Visa to United Kingdom
Country Information & Travel News

Certain nationalities, known as visa nationals, need to obtain a visa before traveling to the UK. Even if you are not a visa national, you may need a visa, depending on the reason for coming to the UK. Use our Do I need a UK visa? questionnaire

A visa is normally issued for a specific purpose. If your reason for going to the UK changes, you should inform the visa office, preferably the one that issued your visa. You may be asked to make another visa application.

No, except where there are compelling compassionate circumstances. At the discretion of an entry clearance officer, the expiry date of a visa can be extended for up to 3 months, provided there has been no change in your circumstances. Otherwise you should apply for another visa.

• you have given the entry clearance officer all information relevant to your visit to the UK
• you have not, with or without your knowledge, given false information to support your application, and
• there has been no change to your circumstances, or reasons for going to the UK, since the visa was issued.

On arrival, an immigration officer may ask you to show evidence of your reasons for coming to the UK. This may include travel tickets, evidence of funding, letters from your sponsor or businesses you are visiting, or schools you will study at. You should carry in your hand luggage copies of documents that you showed to the entry clearance officer.

The last day on which you may enter or be in the UK is the expiry date on the visa. Visitors to the UK may normally stay in the UK up to a maximum of six months.

UK visas are normally valid for multiple entries to the UK, until the expiry date shown on the visa.

The expiry date will be shown on the visa, but remember that this is also the last day on which you are permitted to stay in the UK.