This article is reviewed regularly by Wego‘s editorial team to ensure that the content is up to date & accurate.

Updated November 2024

Key takeaways

The UK tourist visa allows visits for business, study, or tourism, typically up to 6 months.

Applicants must submit required documents, including travel dates, accommodation, and income details.

Apply online, attend a biometric appointment, and expect a decision within 3 weeks.

Table of Contents

UK tourist visa latest news

The UK has recently updated its commercial visa application services.

Between September 2024 and January 2025, VFS Global will replace TLScontact as the visa service provider in regions including parts of Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and Central Asia.

Applicants will receive email notifications, and some may be charged a fee for changing appointments. In the UK, the service provider switched from Sopra Steria to TLScontact in October 2024, with no impact on processing times.

For more details, please visit the GOV.UK page.

What is the UK tourist visa?

Officially known as the UK standard visitor visa, the tourist visa allows visits for business, study, academic teaching, events, and medical reasons, typically for up to six months per visit. While the visa can be granted for longer durations of 2, 5, or 10 years, each individual stay is still limited to a maximum of 6 months.

To check if you need a UK visa, visit the UK Government’s website. Enter your nationality and visit purpose to receive suitable visa options, or browse the list of visa-exempt countries.

Under the UK’s visa policy, citizens of EU, EEA, and Switzerland may enter visa-free for up to six months. Middle Eastern nationals from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Oman also enjoy visa-free entry under the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme.

Even if a visa is not required, you must still meet the standard visitor eligibility criteria to enter the UK. At the border, you may be questioned about your eligibility and planned activities.

How to apply for a UK tourist visa?

You can apply for a UK standard visitor visa online through the official UK government website, with interviews handled by partner visa application services. Applications can be submitted up to three months before your planned departure, with additional criteria outlined in the following sections.

Documents required

As a part of your UK visa application, you should submit some mandatory required documents to support your case.

A valid passport or travel document covering your full stay in the UK with a blank page for the visa.
Planned travel dates to the UK
Accommodation details
Estimated trip expenses
Current home address and duration of residence
Parents’ names and birth dates (if known)
Annual income (if applicable)
Any criminal, civil, or immigration offences
A tuberculosis test certificate (for visits over 6 months)
Certified translations for any documents not in English or Welsh.

You may also be required to provide (if applicable):

Travel history from the past 10 years
Employer’s contact details
Partner’s name, birth date, and passport number
Sponsor’s name and address
The name, address and passport number of any family members you have in the UK

Application process and visa appointment

Step 1: Complete the online application form

Begin by filling out the UK visa application form online before your trip. The form typically asks for personal details, including:

Full name
Nationality and country of residence
Marital status
Personal ID and passport number
Reason for visiting the UK
Additional relevant information

Step 2: Schedule and attend the visa appointment

All applicants submitting a visa application are required to attend the visa application centre in person, including children. Applicants under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Below are the steps to follow:

After scheduling your appointment online, print the confirmation email with the appointment details.
Bring the required documents with you to the UK visa application centre or VFS location you selected.
Ensure all documents are originals, as mistakes can lead to complications.
The appointment must be made in your name, not someone else’s.
At the UK visa application centre, you will be required to provide biometric information, including a photograph and a digital scan of your fingerprints.

Your UK visitor visa decision will arrive within three weeks, though faster processing may be available depending on your country. You’ll receive an email or letter outlining the next steps.

Please note that if your application is refused, the reasons will be provided, along with details on whether you can request an administrative review or appeal against the immigration decision. However, if the decision is still not changed, you can file a new application by correcting the previous mistakes.