Appendix Visitor: UK Visa Rules for Visitors

Visitors coming to the UK will need to ensure they have the relevant permission before they travel. In most cases, if you’re not eligible for a permit under the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme, you will need a visitor visa.

Appendix V specifies various visitor categories, including Standard Visitors, Marriage/Civil Partnership Visitors and Transit Visitors, detailing eligibility criteria, permitted activities and restrictions for each category. For example, standard visitors can come to the UK for tourism, business meetings or short courses, but they are generally prohibited from working.​

Below we look at the UK Immigration Rules for visitors, from the type of visa you will need based on the purpose and length of your visit, to the rules you will need to follow once you are in the UK.

 

Appendix Visitor: rules for visitors

 

The rules for international visitors coming to the UK can be found under the Immigration Rules Appendix V for Visitors. These are also known as the visitor rules, and set out the various general and specific eligibility requirements when applying for a visit visa, as well as the types of activities that are permissible or prohibited in the UK under the visitor routes.

The duration of your visa and what activities you will be permitted to undertake during your stay in the UK will be dependent on the intended purpose of your visit and the subcategory of visit visa that you are seeking to apply for under the Visitor Rules.

 

Visa routes for visitors to the UK

 

Under the UK’s Immigration Rules for visitors, there are four main categories of visa:

 

• The Standard Visitor visa: to visit the UK for tourism and leisure, for business activities, to take part in sports or creative events, or for another reason, for example, to receive private medical treatment, donate an organ or as an international academic.
• The Marriage and Civil Partnership visitor visa: to visit the UK to get married or form a civil partnership, or to give notice of a marriage or civil partnership.
• The Transit visa: to visit the UK en route to another destination country.
• Diplomatic Visa Arrangement (DVA) Visitor: for visitors with a valid diplomatic passport, nominated through a Note Verbale from their sending government.

 

Each of these sub-categories under the rules allow the visa holder to undertake any activities permitted by that route. For example, under a Standard Visitor visa you can:

 

• Visit friends and family or come to the UK for a holiday
• Take part in any of the business-related activities mentioned in the Visitor Rules
• Study for up to 30 days, as long as this is not the main reason for your visit
• Undertake incidental volunteering for up to 30 days
• Pass through the UK in transit on your way to another country

 

You will not be allowed to undertake work under this category of visa, other than that permitted under the rules. You will also not be allowed to access public funds, or live in the UK for long periods of time through frequent visits.

As there are different permitted or prohibited activities for each of the different visa routes it is always worth scrutinising the Immigration Rules for visitors before submitting your application to ensure that you will be able to visit the UK for your intended purpose(s).

 

Business visitor rules

 

If you are looking to visit the UK for business purposes, in most cases you will need to apply for a Standard Visitor visa. This will allow you to undertake a number of different business-related activities including coming to the UK for any of the following:

 

• To attend meetings, conferences, seminars or interviews
• To give a one-off or short series of talks and speeches, provided these are not organised as commercial events and will not make a profit for the organiser
• To negotiate and sign deals and contracts
• To attend trade fairs, for promotional work only, provided you are not directly selling
• To carry out site visits and inspections
• To gather information for your employment overseas
• To be briefed on the requirements of a UK-based customer, provided any work for the customer is done outside of the UK

 

Under a Standard Visitor visa you can also visit the UK to:

 

• Take part in a specific sports-related event
• Perform as an artist, entertainer or musician
• Accompany students on a study abroad programme or to undertake research as an academic
• Take a clinical attachment or observer post as a doctor or dentist
• Get funding to start, take over, join or run a business in the UK

 

If, on the other hand, you are looking to undertake paid work in the UK, you may be eligible for a PPE visa. This will allow you to undertake short paid engagements in the UK, such as giving guest lectures at a higher education institution, providing advocacy in legal proceedings or taking part in arts, entertainment or sporting activities. However, you must have a formal invitation from a UK-based organisation or client. The PPE visa route is also only open to applicants who are experts in their profession overseas and in very limited circumstances.

If you intend to undertake any work or activities in the UK other than those permitted by the Immigration Rules for visitors, you may instead need to apply for a work visa under the UK’s points-based system. The eligibility and evidentiary requirements for these types of visa can be complex – for example, for a skilled worker you will need the offer of a suitable job from a UK licensed sponsor – so it is always best to seek expert advice here.

