UK Standard Visitor Visa 2026: Rules and £135 Fee
You can visit the UK as a Standard Visitor for tourism, business, study (courses up to 6 months) and other permitted activities, and you can usually stay up to 6 months. Depending on your nationality you may not need a visa at all. This guide sets out what the route allows, who has to apply and the fee, from gov.uk, verified 2026-10-01.
What the Standard Visitor route is for
The Standard Visitor route covers more than a holiday. gov.uk describes it as visiting the UK for tourism, business, study (courses up to 6 months) and other permitted activities. You can usually stay in the UK for up to 6 months, and you might be able to apply to stay for longer in certain circumstances — for example, to get medical treatment.
The starting point is always the same: check what you plan to do is allowed, check you meet the eligibility requirements, check whether you need a visa, and then apply online if you do.
What you can and cannot do
gov.uk calls these “permitted activities”. As a Standard Visitor you can visit:
- for tourism, for example a holiday or vacation;
- to see your family or friends;
- to volunteer for up to 30 days with a registered charity;
- to pass through the UK to another country (“in transit”);
- for certain business activities, for example attending a meeting or interview;
- for certain paid engagements or events (a “permitted paid engagement”) as an expert in your profession, for example to give lectures or perform;
- to take part in a school exchange programme;
- to do a recreational course of up to 30 days, for example a dance course;
- to study, do a placement or take an exam;
- as an academic, senior doctor or dentist;
- for medical reasons.
Just as important is what the route does not allow. You cannot:
- do paid or unpaid work for a UK company or as a self-employed person, unless you are doing a permitted paid engagement or event;
- claim public funds (benefits);
- live in the UK for long periods of time through frequent or successive visits;
- marry or register a civil partnership, or give notice of marriage or a civil partnership — you need to apply for a Marriage Visitor visa instead.
Eligibility requirements
You must have a passport or travel document to enter the UK, and it should be valid for the whole of your stay. You must also be able to show that:
- you will leave the UK at the end of your visit;
- you are able to support yourself and your dependants during your trip, or have funding from someone else to support you;
- you are able to pay for your return or onward journey, or have funding from someone else to pay for it;
- you will not live in the UK for extended periods through frequent or successive visits, or make the UK your main home.
There can be extra eligibility requirements if you are visiting to study, do a placement or take an exam; as an academic, senior doctor or dentist; for a permitted paid engagement; or for medical reasons.
Do you need a visa?
This is the question people most often get wrong, and the answer depends on your nationality. Depending on it, you will either:
- have to apply for a Standard Visitor visa before you travel to the UK;
- have to apply for an electronic travel authorisation (ETA), which allows you to visit the UK for up to 6 months without needing a visa; or
- be able to visit the UK for up to 6 months without needing a visa or an ETA.
You can check whether you need a visa before you apply. Even if you do not need a visa, you must still meet the Standard Visitor eligibility requirements, and you may be asked questions at the UK border about your eligibility and the activities you plan to do. gov.uk also notes one voluntary case: if you have previously been refused entry to the UK or have a criminal record, you may want to apply for a Standard Visitor visa even if you do not need one. Our UK ETA guide covers the authorisation route for those who need it instead of a visa.
Applying and the fee
If you have to apply, you must apply online before you travel to the UK. The key numbers from gov.uk:
| Standard Visitor visa fee | £135 for up to 6 months |
| When you can apply | From 3 months before you travel (apply online) |
| Visitor in Transit visa | £74.50, if transiting is your only reason for coming |
If you visit the UK regularly, you can choose to apply for a long-term Standard Visitor visa instead of a single visit visa. And if transiting is your only reason for coming to the UK, applying for a Visitor in Transit visa can be the cheaper route (our UK transit and airside transit guide covers that in detail).
The documents you bring alongside the application are a separate checklist. Our UK visa documents checklist covers what to prepare. If you are also sorting out a photo for a related UK application, the photo size chart lists formats, the UK passport photo page covers the passport side, and the passport photo checker can test an image against the published figures.
Before you apply — a short check
- Confirm the activity you plan is permitted for a Standard Visitor.
- Check your passport is valid for the whole stay.
- Be ready to show you will leave the UK, support yourself and pay for your onward journey.
- Work out whether you need a visa, an ETA or neither.
- Budget £135 for the up-to-6-month visa (£74.50 for transit-only).
- Apply no earlier than 3 months before you travel.
Frequently asked questions
What can you do on a UK Standard Visitor visa?
You can visit for tourism, to see family or friends, to volunteer for up to 30 days with a registered charity, to pass through the UK in transit, for certain business activities such as attending a meeting or interview, for a permitted paid engagement as an expert, to take part in a school exchange, to do a recreational course of up to 30 days, to study or take an exam, as an academic, senior doctor or dentist, and for medical reasons.
How long can you stay in the UK as a Standard Visitor?
You can usually stay in the UK for up to 6 months. You might be able to apply to stay for longer in certain circumstances, for example to get medical treatment.
How much does a UK Standard Visitor visa cost?
A Standard Visitor visa costs £135 for up to 6 months. If transiting is your only reason for coming to the UK, a Visitor in Transit visa costs £74.50 instead.
When can you apply for a Standard Visitor visa?
You must apply online before you travel to the UK. The earliest you can apply is 3 months before you travel.
Do you always need a visa to visit the UK?
It depends on your nationality. You may have to apply for a Standard Visitor visa before you travel; or you may need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA), which lets you visit for up to 6 months without a visa; or you may be able to visit for up to 6 months without a visa or an ETA.
What must you show to meet the eligibility requirements?
You must have a passport or travel document valid for the whole of your stay, and be able to show that you will leave the UK at the end of your visit, that you can support yourself and your dependants (or have funding from someone else), that you can pay for your return or onward journey, and that you will not live in the UK for extended periods through frequent or successive visits.
What can you not do as a Standard Visitor?
You cannot do paid or unpaid work for a UK company or as a self-employed person (unless you are doing a permitted paid engagement or event), claim public funds (benefits), live in the UK for long periods through frequent or successive visits, or marry or register a civil partnership.
Can you study on a Standard Visitor visa?
Yes, within limits. You can take courses of up to 6 months, do a recreational course of up to 30 days, and study, do a placement or take an exam. Studying, doing a placement or taking an exam can come with extra eligibility requirements.
Can you transit the UK on a Standard Visitor visa?
Yes. You can pass through the UK to another country on a Standard Visitor visa. If transiting is your only reason for coming to the UK, you can apply for a Visitor in Transit visa instead for £74.50.
Should you apply even if you do not need a visa?
You do not have to, but the gov.uk guidance notes that if you have previously been refused entry to the UK or have a criminal record, you may want to apply for a Standard Visitor visa even if you do not need one.
Related: the UK ETA guide, UK transit and airside transit, the UK visa documents checklist, the photo size chart, the UK passport photo page, or browse every guide on the guides page.
Source: GOV.UK, “Visit the UK as a Standard Visitor” (gov.uk/standard-visitor), retrieved 2026-10-01. Fees, permitted activities and eligibility rules can change, so confirm the current requirements on gov.uk before you apply.