Standard Visitor visa

Overview

You can come to the UK as a Standard Visitor:

for tourism, for example on a holiday or to see your family and friends

for certain business activities, for example attending a meeting

to do a short course of study

to take part in research or an exchange programme as an academic

for medical reasons, for example to receive private medical treatment

You may not have to apply for a visa. What you need to do depends on your nationality and what you plan to do in the UK.

Check if you need to apply for a UK visa.

Your application will not be accepted and you will not get a refund if you have the right of abode in the UK (for example you’re a British citizen). You need to apply for a certificate of entitlement instead.

What you can and cannot do

You can visit the UK to do certain activities, for example visiting friends and family or attending a conference.

You cannot:

do paid or unpaid work for a UK company or as a self-employed person

live in the UK for long periods of time through frequent visits

claim public funds (benefits)

do a course of study that lasts longer than 6 months

marry or register a civil partnership, or give notice of marriage or civil partnership. You’ll need a Marriage Visitor visa instead

Read the guidance for more information about what you can and cannot do with a Standard Visitor visa.

Eligibility

You’ll need to prove that you meet the eligibility requirements, for example that you’ll leave the UK at the end of your visit.

How long you can stay

You can usually stay in the UK for up to 6 months (£95 fee).

You might be able to stay for longer if:

you’re coming to the UK for private medical treatment - up to 11 months (£190 fee)

you’re an academic and meet the eligibility requirements - you, your spouse or partner and your children may be able to stay for up to 12 months (£190 fee)

If you’re staying in the UK for longer than 6 months, you must collect your biometric residence permit when you arrive. You may also have to take a tuberculosis test as part of your application depending on where you come from.

If you need to visit the UK regularly

You can apply for a long-term Standard Visitor visa that lasts 2, 5 or 10 years if you need to visit the UK regularly over a longer period. You can stay for a maximum of 6 months on each visit.

If you’re under 18 years old when you apply, your long-term Standard Visitor visa will only be valid for up to 6 months after you turn 18. You cannot get a refund on the fee.

When to apply and how long it takes

If you need a visa, you must apply online before you come to the UK.

As part of your application, you’ll need to book an appointment at a visa application centre to prove your identity and provide your documents.

Allow time to attend your appointment, as the visa application centre could be in another country.

The visa application centre may keep your passport and documents while processing your application.

The earliest you can apply is 3 months before you travel.

Getting a decision

Once you’ve applied online, proved your identity and provided your documents, you’ll usually get a decision on your visa within 3 weeks.

Find out how to get your visa decision faster - this depends on what country you’re in.

Fees

A Standard Visitor visa costs £95.

The fee for a long-term Standard Visitor visa depends on its length:

2 years - £361

5 years - £655

10 years - £822

Extending your stay as a visitor

You cannot switch from a Standard Visitor visa to another type of visa.

You can only extend your stay for specific reasons, for example needing further private medical treatment.

If you want a visa to do something other than visiting, for example work or longer-term study, you’ll need to leave the UK and make a new application.

What you can do in the UK

You can visit the UK to do different activities. You must meet the eligibility requirements for the things you want to do.

If you’re visiting for tourism or leisure

You can visit the UK to:

spend time with friends and family

take a holiday

do a recreational course of up to 30 days, for example a dance course

volunteer for up to 30 days with a registered charity

take part in a school exchange programme

If you’re visiting on business

You can visit the UK for many different business reasons, including attending meetings, conferences, trade fairs or negotiating contracts.

You can do certain business activities with UK employees of the company you work for overseas, for example provide training or share knowledge on internal projects.

Check the Visitor Rules for the full list of business activities you can do as a Standard Visitor and any additional eligibility requirements.

If you’re being paid by a UK organisation to visit as an expert in your profession, you should apply for a Permitted Paid Engagement visa.

If you’re visiting to study

You can visit the UK to study for up to 6 months at an accredited institution, this includes English language courses.