 

Visitor visa requirements

 

To be eligible for any type of visa under the UK’s Immigration Rules for visitors, regardless of the purpose of your visit, you must show that:

 

• You will leave the UK at the end of your visit, and will not live in the UK for extended periods through frequent or successive visits, or make the UK your main home
• You are able to support yourself and any dependents for the duration of your trip
• You are able to pay for your return or onward journey, as well as any other costs relating to your visit to the UK, without working or accessing public funds
• You have proof of any business or other activities you want to do in the UK, as allowed by the Visitor Rules, and will not undertake any prohibited activities set out under those rules

 

If the cost of your travel, maintenance and accommodation in the UK is to be provided by a third party, the Home Office must be satisfied that:

 

• A genuine professional or personal relationship exists with that person
• They are not, or will not be, in breach of UK immigration laws at the time of decision or your entry to the UK
• They can, and will, provide you with support for the duration of your stay

 

There are, however, several additional eligibility requirements depending on the nature of your visit and the subcategory of visa that you are seeking, so again careful checks should be made of the Immigration Rules for visitors before submitting your visa application.

 

How long can you stay in the UK with a visitor visa?

 

You can usually stay in the UK on a Standard Visitor visa for up to 6 months. You might be able to stay for longer if you are coming to the UK for private medical treatment (up to 11 months), or as an academic on sabbatical coming to the UK for research (up to 12 months).

If you are granted a visa for any lesser period, you may be able to apply for an extension from within the UK. However, the total duration of your stay, including both the original grant and the extension of stay, must not exceed the maximum permitted time. You must also apply before your existing visa expires, and satisfy the Home Office that you continue to meet all the suitability and eligibility requirements for your subcategory of visa.

If you need to visit the UK regularly over a longer period, you can apply for what’s known as a long-term Standard Visitor visa that lasts 2, 5 or 10 years. This will allow you to stay in the UK for a maximum of 6 months on each visit. However, you must prove that you will only ever need to come to the UK to visit and that you plan to leave the UK at the end of each visit.

Visitors for permitted paid engagements may not apply for an extension of stay as a visitor. These visas are granted for a period of up to one month only.

 

Will a visitor visa guarantee entry to the UK?

 

When you apply for a visa under the Immigration Rules for visitors, you will need to provide a current passport or other valid travel identification, together with additional documentation to prove the purpose of your visit as set out under the rules.

However, being granted a visa in advance of travelling does not guarantee entry into the UK. This means that on your arrival in the UK you must be in possession of documentation to prove that you are a genuine visitor, the intended purpose of your trip, and that you are able to support yourself during your stay without undertaking work or accessing public funds.

If you are a non-visa national, and so not required to obtain a visa in advance of travel to the UK, you will need to apply for leave to enter on arrival at a UK port of entry. This again means providing sufficient documentation to satisfy immigration officers that you meet all of the standard (and any additional) requirements under the Immigration Rules for visitors.

 

What happens if you breach the rules as a UK visitor?

 

If you are in breach of the Immigration Rules for visitors during your stay in the UK you risk having your visa curtailed. This means that you could be asked to leave the UK. You also risk getting a long-term ban on visiting the UK in the future.

You will be in breach of the Immigration Rules for visitors if, for example:

 

• You have provided false information, whether or not material to your visa application, and whether or not to your knowledge
• You have failed to disclose a material fact relevant to your application
• You fail to comply with any conditions of your leave to enter or remain in the UK
• You cease to meet the requirements of the rules
• Your travel history shows that you are repeatedly living in the UK for extended periods
• You overstay beyond the time permitted under your visa
• You have committed an offence for which you are sentenced to a period of imprisonment, or where the offence has caused serious harm or shows a particular disregard for the law.

 

 

Appendix Visitor: Top 5 takeaways for visitors to the UK

 

Following these guidelines to comply with Appendix Visitor rules and avoid immigration issues when travelling to the UK:

 

Permitted Activities

Visitors can enter the UK for tourism, business meetings, short courses and medical treatment, but paid or unpaid work is not allowed. Ensure that all planned activities comply with the rules to avoid visa refusals or entry issues.

