United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Visa United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Europe · Europe du Nord

In the United Kingdom, immigration falls to UK Visas and Immigration, part of the Home Office, whose dedicated section is published on the government portal GOV.UK. For a visit, the portal names in particular the electronic travel authorisation (ETA) and the Standard Visitor visa. According to the pages consulted, the application for a Standard Visitor visa is made online before travel, followed by an appointment at a visa application center for identity and biometric data.

The information on this page helps prepare a case. Only the competent authority decides; always check the official source before filing an application.

Machine-assisted draft, reviewed by a person on 23 September 2026. Only the authority cited is authoritative.

Published on 23 September 2026 · Reviewed by vg_admin on 23 September 2026 · Sources consulted on 17 September 2026

At a glance

Authority: UK Visas and Immigration (Home Office) — United Kingdom
Submission channel: Online application on GOV.UK before travel, then an appointment at a visa application center
Electronic visa: The portal publishes an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) and an online immigration status ("eVisa"); the conditions of application are not detailed on the pages consulted
Portal language: English

Do you need a visa?

Your nationality

Choose a nationality to see the recorded entry rule. No answer is shown until reviewed data exists.

Documented visa types

Electronic travel authorisation (ETA): Named on the portal's "Visit the UK" page; the conditions and the duration are not stated on the pages consulted. Official page (new tab)
Standard Visitor visa: According to the portal: covers tourism, business, study lasting at most 6 months and other permitted activities; the stay is normally 6 months at most, with an extension possible in certain circumstances, for example to receive medical treatment. Official page (new tab)
Transit visa: Named on the "Visit the UK" page as the visa allowing a person to pass through the United Kingdom in transit; the conditions are not stated on the pages consulted. Official page (new tab)
Marriage Visitor visa: Named on the "Visit the UK" page; the conditions are not stated on the pages consulted. Official page (new tab)
ADS visa: Named on the "Visit the UK" page for visits in an organized group; the conditions are not stated on the pages consulted. Official page (new tab)

Where and how to apply

For the Standard Visitor visa, the portal states that the application must be filed online before traveling to the United Kingdom, and that the applicant must then attend an appointment at a visa application center.

At that appointment, the portal states that the applicant must prove their identity with their passport or travel document, have their fingerprints and photograph taken, and provide the documents requested.

Steps in the procedure

Check that the planned activities are permitted for a standard visitor and that the eligibility conditions are met.
Check whether a visa is needed.
File the application online; the portal states that it can be saved and completed later.
Book an appointment at a visa application center.
Attend the appointment to prove your identity and have your biometric data taken.
The visa application center processes the documents.
Receive the decision by email from the Home Office and follow the instructions it gives.

Documents mentioned by the authority

Passport or travel document valid for the whole length of the stay.
Planned travel dates.
Details of the accommodation.
Estimated cost of the trip.
Current home address and how long you have lived there.
Name and date of birth of your parents, if known.
Annual income, where applicable.
Criminal, civil or immigration offense history.
Depending on the situation: ten-year travel history, employer's address and telephone number, information about the partner, details of the person funding the trip, information about a family member in the United Kingdom.
Tuberculosis test certificate for a stay of more than 6 months.

The exact list depends on the visa type and on the situation; only the official page is authoritative.

Stated fees and processing times

According to the portal consulted on 2026-09-17, the Standard Visitor visa costs 135 GBP for a stay of up to 6 months. The page also states 234 GBP for an 11-month visit for medical reasons, 234 GBP for a 12-month academic visit, 506 GBP for a 2-year long-term visa, 903 GBP for 5 years and 1,128 GBP for 10 years, these long-term visas allowing 6 months per visit.

According to the portal consulted on 2026-09-17, the decision is usually taken within 3 weeks, the application being able to be filed at the earliest 3 months before travel.

After the decision

The portal states that the applicant receives an email when the Home Office has taken a decision on their application, and that this email explains what they must do next. The authority decides whether to issue or refuse.

The avenues of appeal are not described on the pages consulted; the portal publishes a separate section devoted to immigration appeals, which was not read.

Published procedures

No reviewed and published procedure for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to date. We prefer an empty page to an invented requirement.

Explore procedures

Frequently asked questions

Is a visa required to travel to the United Kingdom?

It depends on nationality and on the purpose of travel; the rule reviewed by VisaGuideline is shown with the nationality selector on this page. Always check with the authority.

Where is the application filed?

According to the portal, online before travel, then at an appointment at a visa application center for identity and biometric data.

Is there an electronic visa?

The portal publishes an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) and an online immigration status called an "eVisa". The conditions of application are not detailed on the pages consulted.

What is the fee for the Standard Visitor visa?

According to the portal consulted on 2026-09-17: 135 GBP for a stay of up to 6 months.

What processing time does the Home Office state?

According to the portal consulted on 2026-09-17: a decision usually within 3 weeks, the application being able to be filed at the earliest 3 months before travel.

Official sources

Visas and immigration — rubrique immigration de GOV.UK (new tab) Authority

Consulted sources

Official pages read to write this guide, with the date they were read. A page may have changed since: check it before taking any step.

Visas and immigration - GOV.UK (new tab) read on 17 September 2026
Visit the UK (new tab) read on 17 September 2026
Visit the UK as a Standard Visitor: Overview - GOV.UK (new tab) read on 17 September 2026
Apply for a Standard Visitor visa (new tab) read on 17 September 2026

What this guide does not know yet

Points the official source does not specify and which this guide therefore left blank. Ask the competent authority about them before filing an application.

The pages consulted cover mainly visits; the work, study and family visas are named in the section but were not read.
The conditions and the duration of the electronic travel authorisation (ETA) are not detailed on the pages read.
The avenues of appeal in the event of a refusal are not described on the pages consulted.
The pages read do not state whether the fees announced include any service fee charged by the visa application center.

Prepare my case

This method is the same for every destination. It does not list any document as an official requirement: only the authority’s source is authoritative.

Describe your situation

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Check at the source

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Track what is left to do

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