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United Kingdom

Every UK visa route, explained

The UK has one set of rules but hundreds of personal situations. Pick a route below — routes with verified step-by-step guides link straight to them — or use the planner on the home page for your exact passport and country of residence.

The routes

Visit & tourism

Standard Visitor visa

For tourism, visiting family and friends, short business trips, conferences, short courses (up to 6 months), private medical treatment and permitted paid engagements.

  • Tourists and people visiting family or friends
  • Business visitors: meetings, conferences, negotiating deals
  • Patients getting private medical treatment (up to 11 months)
  • Academics on sabbatical research (up to 12 months)
  • Experts invited for permitted paid engagements (up to 30 days)
Usually up to 6 months per visit

10 verified step-by-step guides →

Marriage Visitor visa

To get married or register a civil partnership in the UK without staying on afterwards. Required even for nationalities that don't normally need a visit visa.

  • Couples marrying or forming a civil partnership in the UK, then leaving
  • People converting a civil partnership into a marriage
Up to 6 months

official page →

Transit

Direct Airside Transit visa (DATV)

For changing flights in the UK without passing border control — you stay airside and depart within 24 hours.

  • Visa nationals connecting through a UK airport without entering the UK
Airside only, no entry

official page →

Visitor in Transit visa

For passing through UK border control between flights, leaving within 48 hours.

  • Visa nationals who must land-side transit (e.g. change airports or collect baggage)
Up to 48 hours

official page →

Study

Student visa

For courses with a licensed student sponsor — degrees, foundation and other full-time study at 16+.

  • Offer (CAS) from a licensed student sponsor
  • Enough money to pay for the course and support yourself
  • English language ability at the required level
Length of course (up to 5 years for degree-level)

official page →

Child Student visa

For 4 to 17 year olds studying at an independent school in the UK.

  • Place at a licensed independent school
  • Parental consent and funds for fees and living costs
Length of course

official page →

Short-term study visa (English language)

For English language courses lasting longer than 6 and up to 11 months.

  • Accepted on an English course of 6–11 months at an accredited institution
Up to 11 months

official page →

Work & business

Skilled Worker visa

The main sponsored work route — a job offer at the required skill and salary level from a Home Office-licensed employer.

  • Certificate of Sponsorship from a licensed UK employer
  • Job in an eligible occupation at or above the salary threshold (general threshold £41,700 since July 2025)
  • English language at level B2 (raised from B1 in 2025)
Up to 5 years, extendable; can lead to settlement

official page →

Health and Care Worker visa

A cheaper, faster variant of the Skilled Worker route for qualified medical professionals working for the NHS, NHS suppliers or in adult social care.

  • Qualified doctor, nurse, allied health or adult social care professional with a job offer from an eligible sponsor
Up to 5 years, extendable; can lead to settlement

official page →

Global Talent visa

For leaders or potential leaders in academia/research, arts and culture, or digital technology — no job offer needed, but most applicants need an endorsement.

  • Endorsement from a designated body (or a qualifying prestigious prize)
  • Fields: academia & research, arts & culture, digital technology
Up to 5 years per grant; flexible; can lead to settlement

official page →

Graduate visa

Post-study work permission for those who completed an eligible UK degree on a Student visa. Applied for from inside the UK only.

  • Currently in the UK on a Student visa
  • Completed an eligible UK course
2 years (3 years for PhD); reduces to 18 months for applications from 1 January 2027

official page →

High Potential Individual visa

For recent graduates of top-ranked non-UK universities to come and work or look for work without a sponsor.

  • Degree from a university on the Global Universities List, awarded in the last 5 years
2 years (3 for PhD); not extendable

official page →

Youth Mobility Scheme visa

Live and work in the UK for up to 2 years (extendable to 3 for some nationalities) — for young people from participating countries.

  • Aged 18–35: Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Korea
  • Aged 18–30: Andorra, Iceland, Japan, Monaco, San Marino, Uruguay
  • Aged 18–30 via ballot: Hong Kong, Taiwan
  • £2,530 in savings
2 years (some nationalities can extend to 3)

official page →

India Young Professionals Scheme visa

A ballot-based scheme for Indian citizens aged 18–30 with a degree, to live and work in the UK for up to 2 years.

  • Indian citizens aged 18–30
  • Bachelor's degree or above
  • Selected in the scheme ballot
  • £2,530 in savings
Up to 2 years

official page →

Innovator Founder visa

For founders setting up an innovative business in the UK, endorsed by an approved body.

  • Innovative, viable, scalable business idea endorsed by an approved endorsing body
3 years, extendable; can lead to settlement

official page →

Scale-up Worker visa

A job offer from a qualifying fast-growing UK business — sponsored for 6 months, then unsponsored.

  • Job offer from a registered scale-up at the required salary
  • Graduate-level role
2 years, extendable

official page →

Global Business Mobility visas

Five routes for overseas businesses moving staff to the UK: Senior or Specialist Worker, Graduate Trainee, UK Expansion Worker, Service Supplier and Secondment Worker.

  • Employed by an overseas business with a UK sponsor link
  • Certificate of Sponsorship for the specific GBM route
1–5 years depending on route; does not lead to settlement

official page →

Minister of Religion visa (T2)

For key leading roles within a faith community, sponsored by a licensed religious organisation.

