Planning a trip to the United Kingdom starts with checking which entry permission you need. Depending on your nationality and travel plans, this could be a UK visa or an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA).
This VisaSyst guide explains the differences, visitor visa requirements, application steps, fees, and processing times.
Note: We provide UK ETA application assistance. For a Standard Visitor visa or another immigration route, apply directly through GOV.UK.
Do You Need a UK Visa or a UK ETA? (Quick Eligibility Checker)
Your passport nationality, reason for travel, and existing immigration status determine which route applies. Start with these questions.
Other exemptions apply, including certain journeys by eligible residents of Ireland.
Category 1: Visa-required travellers (UK Standard Visitor visa required)
If your nationality requires a visa, you generally need a Standard Visitor visa for tourism, family visits, or other permitted short stays.
An ETA cannot replace a visa when your nationality or intended activity requires one. Check your eligibility before starting either application.
Category 2: Visa-exempt travellers (UK ETA required)
Visitors from countries including the United States, Canada, Australia, and many European countries don’t need a visa but they do need an ETA.
A UK ETA is digital permission to travel. It doesn’t guarantee admission, and you must still meet the conditions for your visit. Children and babies also need their own ETA unless exempt.
Summary comparison: UK Standard Visitor visa vs UK ETA
Long-term visitor visas normally limit each visit to 6 months. ETA validity also doesn’t allow you to remain continuously for 2 years.
You may need a UK ETA for your visit
If your passport qualifies, you can apply for an ETA for tourism, family visits, or permitted business activities. VisaSyst offers an online application service with specialist review to help you identify common mistakes before submission.
Explore our UK ETA application service
What Is the UK Standard Visitor Visa?
The Standard Visitor visa allows eligible travellers to enter the UK temporarily for approved activities. People often call it a “UK tourist visa”, although its permitted uses extend beyond holidays.
It generally allows stays of up to 6 months. Specific arrangements exist for certain medical and academic visits.
Who must apply for a Standard Visitor visa?
You generally need a Standard Visitor visa if your nationality requires a visa to enter the UK and you’re travelling for tourism, family visits, or other permitted activities.
The requirement depends on the passport you hold and any existing UK immigration permission.
Use the official UK visa checker to confirm whether you need a visitor visa, an ETA, or neither before applying.
Permitted activities of a UK Visitor Visa
Depending on the conditions of your visit, permitted activities include:
- Holiday or visiting friends and family
- Business meetings, interviews, or conferences
- Taking an eligible short course
- Receiving qualifying private medical treatment
- Volunteering for up to 30 days with a registered charity
For study visits, you generally need acceptance from an accredited institution, and the course must normally last no more than 6 months.
A visitor visa doesn’t provide general permission to take a UK job or work as a self-employed person. Specific exceptions exist for expressly permitted activities.
Long-term visitor visas
If you visit regularly, you can apply for a Standard Visitor visa lasting 2, 5, or 10 years.
These options allow repeated visits, normally lasting no more than 6 months each. They don’t allow you to live in the UK through frequent or successive stays.
UK Visa Requirements & Mandatory Documents
Your evidence should explain why you’re visiting, how you’ll pay, and why you’ll leave afterwards. The documents needed depend on your circumstances and planned activities.
Essential passport and photo specifications
Your passport or travel document must be valid throughout your stay. Check that the identity details in your application match it exactly.
For a visitor visa, your photograph and fingerprints are normally collected during the application appointment. Follow your appointment instructions for any additional photo requirements.
Supporting documents that are not in English or Welsh need a full, independently verifiable translation. This must include the translator’s confirmation of accuracy, date, name, signature, and contact details.
Financial proof and proof of funds standards
There’s no fixed minimum bank balance for a UK Standard Visitor visa. You must show that you can reasonably afford the trip after accounting for your other financial commitments.
Your available funds should cover accommodation, daily expenses, planned activities, accompanying dependants, and return or onward travel.
Useful evidence may include:
Explain unusual deposits and keep your declared income, savings, and trip budget consistent. If someone sponsors you, show what they’ll cover and their ability to provide it.
The ‘genuine visitor test’
Under Appendix V, paragraph V 4.2, the decision-maker must be satisfied that you:
- Will leave when your visit ends.
- Will not make the UK your main home through repeated visits.
- Have a genuine purpose permitted under the visitor rules.
- Will avoid prohibited activities.
- Can cover reasonable visit costs without working or accessing public funds.
Your application should present a coherent explanation of your plans. Employment, studies, family responsibilities, and other commitments outside the UK may help explain your intention to return.
Tuberculosis (TB) test requirements
A TB certificate is not a routine requirement for every tourist.
The general testing criteria concern applicants coming for 6 months or more who have lived in a listed country for at least 6 months, with recent residence there.
Check the official TB test requirements, particularly for longer academic or medical visits. A multi-year visitor visa doesn’t itself mean you’ll stay for that entire period.
Overview of Other UK Immigration Routes
A visitor visa or ETA may be unsuitable if your main purpose is employment, extended study, or residence. These activities have separate requirements.
UK work visas
The Skilled Worker route generally requires an eligible job with a Home Office-approved employer and a certificate of sponsorship.
The usual salary requirement is £41,700 annually or the occupation’s going rate, whichever is higher. Different rules or lower thresholds can apply in qualifying cases, including certain healthcare and education roles.
Check the Skilled Worker requirements for your occupation and circumstances before relying on a headline salary figure.
