Usual stay
Up to 6 months for most tourist and family visits.
Overview
What is a UK Tourist Visit Visa and who is it for?
The UK Tourist Visit Visa sits within the Standard Visitor route. It is suitable for temporary visits such as holidays, visiting family or friends, attending social events, short recreational activities, passing through the UK, or combining tourism with other permitted visitor activities.
Most visitors can stay for up to 6 months. A long-term visit visa can be issued for 2, 5 or 10 years, but each visit must still remain temporary and normally cannot exceed 6 months. A long-term visa does not allow someone to live in the UK through repeated or lengthy stays.
The main question is not only whether the applicant wants to visit. The evidence must show that the visit is genuine, affordable and temporary, and that the applicant will leave the UK at the end of the trip.
Latest position
What are the current visitor visa rules and fees?
2026 visitor fee update
The current short-term Standard Visitor visa fee is £135 for up to 6 months. Long-term visitor visa fees are £506 for 2 years, £903 for 5 years and £1,128 for 10 years.
ETA position
Some non-visa nationals may need an Electronic Travel Authorisation instead of a visitor visa. The current ETA fee is £20.
Genuine visitor focus
Visitors must show they will leave the UK after the visit, have enough funds, can pay for return or onward travel, and will not make the UK their main home.
No settlement route
A visitor visa does not lead to ILR or British citizenship. It is a temporary route only.
Key facts
UK Tourist Visit Visa: key points before you apply
Main purpose
Tourism, holidays, family visits, social visits and other permitted activities.
Application timing
The earliest application date is usually 3 months before travel.
Decision time
Standard applications are usually decided within 3 weeks after identity and documents are provided.
Long-term visas
2, 5 and 10-year visas can be requested, but each stay must remain temporary.
Work restriction
Paid or unpaid work for a UK business is not allowed unless a specific permitted visitor activity applies.
Eligibility
Who can qualify for a UK Tourist Visit Visa?
A tourist visitor must have a genuine temporary reason to come to the UK and must intend to leave at the end of the visit. The applicant should be able to show how the trip will be funded and where they will stay.
Decision-makers often look at employment, business, study, family, financial and property ties outside the UK. Where a UK sponsor is involved, the sponsor evidence should support the visitor's case without replacing the visitor's own credibility.
A previous refusal, weak bank evidence, unclear employment position, unexplained deposits, limited travel history or long proposed stay can make the application more sensitive. A legal evidence strategy can help address those risks before submission.
Permitted activities
What can and cannot be done as a UK tourist visitor?
Usually permitted
Tourism, family visits, social visits, volunteering for up to 30 days with a registered charity, short recreational courses, attending interviews or meetings where the rules allow, and other permitted visitor activities.
Not allowed
Working for a UK company, self-employment in the UK, claiming public funds, living in the UK through frequent visits, or using the visitor route for marriage or civil partnership notice where a different visitor category is needed.
Multiple purposes
A visitor may undertake more than one permitted activity during the same visit, but the main reason and planned activities should be clear and supported by evidence.
Documents
What documents are usually important for Tourist Visit Visa?
The evidence should be tailored to the applicant’s purpose of visit, funds, sponsor support, travel history and reasons to return home. A strong application explains the visit clearly rather than relying on a long but unfocused document bundle.
Purpose and itinerary
A clear explanation of why the applicant is travelling, how long they will stay and what they plan to do in the UK.
Money and support
Bank evidence, income evidence, employment or business documents, and any sponsor support letter where relevant.
Return evidence
Work, study, family, property, business or other commitments that help explain why the applicant will return home.
Request a visitor visa document review
We can review your visitor evidence before the application is prepared and help identify gaps, contradictions and refusal risks.
Request Document ReviewFees
How much does Tourist Visit Visa cost?
6-month visit visa
£135
For most tourism, family and short personal visits.
2-year visitor visa
£506
For regular visitors who can justify frequent temporary visits.
5-year visitor visa
£903
For longer-term travel needs, with each visit normally limited to 6 months.
10-year visitor visa
£1,128
For regular visitors with strong ongoing travel reasons and compliance history.
ETA where applicable
£20
For certain non-visa nationals where an ETA is required instead of a visit visa.
Visitor extension
£1,172
Only available in limited circumstances, usually to bring a shorter permission up to 6 months.
Extension
Can this visitor visa be extended?
A tourist visitor may only be able to extend if they were granted less than 6 months and need to extend up to a total of 6 months. The current extension fee is £1,172.
A standard tourism visit cannot normally be extended beyond 6 months. Visitors who need to remain longer should obtain advice before their permission expires because overstaying can damage future applications.
Settlement
Does this visitor route lead to ILR or settlement?
The Tourist Visit Visa does not lead to settlement, ILR or British citizenship. It is designed for temporary visits only.
If the visitor has a longer-term UK objective, such as joining family, studying, working or building a UK business, a different immigration route may be more appropriate.
How we help
How Access Global supports Tourist Visit Visa applicants
Build a clear genuine visitor case before the application is submitted
We help applicants and sponsors prepare a visitor visa case that explains the purpose of travel, funding, accommodation, home-country ties and refusal risks in a clear and credible way.
Process
Tourist Visit Visa support pathway
1
Initial consultation
We review the reason for travel, visitor profile, immigration history and any previous refusal risks.
2
Eligibility strategy
We assess whether the visitor route is suitable and identify the strongest evidence themes.
3
Evidence review
We check financial, employment, sponsor, accommodation and return evidence for consistency.
4
Application support
We help structure the application narrative and supporting documents without creating a DIY-style approach.
5
Outcome planning
We advise on travel timing, future visits, long-term visitor visas and refusal response options if needed.
Ask Access Global Immigration Visa Experts to review your visitor visa case
We can assess purpose of visit, permitted activities, financial evidence, sponsor support, home ties, travel history and refusal risks before the application is submitted.
FAQs
Tourist Visit Visa FAQs
How much is a UK Tourist Visit Visa in 2026?
The current fee for a short-term Standard Visitor visa of up to 6 months is £135. Long-term visitor visas cost more depending on whether the applicant requests 2, 5 or 10 years.
Can I stay in the UK for 6 months on a tourist visa?
Most visitors can stay for up to 6 months, but the proposed stay must still be credible, affordable and temporary.
Does a 10-year visitor visa allow me to stay in the UK for 10 years?
No. A 10-year visitor visa allows repeated visits during the visa validity period, but each visit must normally be temporary and cannot exceed the permitted stay.
Can I work in the UK on a tourist visit visa?
No. A tourist visitor cannot work for a UK company or be self-employed in the UK unless a specific permitted visitor activity applies.
Can a UK family member sponsor my tourist visit?
Yes, a UK-based family member may support the visit, but the applicant must still show their own genuine visitor intention and circumstances.
What causes UK visit visa refusals?
Common issues include unclear purpose of visit, weak financial evidence, unexplained deposits, limited ties to the home country, inconsistent documents or previous immigration concerns.
Do I need flight and hotel bookings before applying?
Travel and accommodation plans should be credible, but certain types of booking evidence may not be the most important evidence. The focus is on the overall genuineness and affordability of the visit.
Can I extend a tourist visit visa?
A tourist visitor may only be able to extend in limited circumstances, usually where permission was granted for less than 6 months and the total stay will not exceed 6 months.
Does a tourist visit visa lead to ILR?
No. The visitor route is temporary and does not lead to ILR or settlement.
How can Access Global help?
We can review eligibility, evidence, sponsor documents, travel purpose, finances, home ties and refusal risk before the application is prepared.