I want to visit the UK-Part 1

1: How do I qualify to travel to the UK as a visitor?
2: What is a visa?
3: Do I need a visa to visit the UK?
4: Does my child need a visa to visit the UK?
5: How long will my visa be valid for?
 
 
1:How do I qualify to travel to the UK as a visitor?
 
You must be able to show that:

  • you want to visit the UK for no more than six months
  • you intend to leave the UK at the end of your visit, and
  • you have enough money to support yourself and live in the UK without working or needing any help from public funds.
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2:What is a visa?
 
A visa is a certificate that is put into your passport or travel document by an Entry Clearance Officer at a British mission overseas. The visa gives you permission to enter the UK.

When you arrive in the UK, an Immigration Officer may ask you questions, so take all relevant documents in your hand luggage.
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3:Do I need a visa to visit the UK?
 
You will need a visa if you:

  • are a national of one of the countries listed in the visa and transit visa nationals page on this website
  • are stateless (you do not have a nationality)
  • hold a non-national travel document (a travel document which does not give you the nationality of the country that issued it), or
  • hold a passport issued by an authority that is not recognised in the UK.
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4:Does my child need a visa to visit the UK?
 
Your child will need a visa if they:

  • are a national of one of the countries listed in the visa and transit visa nationals page on this website
  • are stateless
  • hold a non-national travel document, or
  • hold a passport issued by an authority not recognised in the UK.
    If a child visitor is travelling to the UK without an adult (someone over the age of 18) you will need to provide:
  • evidence to show that suitable living arrangements have been made for their stay in the UK, and
  • contact details of the parent or guardian in the child’s home country.

If a child visitor is travelling with an adult (someone over the age of 18), the adult must be identified when the child’s visa is applied for. The adult’s name will appear on the visa and if the child arrives in the UK without that adult, they will be refused entry. Up to two adults can be identified, as long as the parent or guardian has given their consent (permission).
The child’s visa is only valid if the child travels with at least one of the adults identified on their visa.
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5:How long will my visa be valid for?
 
With a visit visa you can usually enter and leave the UK any number of times while the visa is still valid. You cannot stay for longer than six months on each visit. Visit visas can be valid for six months, one year, two years, five years or 10 years. You can apply for a visa valid for any of these periods. The Entry Clearance Officer may decide to make your visa valid for a shorter time than you have asked for, for example if you are not a regular traveller or have never visited the UK before.
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