UK Tourist Visas

UK short stay visas are available for tourism, visiting family and friends and for entering the UK to undergo medical treatment and are normally issued for a duration of six months which may in some circumstances be extended. UK tourist visas, often refereed to as travel visas or visit visas are granted to those visiting the UK for a holiday or for a private visit whilst the UK business visit visa is issued where applicants will be conducting business activities in the UK.

You can find out whether you qualify for a UK visa and begin your application today by visiting the Global Visas online assessment area. As UK immigration specialists our team of immigration lawyers and migration consultants are committed to ensuring that you obtain the right visa for your needs.

UK Tourist Visas

UK visas for tourism can be issued as a single entry permit or for multiple entries to the UK and in both cases the maximum duration in the UK is six months. A multiple entry UK visit visa may be issued for up to 2 years, however this represents the overall duration of the visa’s validity; a candidate may travel in and out of the UK as frequently as they choose during this time, but their time spent in the UK must not exceed six months. As with all visas and immigration services for the UK, the maximum grant will not necessarily be issued to an applicant and the actual duration will ultimately be decided by the UK immigration Officer.

UK visit visas are issued as a temporary visa service and as such they do not provide a route to permanent immigration. A visit visa entitles the holder to remain in the UK for the duration granted and although studying is a possibility, so long as the course does not exceed the duration of the visa, working in the UK is not permitted. Candidates may not switch to another longer-term visa for the UK whilst in the country and short stay visas may not be extended.

Making a UK Visit Visa Application – Eligibility Requirements

Applying for a UK visa of this class requires a candidate to be able to demonstrate that it is their intention to return to their country of residence on or before the expiry of their visa and to support themselves financially throughout the duration of their stay. In circumstances where a candidate has familial ties to the UK close attention will be paid to the candidate’s intention to return home.

UK Business Visas

Like the UK tourist visa, applying for a UK business visa is a temporary UK immigration service designed for those who will be visiting the UK for a period of up to six months. The UK business visit visa should not be confused with the long-term innovator visa, entrepreneur visa and investor visa which are often collectively referred to as ‘UK business visas’.

The business visit visa is ideal for candidates who need to travel to the UK to engage in business activities excluding undertaking employment. A business visit visa does not require a job offer like a UK work permit, and requires none of the financial or points based assessment criteria of longer-term business visas although a candidate must be able to fund their time in the UK, or be funded by their employer. The short stay business visa allows an applicant to engage in a range of business activities such as attending meetings and conferences and souring premises, suppliers or clients, however, no employment of any kind may be undertaken on their class of visa. Like a tourist visa a business visa may be issued as a single visit permit or for multiple entries over a two-year duration. However, in both cases the maximum permitted stay in the UK is 6 months.

Visiting the UK to Undergo Medical Treatment – The UK Medical Visitor Visa

Medical visitor visas for the UK are issued to those who will be entering the UK to undergo pre-arranged private medical treatment. Candidates must be able to fund their stay in the UK and must not be diagnosed with a terminal illness. Although, like a tourist visa the medical visa is issued for six months, it may be extended as required so long as it can be demonstrated that the treatment in question requires the visa to be renewed.

The Global Visas online assessment area makes it easy to assess whether you qualify for a UK visa and to set your application in motion. Just take a few moments to complete one of our forms today and a specialist UK immigration consultant will contact you directly.