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United Kingdom

United Kingdom visa

Europe · Northern Europe

Plan your trip to the UK: choose between an ETA and a visitor visa, gather your supporting documents and check the official fees and processing times. Study, work and transit each have their own conditions. Your nationality, status and reason for travel determine the right route.

Updated on 18 October 2026 · Official sources consulted on 18 October 2026

At a glance

Authority
UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI), Home Office.
Application
Visitor: online form then appointment. ETA: UK ETA app or online service.
Tourist stay
Usually up to 6 months, depending on the conditions granted.
ETA and eVisa
The ETA permits travel; the eVisa is the digital record of immigration status.

Do you need a visa?

Burundi passport: visa required for a short tourist stay.

For a short tourist stay with an ordinary passport. To work, study or stay longer, the rules are different: check your situation.

Good to know

Visa required for a visit: list of nationals subject to a visa (Immigration Rules, Appendix Visitor: Visa national list, VN 1.1, updated 3.8.2026).

Official source: GOV.UK — Immigration Rules, Appendix Visitor: Visa national list and Appendix ETA National List (updates of 3.8.2026)GOV.UK — Immigration Rules, Appendix Visitor: Visa national list et Appendix ETA National List (mises à jour du 3.8.2026) (new tab) Verified on 24 September 2026

All destinations for this nationality

VisaGuideline helps you prepare your application. The decision belongs to the country’s authority: check the official page before paying or applying.

United Kingdom visa: who needs one?

Based on the verified entry rules, for a short tourist stay with an ordinary passport.

Visa exemption 1

List of nationalities

Electronic travel authorization 83

List of nationalities

Visa required 113

List of nationalities

A nationality missing from this list does not establish a visa exemption. Consult the official authority.

Documented visa types

Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA)
Travel authorisation for eligible persons. Valid for 2 years or until passport expiry, whichever comes first; visits up to 6 months. It does not guarantee admission. Official page (new tab)
Standard Visitor visa
Tourism, business, study up to 6 months and permitted activities; stay normally 6 months maximum. Eligibility conditions must be met; unauthorised activities are excluded. Official page (new tab)
Transit visas (Direct Airside Transit and Visitor in Transit)
If a visa is required: Direct Airside Transit without border control, or Visitor in Transit with border control and departure within 48 hours. Beyond that, check the visitor route and applicable exemptions. Official page (new tab)
Marriage Visitor visa
Distinct from the Standard Visitor visa: the latter does not allow marrying or registering a civil partnership in the UK, nor giving the corresponding notice. Official page (new tab)
Student visa
For those aged 16 and over: offer of a place at an approved student sponsor, sufficient funds, knowledge of English; parental consent if the applicant is 16 or 17. Official page (new tab)
Skilled Worker visa
Requires an eligible job with an approved employer, a certificate of sponsorship and compliance with salary and English requirements. Official page (new tab)

Choosing the right route

Check on GOV.UK whether your situation requires a visa, an ETA or neither. Visa-exempt persons must still meet the visit conditions. A business trip does not automatically authorise taking up employment.

For the visitor visa, apply online then book an appointment at a visa application centre. For the ETA, use the UK ETA app or the official website; each traveller who needs an ETA, even a child, needs their own authorisation.

Preparing a visitor visa application

  1. Check the permitted activities, funding of the trip and your intention to leave the country after the visit.
  2. Complete the online form; it can be saved and resumed later.
  3. Book the appointment, prove your identity and provide the requested fingerprints, photograph and supporting documents.
  4. Provide a certified translation of documents not written in English or Welsh.
  5. Read the decision email and follow the instructions to access your eVisa.

Information and documents to prepare

The list and additional supporting documents depend on the reason and your situation. A list for visitors does not replace that for a student or work visa.

Fees and processing times

As of 18 October 2026, GOV.UK shows 20 GBP for the ETA and 135 GBP for a Standard Visitor visa up to 6 months. Long-term visit visas cost 506 GBP for 2 years, 903 GBP for 5 years and 1128 GBP for 10 years; each visit remains limited to 6 months.

A visitor visa can be applied for no earlier than 3 months before travel. The decision usually arrives within 3 weeks of the form, proof of identity and documents. For the ETA, it usually arrives within 1 day, but may take 3 working days: wait for confirmation before departing.

After the decision

For a granted visitor visa, access your eVisa with a UKVI account and follow the decision email. The eVisa is a digital record of the status granted, not an ETA authorisation.

The ETA is linked to the passport used for the application. It permits multiple trips during its validity, without authorising continuous residence. Its fee is non-refundable after application; a refused application or information to be changed requires a new application.

Transit and ETA exemptions

Ask the airline whether your connection involves border control. Airside transit without passing through that control exempts you from the ETA, but a transit visa may still be required depending on your situation. Check the official checker before departure.

British or Irish citizens and holders of a UK visa or permission to live, work or study in the UK are among those exempt from the ETA.

For residents of Ireland, the exemption requires a nationality normally eligible for the ETA and arrival from Ireland, Guernsey, Jersey or the Isle of Man. Persons subject to a visa must obtain one; also check the required proof of residence.

Prepare your application

Frequently asked questions

Do you need a visa for the UK?

It depends in particular on your nationality, your status and your reason for travel. Use the selector, then check the corresponding official route.

Do ETA and eVisa mean the same thing?

No. The ETA authorises travel for eligible persons; the eVisa is the digital record of a granted immigration status.

Does a 2-year ETA allow you to stay for 2 years?

No. That period concerns its validity, also limited by passport expiry. A visit is normally limited to 6 months; repeated visits must not be used to live in the UK.

Can I work as a visitor?

Visitor status does not authorise paid or unpaid employment for a UK business, nor self-employment, except expressly permitted paid engagements or events. Check the visa suited to employment.

How do I prepare to study in the UK?

The Student visa requires, among other things, a place with a licensed sponsor, funds and compliance with English language requirements. It is available from age 16; parental consent is required at 16 or 17. See the student guide for your route.

What is the principle of the Skilled Worker visa?

It requires in particular a confirmed job offer, an approved employer, a certificate of sponsorship, an eligible role and compliance with salary and English requirements. The precise criteria depend on the role and the situation.

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