Reviewed by Kashif Iqbal, Solicitor. Last reviewed 11 November 2026
What we help with
- Standard Visitor visaThe genuine visitor test, the six-month limit, evidence of funds, refusals.
- Business visitorPermitted activities, the line between visiting and working, permitted paid engagements, and when you need a work visa.
- Marriage Visitor visaThe six-month limit, giving notice, the fiancé visa option.
- Medical visitorThe Standard Visitor rules, evidence from the UK doctor or hospital, funds, the 11-month visa and relatives.
- Visitor visa from IndiaThe online application and VFS biometrics, the evidence Indian applicants are refused on, UK sponsors and reapplying.
- Student visaConfirmation of acceptance for studies, the financial requirement, English, dependant limits, work rights, switching to work routes.
- Student visa extensionAcademic progression, time limits on study, applying before leave expires, funds and CAS, and switching.
- Graduate routeTwo years (18 months from 1 January 2027, three for PhDs), the £937 fee, work rights, and switching to Skilled Worker.
- Parent of a Child StudentRequirements, funds, the no-work rule, extensions and limits.
On this page
A visit visa lets you come to the UK for up to six months for tourism, family visits, business activities, medical treatment or to get married. Visitor refusals are common, and a refusal stays on your record and affects later applications, so it is worth getting the first application right.
The visitor routes
- Standard Visitor visa: tourism, visiting family and friends, and most short business activities.
- Business visitor: the activities a visitor may and may not carry out for a UK or overseas employer. Working is not allowed; the line is often misunderstood.
- Marriage Visitor visa: to marry or register a civil partnership in the UK without staying on afterwards. If you intend to stay, you need the fiancé route instead.
- Medical visitor: private medical treatment for a set period, with evidence from the UK provider.
- Visitor visa from India and other high-refusal countries: what the Home Office looks for from applicants in these countries.
What the officer looks for
- The reason for the visit, and whether the dates and plans make sense.
- Your ties at home: a job or business, family, property or studies you will return to.
- Your money: enough for the trip, and where it came from. A large recent deposit with no explanation is a common reason for refusal.
- Who is paying, if a relative in the UK is covering the cost, and their own status and finances.
- Your travel history, including earlier UK visas and any refusal by any country.
There is no set amount of money you must show. The question is whether the trip is affordable for you and whether your account is believable as a whole.
Documents that usually matter
- Bank statements covering several months, with any unusual payments explained.
- A letter from your employer confirming your job, pay and approved leave, or business registration and tax documents if you are self-employed.
- An invitation letter from your host, with proof of their status in the UK and their address.
- Evidence of family and property at home.
- Certified translations of anything not in English or Welsh.
This is not a complete list. What you need depends on your circumstances, and the documents vary from case to case. Your solicitor will tell you exactly what applies to you.
What a visitor can and cannot do
A visitor can stay for up to six months on each visit. Visitors cannot take a job in the UK, claim public funds, or live here through frequent or back-to-back visits. A visitor cannot marry here unless they hold a Marriage Visitor visa, and in most cases cannot switch to another visa from inside the UK.
Why visitor applications are refused
Most refusals say the officer is not satisfied you are a genuine visitor who will leave at the end of the visit. The decision turns on your ties to your home country, your finances and whether your plans add up. There is no right of appeal against a visitor refusal; the remedy is a better application or, rarely, judicial review.
What we do on visit visa applications
We assess whether an application is likely to succeed before you pay the fee, set out the evidence that answers the questions the officer will ask, prepare the application and a covering letter, and advise on the options after a refusal. Our fixed fee for a visit visa application is from £1,000; see our fees. If you have already been refused, see visa refusals.
Questions people ask
Can I appeal a visit visa refusal?
No. There is no right of appeal. You can apply again with evidence that answers the reasons given, or in a clear case challenge the decision by judicial review.
How soon can I apply again after a refusal?
Straight away, but an identical application will get the same answer. Deal with each reason in the refusal first.
Can my family in the UK sponsor my visit?
They can invite you, pay for the trip and provide accommodation, and their documents help. The decision still turns on your own circumstances and whether you will leave at the end.
How much money do I need to show?
There is no fixed figure. You need to show that the cost of the trip is reasonable against your income and savings, and where the money came from.
Can I extend my visit or switch to another visa?
Rarely. A visit can be extended only in limited cases, and visitors normally have to leave and apply from abroad for work, study or family visas.
I was accused of using a false document. What now?
Take advice before you apply again. A deception finding can lead to refusals for up to ten years and needs to be answered directly. See re-entry bans.