You can also do:

a short piece of research that’s relevant to your course overseas

an ‘elective’ - an optional additional placement, if you’re studying medicine, veterinary medicine and science, or dentistry

If you want to study longer you’ll need to apply for a:

Student visa (if your course is run by a licensed sponsor)

Short-term study visa (for English Language courses up to 11 months)

If you’re visiting as an academic

If you’re from an academic institution overseas, you can:

take part in formal exchange arrangements with UK counterparts

carry out your own research during a sabbatical

If you’re a senior doctor or dentist you can also:

take part in research

teach (as long as it is not a permanent teaching post)

undertake clinical practice (as long as it’s not a permanent position)

If you’re visiting for medical reasons

You can visit the UK if you want to have private medical treatment at a hospital or other medical facility.

You can also visit to donate an organ to a family member or close friend. This includes being assessed for suitability as a donor match.

If you’re passing through the UK to another country

You can pass through the UK to another country as a Standard Visitor.

If transiting is your only reason for coming to the UK, then you may apply for a Transit visa instead.

Eligibility

You must show that:

you’ll leave the UK at the end of your visit

you’ll not live in the UK for extended periods through frequent or successive visits, or make the UK your main home

you’re able to support yourself and your dependants during your trip (or have funding from someone else to support you)

you’re able to pay for your return or onward journey (or have funding from someone else to pay for the journey)

you have proof of any business or other activities you want to do in the UK, as allowed by the Visitor Rules

If you’re applying to study for up to 6 months

You must prove one of the following:

you’ve been accepted onto a course of no more than 6 months provided by an accredited UK institution (this cannot be an academy or state-funded school)

you’re at least 16 years old and have been accepted by a UK higher education institution to take part in research that’s relevant to the course you’re studying overseas

you’re at least 16 years old and are doing an ‘elective’ (an optional additional placement) as part of an overseas medicine, veterinary medicine and science, or dentistry course

You must already be enrolled on a course that is the equivalent of a UK degree, before applying to do research or a placement in the UK.

To study or research certain subjects at postgraduate level or above, you may need an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate. If you do need one, you’ll need to get your ATAS certificate before starting your study or research.

If you’re applying as an academic

You can stay in the UK for up to 12 months if you’re applying as an academic. You must prove you’re:

highly qualified in your field of expertise, for example you have a PhD

currently working in that field of expertise at an academic institution overseas

visiting for a formal exchange or to carry out research

not filling a permanent teaching post

To research certain subjects at postgraduate level or above, you may need an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate. If you do need one, you’ll need to get your ATAS certificate before starting your research.

If you’re applying to visit for private medical treatment

You must prove that you:

have a medical condition that needs private consultation or treatment in the UK

have made arrangements for consultations or treatment

have enough money or funding to pay for your treatment

will leave the UK once your treatment is completed, or when your visa expires

are not a danger to public health if you have an infectious disease, such as leprosy

If you’re applying as an organ donor

You can only visit the UK to donate organs to:

a family member who you’re genetically related to (for example your sibling or parent)

someone you have a close personal relationship with (for example your spouse or friend)

You must prove that the person you’re donating an organ to is legally allowed to be in the UK.

If you’re applying for a long-term Standard Visitor visa

You must prove that you’ll only ever be coming to the UK to visit and that you plan to leave at the end of each visit.

You may be given a visa for a shorter period than requested if you do not do this. You will not get a refund of the application fee if you get a shorter visa or your application is refused.

Your visa may be cancelled if your travel history shows you are repeatedly living in the UK for extended periods.

Documents you'll need

You must provide a passport or travel document. Your passport should be valid for the whole of your stay in the UK and contain a blank page for your visa.

You’ll be told what other documents and information to provide when you apply online.

You must provide certified translations of any documents that are not in English or Welsh.

You’ll need to provide the following information:

the dates you’re planning to travel to the UK

details of where you’ll be staying during your visit

how much you think your trip will cost

your current home address and how long you’ve lived there

your parents’ names and dates of birth (if known)

how much you earn in a year (if you have an income)

details of any criminal, civil or immigration offences you may have committed

You might also need to provide:

details of your travel history for the past 10 years

your employer’s address and telephone number

your partner’s name, date of birth, and passport number

the name and address of anyone paying for your trip

the name, address and passport number of any family members you have in the UK

Providing documents for certain activities

You must provide specific documents if you’re applying to visit the UK to:

do research as part of an overseas study course

have private medical treatment

be an organ donor

take the Professional and Linguistic Assessment Board (PLAB) test or sit the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE)

Read the full list of supporting documents for more information.