  • Sponsored key religious role (e.g. minister, missionary, member of a religious order)
Up to 3 years, extendable; can lead to settlement

official page →

International Sportsperson visa

For elite sportspeople and qualified coaches endorsed by their sport's governing body.

  • Governing body endorsement
  • Sponsorship from a licensed club or organisation
Up to 3 years, extendable

official page →

Temporary Work visas

Short-term sponsored routes: Seasonal Worker, Creative Worker, Charity Worker, Religious Worker, Government Authorised Exchange and International Agreement.

  • Certificate of Sponsorship for the specific temporary route
  • Intent to leave at the end of the stay
6 months – 2 years depending on route

official page →

Overseas Domestic Worker visa

For domestic workers in a private household accompanying their employer on a visit to the UK.

  • Worked for the employer for at least a year
  • Travelling to the UK with the employer
Up to 6 months

official page →

Family & partners

Partner / Spouse visa

To join or stay with a partner who is British, settled, or holds qualifying status — with income and relationship requirements.

  • Married, civil partners, or living together 2+ years with a qualifying partner
  • Minimum income requirement met by the sponsoring partner
  • English language requirement
2 years 9 months, extendable; leads to settlement after 5 years

official page →

Fiancé(e) / Proposed Civil Partner visa

To come to the UK to marry a British or settled partner and then switch to the partner route.

  • Engaged to a British or settled person
  • Plan to marry within 6 months of arriving
6 months (then switch to partner route in the UK)

official page →

Parent of a child in the UK visa

For parents with responsibility for, or access to, a British or settled child living in the UK.

  • Child under 18 in the UK who is British, settled, or has lived in the UK 7+ years
  • Sole or shared parental responsibility
2 years 9 months, extendable; leads to settlement

official page →

Child visa (dependant)

For children joining or accompanying a parent who is in the UK or coming on a qualifying route.

  • Under 18 (when first applying)
  • Parent holds or is applying for a qualifying UK status
In line with the parent's permission

official page →

Adult Dependent Relative visa

For adult relatives who need long-term personal care that can only be provided by their family member in the UK.

  • Parent, grandparent, sibling or adult child of a British/settled person
  • Care needs that cannot be met in the home country
Indefinite leave if granted

official page →

Settlement & other

UK Ancestry visa

For Commonwealth citizens with a grandparent born in the UK, Channel Islands or Isle of Man, coming to work.

  • Commonwealth citizen (also BOC/BN(O)/Zimbabwe nationals)
  • Grandparent born in the UK
  • Able and planning to work in the UK
5 years; leads to settlement

official page →

British National (Overseas) visa

For BN(O) status holders from Hong Kong and their household members to live, work and study in the UK.

  • BN(O) status holders (registered before 1 July 1997)
  • Eligible household dependants, including adult children born after 1997
2.5 or 5 years; leads to settlement

official page →

EU Settlement Scheme Family Permit

For close family of EU/EEA/Swiss citizens with pre-settled or settled status, to join them in the UK.

  • Family member of an EU/EEA/Swiss citizen with EUSS status
  • Relationship began before 31 December 2020 (most cases)
6 months (then apply to the EU Settlement Scheme)

official page →

Returning Resident visa

For people who previously held UK indefinite leave that lapsed after more than 2 years outside the UK.

  • Held indefinite leave to remain/enter before leaving
  • Strong ties to the UK and intention to settle permanently
Restores indefinite leave

official page →

Verified step-by-step guides

Grounded on official sources — documents, fees, timeline, every fact dated and linked.

🇧🇩 Bangladesh → United KingdomStandard Visitor visa
Bangladeshi citizens need a UK Standard Visitor visa — apply online on gov.uk and give biometrics at a UK visa application centre.
🇨🇳 China → United KingdomStandard Visitor visa
Chinese citizens need a UK Standard Visitor visa — apply online on gov.uk and give biometrics at a UK visa application centre.
🇨🇳 China (in United States) → United KingdomStandard Visitor visa
Chinese citizens living in the United States need a UK Standard Visitor visa — apply online on gov.uk and give biometrics at a UK visa application centre in the United States.
🇪🇬 Egypt → United KingdomStandard Visitor visa
Egyptian citizens need a UK Standard Visitor visa — apply online on gov.uk and give biometrics at a UK visa application centre.
🇮🇳 India → United KingdomStandard Visitor visa
Indian citizens need a UK Standard Visitor visa — apply online on gov.uk and give biometrics at a UK visa application centre.
🇮🇳 India (in United States) → United KingdomStandard Visitor visa
Indian citizens living in the United States need a UK Standard Visitor visa — apply online on gov.uk and give biometrics at a UK visa application centre in the United States.
🇳🇬 Nigeria → United KingdomStandard Visitor visa
Nigerian citizens need a UK Standard Visitor visa — apply online on gov.uk and give biometrics at a UK visa application centre.
🇳🇬 Nigeria (in United States) → United KingdomStandard Visitor visa
Nigerian citizens living in the United States need a UK Standard Visitor visa — apply online on gov.uk and give biometrics at a UK visa application centre in the United States.
🇵🇰 Pakistan → United KingdomStandard Visitor visa
Pakistani citizens need a UK Standard Visitor visa — apply online on gov.uk and give biometrics at a UK visa application centre.
🇵🇰 Pakistan (in United States) → United KingdomStandard Visitor visa
Pakistani citizens living in the United States need a UK Standard Visitor visa — apply online on gov.uk and give biometrics at a UK visa application centre in the United States.