Highfin Insights · Immigration
Visit Visas
The purpose of a visit matters as much as its length. Check both the permission needed to travel and whether your planned activities fit the visitor rules before making arrangements.
General information, not advice on an individual matter.
Originally published
Revised and sources checked
In this article
Visa, ETA or another position?
Nationality and immigration status affect whether you need a Standard Visitor visa, an electronic travel authorisation (ETA), or neither. An ETA is not a visa and does not turn a visit into permission to work or live in the UK. Do not rely on EEA nationality alone to decide what is required.
Visitors must meet the relevant entry conditions, including a genuine temporary purpose, plans to leave and sufficient support for the visit. The ordinary limit is six months, with specific exceptions for some purposes; it is not a general residence route.
What can a visitor do?
Permitted business activities include meetings, conferences, interviews and negotiating contracts. They do not amount to unrestricted permission to work for a UK business. Certain paid engagements are permitted only within specific conditions, so a blanket statement that every paid activity is prohibited is also misleading.
Qualifying study can last up to six months, including study at an accredited institution where the requirements are met. There is no general 30-day limit for all permitted visitor study. Longer courses may require a different route; check the purpose-specific guidance rather than assuming a visitor visa is suitable.
Explain the visit with consistent evidence
Set out why you are visiting, where you expect to stay, how costs will be met and why you will leave. Relevant evidence can include finances, employment or study circumstances and any genuine invitation or support arrangement. Documents should support your actual plans rather than a generic checklist.
The application asks about matters including travel plans and relevant personal history. Answer accurately and address previous refusals where asked. Documents not in English or Welsh need an appropriate translation. A large bank balance alone does not explain the purpose or credibility of a visit.
Check charges and timing before applying
The published Standard Visitor visa fee for a stay of up to six months is £135, checked on 13 October 2026. This is a government application charge, not a Highfin professional fee. Check the official page again before paying; different applications and optional services may involve different charges.
You can normally apply up to three months before travel. Follow the application and identity appointment instructions and allow for the current decision guidance. A planned departure date does not guarantee a decision by that date.
Long-term visas and refusal decisions
Long-term visitor visas can be valid for two, five or ten years, but generally allow no more than six months per visit. They do not authorise living in the UK through frequent or successive visits. A shorter visa may be granted, and the published guidance explains the limits on refunds.
If an application is refused, read the reasons and obtain advice on the options available in that particular case. A fresh application should address the underlying concerns with accurate evidence rather than simply repeating the earlier submission. Neither a new application nor legal assistance guarantees approval.
Official guidance
Checked 13 October 2026. Rules and charges can change; check the current guidance before applying.