United Kingdom · Visitor route

UK Standard Visitor Visa

A structured view of visitor purpose, genuine temporary intent, permitted activities, funds, documents, government fees and the evidence needed for a UK Standard Visitor application.

Regulatory foundation verified 11 / 11 requirements mapped 10 official sources EN + ES

Start with the purpose of the visit — not the document list.

A strong Standard Visitor assessment connects why you are travelling, what you plan to do in the UK, how the trip will be funded, where you will stay and why the visit is genuinely temporary. EYM treats those facts as one evidence system rather than isolated uploads.

Do you need a visa or an ETA?

Do not assume every visitor needs a Standard Visitor visa. The correct entry permission depends on nationality, purpose and circumstances. EYM checks that question before treating the case as a visa application.

Travelling with family

Standard Visitor does not create derivative visitor status for accompanying family members. Each person must independently meet the Visitor requirements and each family member who needs a visa makes a separate application and pays the applicable fee.

What the visitor route can cover

Standard Visitor permission allows only activities permitted by the Visitor Rules, including tourism, visiting family or friends, qualifying business activities, short study and specified permitted paid engagements where the relevant conditions are met.

What it does not normally allow

A Standard Visitor cannot ordinarily do paid or unpaid work for a UK company or work as a self-employed person. Any paid engagement or work-related activity must fall within the specific activities expressly permitted by the Visitor Rules. Visitors cannot use frequent or successive visits to make the UK their main home.

Evidence map

These are the regulatory and evidential components currently mapped into the EYM Standard Visitor assessment. Contextual items appear only when relevant.

Passport or travel document valid for the whole stay Core

Purpose of visit must fall within permitted Standard Visitor activities Core

Evidence supporting genuine temporary visitor intent and departure from the UK Core

Evidence of sufficient funds for the visit, accompanying family members and return or onward journey Core

Travel dates, accommodation and estimated trip-cost information Core

Travel history and personal, employment or family circumstances where requested Contextual

Third-party financial or accommodation support evidence where applicable Contextual

Verifiable translation for documents not in English or Welsh Contextual

Identity verification and biometric enrolment for a visa application Core

Additional evidence for study, academic, paid-engagement or medical visits where applicable Contextual

Tuberculosis certificate where Appendix Tuberculosis applies Contextual

Government application fees

These are alternative visa-validity options. You pay the applicable option for the application you make — the four amounts must never be added together.

Up to 6 months £135 Effective 8 Apr 2026

Long-term · up to 2 years £506 Effective 8 Apr 2026

Long-term · up to 5 years £903 Effective 8 Apr 2026

Long-term · up to 10 years £1,128 Effective 8 Apr 2026

Long-term validity does not mean one continuous stay for the entire visa validity. Individual visits are normally limited by the Visitor rules.

Common assessment mistakes

Building the application around bookings instead of the actual visitor purpose and personal circumstances.
Showing money without explaining where it came from or how it relates to the proposed trip.
Ignoring inconsistencies between employment, family, travel history and the planned length of stay.
Assuming business activity automatically means permission to work in the UK.
Treating family members as derivatives instead of assessing each traveller independently.

Before you apply

Confirm whether a visa, ETA or another permission is actually required.
Define the exact purpose and intended length of the visit.
Map the trip costs and identify who will pay them.
Prepare evidence that supports the temporary nature of the visit.
Check whether any activity-specific evidence is required.
Translate documents that are not in English or Welsh where required.

Official regulatory sources

EYM maintains the route against verified UK government and Home Office sources.

Visit the UK as a Standard Visitor UK Visas and Immigration https://www.gov.uk/standard-visitor

Apply for a Standard Visitor visa UK Visas and Immigration https://www.gov.uk/standard-visitor/apply-standard-visitor-visa

Visiting the UK: guide to supporting documents UK Visas and Immigration https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/visitor-visa-guide-to-supporting-documents/guide-to-supporting-documents-visiting-the-uk

Immigration Rules Appendix V: Visitor Home Office https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-appendix-v-visitor

Immigration Rules Appendix Visitor: Permitted Activities Home Office https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-appendix-visitor-permitted-activities

Standard Visitor: visit on business UK Visas and Immigration https://www.gov.uk/standard-visitor/visit-on-business

Standard Visitor: visit to study UK Visas and Immigration https://www.gov.uk/standard-visitor/visit-to-study

Home Office immigration and nationality fees, 8 April 2026 Home Office https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/visa-regulations-revised-table/home-office-immigration-and-nationality-fees-8-april-2026

Check if you need a UK visa UK Visas and Immigration https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa

Immigration Rules Appendix Tuberculosis Home Office https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-appendix-tuberculosis-tb

See your exact visitor assessment

Start with your nationality, purpose, duration, funding and accommodation plan. EYM will identify the assessment route and the information still needed before a case is activated.

Start my assessment