Your Guide to Securing a UK Visitor Visa for Family and Friends

Applying for a UK standard visitor visa enables your friend or family member to visit you in the UK. In most cases, visitor visas are valid for six months. It is necessary for your friend or relative to apply for a visitor visa at the British Embassy or High Commission in their community.

If your visitor does not need a standard visa UK, they will need to get an electronic travel authorization (ETA) before their trip to the UK. Ensure you allow enough time for both the application process and the receipt of your visa.

Learn how your family and friends can apply for a long-term standard visitor Visa uk to come and visit you in the UK.

Duration of the Visa

As long as the visa is valid, visitors are allowed to enter and exit the UK as often as they like. They are limited to a maximum of six months stay in each visit. If you can demonstrate that you require repeated visits over a long period, a multiple standard visitor visa obtained overseas can be valid for up to six months or ten years.

Medical Insurance

Those coming to the UK on a UK 6-month multiple entry visa are not entitled to use the National Health Service (NHS). These visitors should purchase appropriate travel insurance before departure that covers their medical costs while in the United Kingdom.

The Process to Apply for Standard UK visitor visa for family and friends

When you apply for Standard UK visa, you will need to do the following,

1. Make an account with UKVI.
   

2. Fill out the application for a UK tourist visa online.
   

3. Cover the cost of the application.

4. Schedule a time to have your digital photos and fingerprints taken at a biometrics centre before applying for a visa.

5. Submit the supporting documents

Mandatory Documents Required for Standard UK visitor visa for family and friends

The documents required for a UK standard visitor visa application are,

1. current passport or other valid travel identification

2. evidence that the visitor has sufficient funds to cover the costs of accommodation and living expenses for the visit (bank statements or payslips from the last six months)

3. evidence that the visitor on the UK family visitor visa will leave the UK at the end of the visit (You could show proof your visitor has a job or studies to go back to in their home country. You can also show they have family who depend on them in their home country. A letter from their employer and details of their return travel arrangements)

4. A letter from the person they are visiting explaining their relationship with them and the purpose of their visit

5. A copy of the passport data page (the page containing their photograph) of the person they are visiting and, if applicable, evidence of their immigration status in the United Kingdom

6. Evidence of accommodation arranged, such as a contract or hotel booking

7. A tuberculosis (TB) test certificate for nationals of some countries where there is a high incidence of TB who are coming to the UK for more than six months

Documents You Will Need To Include When Applying For  Standard Visitor Visa UK

You will need to include supporting documents when you apply standard visitor visa UK. The online form will have instructions on what to include. Here are a few things to keep in mind.

You will need to submit certified English translations of your documents together with the originals if they are not in Welsh or English. Every translation needs to have

• the translator's attestation that it is an exact translation of the source text, along with the translation date
  

• The entire name and signature of the translator

• The contact information for the translator

If the visitor is paying for themselves, they will have to include documents proving that they can afford it, such as bank statements or payslips.

If you are paying for their visit (flights and accommodation), you will need to prove that you can afford the visitor’s trip as well as your costs - for example your rent, mortgage and general expenses.

You need to include:

• Evidence of your salary and place of employment, such as paystubs or an employment contract

• Evidence that you have sufficient funds to cover the visitor's stay (recent bank statements)

• Evidence (a copy of your passport or visa) that you are lawfully residing in the United Kingdom

• An estimate of how much the trip will cost - this needs to be as accurate as possible

Prove that your relationship is genuine.

You will need to provide proof of your relationship to the visitor if you want to visit the UK as a standard visitor. You may need to provide substantial evidence that a friend, boyfriend, or girlfriend is visiting you after their visit and will be going back to their own country.

Note - You cannot appeal if your UK visit visa is denied. It is quicker and easier to apply again. Make sure you address the reasons for the denial of your previous visa application.