apply for a UK visitor visa, please do not hesitate to contact us for advice.

How Gherson can assist

Gherson’s General Immigration Team has extensive experience in all aspects of UK immigration law. If you have any queries relating to the blogs published or are interested in talking to us about your specific circumstances, please do not hesitate to contact us for advice, send us an e-mail, or, alternatively, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn to stay-up-to-date.

The information in this blog is for general information purposes only and does not purport to be comprehensive or to provide legal advice. Whilst every effort is made to ensure the information and law is current as of the date of publication it should be stressed that, due to the passage of time, this does not necessarily reflect the present legal position. Gherson accepts no responsibility for loss which may arise from accessing or reliance on information contained in this blog. For formal advice on the current law please do not hesitate to contact Gherson. Legal advice is only provided pursuant to a written agreement, identified as such, and signed by the client and by or on behalf of Gherson.

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