A Standard Visitor Visa is a non-immigrant visa for a foreign national who wish to visit the UK for a specific period of time. A foreign national can visit the UK for: tourism (i.e. on a holiday or to see family and friends); certain business activities (i.e. attending a meeting); to do a short course of study (i.e. language course); to take part in research or an exchange programme as an academic; and for medical reasons (i.e. to receive private medical treatment). This type of visa does not allow the visitor to switch another type of UK visa. A foreign national can only extend their stay under a Standard Visitor Visa for specific reasons, such as needing further private medical treatment.
Standard Visitor Visa can be granted for up to 6 months. However:
— If you are coming to the UK for private medical treatment – it can be granted for up to 11 months; or
—If you need to visit the UK regularly you can apply for a Long-Term Standard Visitor Visa that lasts 2, 5 or 10 years. However, you can stary for a maximum of 6 months on each visit.
A Marriage Visitor Visa allows foreign nationals to come to the UK to get married or register a civil partnership. This category does not allow foreign nationals to stay or settle in the UK after their marriage or civil partnership. This type of visa cannot be extended or switched to another type of UK visa. A foreign national can use this visa to visit the UK for up to 6 months.