UK Student visas and Graduate routes
A Student visa generally requires an offer from a licensed student sponsor, sufficient funds, and the required English-language ability. It’s a separate route from short study as a visitor.
After completing an eligible UK course, qualifying Student visa holders may apply for a Graduate visa from inside the UK.
The Graduate visa lasts 2 years for applications submitted by 31 December 2026, or 18 months from 1 January 2027. Eligible doctoral graduates receive 3 years. Check the Graduate visa rules before applying.
Transit visas
Your transit requirements depend on your nationality, documents, and whether you pass through UK border control.
ETA-eligible passengers currently don’t need an ETA for airside transit. They generally need one when passing border control, unless exempt.
A Visitor in Transit visa covers qualifying journeys involving departure within 48 hours. Use the official transit checker and confirm your transfer arrangements with your airline.
How to Apply for a UK Visa Step-by-Step
The following steps cover the Standard Visitor visa. VisaSyst doesn’t process this visa.
Submit your online application through GOV.UK
Start from the official Standard Visitor application page.
Complete the form, pay the fee, and prepare the requested evidence. You can apply up to 3 months before your intended travel date.
Each traveller needs a separate application, including children. Check your travel dates, passport details, and financial information before submitting.
Attend your biometrics appointment at a visa application centre
Follow the application instructions to book your appointment and provide your fingerprints and photograph.
Use the GOV.UK visa application centre directory to find the current authorised provider. Many locations use VFS Global, and provider arrangements can change.
Follow your centre’s instructions for presenting your passport and uploading or scanning documents.
Application review and eVisa digital status
UKVI reviews your application and may request further information. Your decision notice explains the outcome and any permission granted.
Successful new visa applicants now receive an eVisa, a digital record of their identity and immigration status. UKVI stopped issuing visa stickers to successful new applicants on 1 July 2026.
Before travelling, access your UKVI account, check your permission, and ensure your current passport is linked correctly. Follow any additional instructions in your decision notice.
UK Visa & ETA Fees Comparison (2026)
The following figures are official government application fees. Optional services, currency conversion, and third-party assistance can increase the amount you pay.
Official government fees breakdown:
These fees took effect on 8 April 2026. Check the official Home Office fee table before paying.
Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) and expedited processing fees
Visitor visa applicants don’t pay the Immigration Health Surcharge, including those applying for long-term visitor visas. This doesn’t automatically entitle visitors to free NHS treatment.
For immigration routes that require the surcharge, the usual annual rate is £1,035. Students and certain other applicants pay £776 annually, subject to the applicable rules.
Where available, optional expedited visa services have additional government fees:
- Priority service: £500.
- Super priority service: £1,000
Availability depends on your application and location. These services don’t guarantee approval, and further checks can delay a decision.
Processing Times & Decision Timelines
Allow time for preparation and appointments as well as the decision itself. An application’s processing period doesn’t necessarily begin when you first start the online form.
UK ETA processing duration
VisaSyst processes ETA applications within 3 days. We also offer a 1-hour Priority Processing service.
Standard Visitor visa timelines
The published processing time for a Standard Visitor visa application outside the UK is 3 weeks.
Processing generally starts once you have proved your identity and submitted the required documents. Appointment waiting time comes before this period.
Additional checks, an interview, or requests for evidence can make an application take longer. Check the current UKVI processing guidance before planning your trip.
Common Reasons for UK Visa Refusal
A visitor visa may be refused if your evidence doesn’t establish a genuine temporary visit.
Problems can include:
- An unclear purpose or plans inconsistent with the visitor route.
- Insufficient accessible funds.
- Financial information that conflicts with your supporting documents.
- Concerns that you intend to work or live in the UK.
These issues relate to the visitor eligibility requirements and the assessment of your circumstances.
Separate refusal grounds include specified criminality, deception, and immigration breaches.
Some grounds require refusal, while others allow discretion. Provide accurate information, disclose relevant history, and address the reasons in any previous refusal before applying again.
FAQs About the UK’s Visa Policy
Can I work in the UK with an ETA or a visitor visa?
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Neither an ETA nor a Standard Visitor visa gives you general permission to work in the UK. Business meetings and certain other activities are permitted.
Limited exceptions exist for specific engagements, but taking a UK job normally requires an appropriate work visa.
What are the financial and funds requirements to apply for a UK Standard Visitor visa?
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There’s no fixed minimum bank balance. You must show enough accessible money for accommodation, daily expenses, dependants, and return travel.
Your budget should be realistic for your circumstances. If someone sponsors you, provide evidence of their support and financial ability.
How much do the official fees cost and how long does it take to process a UK visitor visa?
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A Standard Visitor visa for up to 6 months costs £135. Applications outside the UK usually take 3 weeks after identity checks and document submission.
Appointment waiting time is additional, and further checks may delay the decision. Longer-term visas cost more.
Can I work or extend my stay in the UK with a visitor visa?
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A visitor visa doesn’t normally permit employment.
If your permission is shorter than 6 months, you may qualify to extend it to 6 months in total. Longer extensions are restricted to specific circumstances. Apply before your existing permission expires.
Do I need a transit visa to stop at an airport in the UK?
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It depends on your nationality, documents, and whether you pass through border control. Some passengers need an airside or landside transit visa, unless exempt.
ETA-eligible travellers generally need an ETA for landside transit but currently don’t need one when remaining airside.
