The UK visitor visa allows a person to do a range of things:

• To take a holiday in the UK.
• Visit family or friends.
• For business reasons.
• To take part in sports or creative events.
• Receive private medical treatment.
• Study for up to 30 days, provided this is not the main reason for your visit.
• If you are under 18 years, you may take part in an exchange programme or educational visit.
• You can convert your civil partnership into a marriage.

• You are not allowed to do paid or unpaid work.
• You cannot through frequent visits to the UK basically live in the UK.
• There is no access to UK Public funds.
• One cannot marry, register a civil partnership or give notice of marriage or a civil partnership. You can only do this if you have applied for the Marriage Visitor Visa. Please speak to one of our consultants for more information.

Applicants are often unsure whether they can do business in the UK on the UK Visitor Visa. There is, however, a range of business activities that are allowed.

• Taking part in a specific sports-related event.
• Performing as an artist, entertainer or musician.
• Academics who are doing research, or accompanying students on a study abroad programme.
• Doctor or dentist who are taking a clinical attachment or observer post.
• To take the Professional Linguistic Assessment Board (PLAB) test or to sit the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE).
• To get funds to start, take over, join or run a business in the UK.

You can stay in the UK for up to six months.  You can also apply to extend your UK Visitor Visa, as long as the total time you spend in the UK is not more than 6 months.

It is also possible to apply for long-term visit visas if you travel to the UK regularly. These visas are valid for 2, 5 or 10 years. However, note that you are only allowed to stay a maximum of 6 months during any given year.

If you are going to the UK for private medical treatment, you might be able to extend your stay for up to eleven months.

If you are going to the UK as an academic on sabbatical or for research, you, your spouse, civil partner and children might be able to stay for up to twelve months.

Visitors under the Approved Destination Status Agreement, may be granted a visa for a period of up to 30 days.

You can only apply for the UK Visitor Visa 3 months before you travel to the UK.

Things you need to proof;

• You have to show that you will leave the UK at the end of your visit.
• That you are able to support yourself and any dependents during your trip.
• That you are able to pay for any costs relating to the trip, as well as the onward journey.
• You have to show proof of any business or other activities you will be doing in the UK.

There are additional and very specific document requirements if you are visiting as an academic, for private medical treatment, applying as an organ donor, prospective entrepreneur or to take the PLAB or OSCE test. 

The application form for a UK Tourist visa is known as the ˜Visit and Short Term Stay Form. This form can be filled up on the official website of the UK government as well as from the British High Commission website.

•  The applicant is required to enter the following details in the form:

• Type of visitor visa (tourist/to visit friends/other).

• Duration of stay.

• Main purpose of visit.

• Dates of travel (both the date of entry as well as date of exit from the UK)

Personal Details:

• Applicants full name.

• Gender.

• Marital status.

• Date and place of birth.

• Nationality and country of birth.

• Dual citizenship status, if any.

• Passport details such as passport number, expiry, date and place of issue.

• Residential address.

• Contact information such as email address, telephone and mobile number.

Family Information:

• Family related information such as father/mother/spouse name, date and place of birth and nationality.

• Details regarding spouse/children, if any.

Employment Information:

• Financial and employment details, such as current employment status.

• Type of employment currently engaged in, duration of employment and organisation details.

• Work address and previous work history.

• Details of income and employment.

• Details of cost of visit to the UK.

Travel History:

• Details of previous travel to foreign countries.

• Previous travel to the UK, with details, if any.

• Record of any criminal history in a foreign country, if any.

The application form is to be filled out online. Online forms can be found on the website of the British High Commission or the British Consulate website.

On submission of the form, the applicant will have to visit a Visa Application Centre at an allotted date and time where his/her biometric information (fingerprint scan and photograph) will be taken.

The applicant will have to be present at the Visa Application Center along with the form, visa fee and all supporting documents to file his/her visa application.

On completion of the filing process, an acknowledgment will be issued. The acknowledgment has to be presented when collecting the documents submitted.

The applicant will be notified regarding the status of the application within a period of three weeks from filing the application.