 

Evidence for your visit

A visitor visa application should include proof of purpose, financial stability and ties to your home country. Documents such as return flight bookings, accommodation details, bank statements and employer letters can help show genuine intentions.

 

Do not overstay your visa

Visitors are typically allowed to stay for up to six months, unless granted a different period. You have to leave before your visa expires to avoid future visa bans and travel restrictions.

 

Sufficient funds

Visitors must show they can support themselves financially without working or accessing public funds. Bring documentation proving you can cover accommodation, food and transport costs throughout your stay.

 

Be prepared for UK Border Control checks

Even if you have a visa, UK Border Officers may ask about your stay. Be prepared to explain your visit, show proof of accommodation and confirm your departure plans to avoid entry refusal.

 

Need assistance?

 

Travelling to the UK as a visitor generally entails a less intensive application process compared with other immigration routes. However, specific rules still apply and applicants will need to understand the limitations on travel as a tourist.

DavidsonMorris are specialist UK immigration advisers, providing guidance to employers and travellers on UK immigration routes and Home Office applications. If you have a question about UK travel visa options, contact us.

 

Immigration Rules for Visitors FAQs

 

What is Appendix V: Visitor in the UK immigration rules?

Appendix V: Visitor sets out the rules for individuals coming to the UK for short stays, including for tourism, business, and certain permitted activities. It defines who qualifies as a visitor, what they can do while in the UK, and the restrictions they must follow.

 

How long can a visitor stay in the UK?

Most visitors can stay in the UK for up to six months, unless a different period is specified. Some visas, such as Marriage Visitor visas or Transit visas, may have shorter permitted stays.

 

Can a visitor work while in the UK?

Visitors cannot take up employment in the UK. However, some business activities are permitted, such as attending meetings, signing contracts, or giving short talks at conferences. Any form of paid or unpaid work for a UK company is not allowed.

 

Can a visitor study in the UK?

Short-term study is allowed if it does not exceed six months. For longer courses, a Student visa is required. Some specialist training, such as for medical professionals, may be permitted under specific conditions.

 

Can visitors extend their stay?

Extensions are only allowed in limited circumstances, such as for medical treatment or academic research. Most visitors must leave the UK before their visa expires.

 

What happens if a visitor overstays their visa?

Overstaying is a serious immigration offence. It can lead to bans on future UK visa applications and may affect eligibility for visas to other countries. Visitors should always leave the UK before their visa expires.

 

Can visitors bring dependants to the UK?

Visitors must apply individually. There is no separate visa category for visitor dependants, but family members can apply separately to visit at the same time.

 

What financial requirements must be met?

Visitors must prove they have enough money to cover their trip, including accommodation and living expenses, without working or accessing public funds. Sponsorship from a UK resident may be considered in some cases.

 

What documents are needed for a visitor visa?

Applicants must provide proof of their reason for visiting, financial ability to support themselves, and evidence of ties to their home country, such as employment or family commitments.

 

Glossary

 

Term	Definition
Appendix V: Visitor	The section of the UK Immigration Rules that outlines the requirements and conditions for visitors coming to the UK for short stays.
Standard Visitor Visa	A visa that allows individuals to visit the UK for tourism, business activities, medical treatment, or short-term study for up to six months.
Business Visitor	A visitor who travels to the UK for business-related activities, such as meetings, conferences, or signing contracts, but without taking up employment.
Marriage Visitor Visa	A visa that allows individuals to visit the UK to marry or form a civil partnership, without settling in the UK afterwards.
Transit Visa	A short-term visa for individuals passing through the UK on their way to another country, usually valid for 48 to 96 hours.
Right to Work	The legal permission to undertake employment in the UK, which visitors do not have unless expressly allowed under their visa conditions.
Permitted Activities	Specific activities visitors can carry out while in the UK, such as tourism, attending business meetings, or short study courses.
Overstaying	Remaining in the UK beyond the permitted visa period, which can lead to bans on future visas and legal consequences.
Sponsorship	Financial or accommodation support provided by a UK resident for a visitor’s stay, which must be proven in visa applications.
Public Funds	Government benefits and services that visitors are not entitled to, such as housing assistance and welfare payments.
Leave to Enter	Permission granted by UK Border Control for a visitor to enter the UK under the conditions of their visa.