If you're under 18

You may visit the UK if you’re under 18 and:

you’ve made suitable arrangements for your travel and stay in the UK

you have written consent from your parent or guardian to travel to the UK (if travelling alone)

you’re able to pay for your return or onward journey

you have enough money to support yourself without working or getting help from public funds, or you have family and friends that can support you

Travelling alone

You can travel to the UK without an adult (someone over the age of 18).

Your parent or guardian will need to provide their:

written consent for you to travel to the UK

full contact details

They’ll also need to provide proof that you have somewhere suitable to live during your stay in the UK, including:

the name and date of birth of the person that you will be staying with

an address where you will be living

details of your relationship to the person who’ll be looking after you and

their written consent for you to stay with that person while you’re in the UK

If you’re not staying with a close relative

Your parent, guardian or school must tell the relevant local authority about your visit if you’re both of the following:

under 16 (or under 18 if you have a disability)

going to be looked after for more than 28 days by someone who is not a close relative (called ‘private foster care’)

You should provide a reply from the local authority if you have one.

The same rules apply to education exchange visits that last for more than 28 days, unless:

you’re part of a group that is travelling and staying together, for example a school group

you’re accompanied by an adult, for example a teacher

There are different rules in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Read the guidance for more information.

Travelling with an adult

When travelling to the UK with an adult (someone over the age of 18), you’ll need to identify them in your visa application.

If the person you’re travelling with is not your parent, you’ll need to provide specific information about them in your application.

You can identify up to 2 adults in your visa application. Their names will appear on your visa.

The adult can apply for a visa at the same time, but you must each complete separate applications.

If you arrive in the UK without the person named in your visa, you’ll need to show that your parent or guardian consents to your travel and accommodation arrangements.

Apply from outside the UK

If you need a visa, you must apply online before you travel to the UK.

Check what documents you’ll need to apply.

Proving your identity and providing supporting documents

As part of your online application, you need to book an appointment at a visa application centre. You’ll have your fingerprints and photograph (known as ‘biometric information’) taken at your appointment.

Allow time to attend your appointment, as the visa application centre could be in another country.

The visa application centre may keep your passport and documents while processing your application.

Apply for a Standard Visitor visa

Once you’ve started your application you can save your form and complete it later.

Apply now

Continue your application

You can sign back into your application if you’ve saved it. Check your email and follow the link to return to your application.

Apply with family members

Each family member must make their own application and pay the fee.

You can apply on behalf of your partner and child, if they cannot apply for themselves.

They must attend their own appointment at a visa application centre.

How long it takes to get a decision

Find out how to get your visa decision faster - this depends on what country you’re in.

You’ll get an email or a letter containing the decision on your application. This will explain what you need to do next.

If you need to change or cancel your application

If you need to change something in your application after you’ve sent it contact UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI).

You can ask to cancel your application. You’ll only get your fee refunded if the application has not been processed yet.

Extend your stay

You may be able to extend your stay as long as the total time you spend in the UK as a visitor is no more than 6 months.

For example if you have been in the UK as a visitor for 3 months, you can apply to extend your stay for 3 more months.

Read the guidance to find out if you can extend your visit.

You must apply while you’re still in the UK and before your current visa expires.

If you want to extend your stay for longer than 6 months

You can only apply to extend your stay as a visitor for over 6 months if you’re:

a patient receiving medical treatment

an academic and you still meet the eligibility requirements

a graduate doing a clinical attachment or retaking the Professional and Linguistic Assessment Board (PLAB) test

If you did not need a visa for the first 6 months of your visit, you’ll need to apply for permission to stay longer and pay the fee.

If you’re receiving private medical treatment in the UK

You can apply to extend your stay for a further 6 months if you:

have paid for any treatment you’ve already had in the UK

can and will pay the further costs of your treatment

continue to meet the eligibility requirements

You must also get a medical practitioner or NHS consultant who’s registered in the UK to provide:

proof of arrangements for your private medical consultation or treatment

a letter saying how long your treatment is likely to take

details of the progress of your treatment, if it’s already started

If you’re an academic

If you want to extend your stay as an academic visiting the UK, you must prove you:

are highly qualified in your field of expertise, for example you have a PhD or higher

were working in that field of expertise at an academic institution overseas prior to your arrival in the UK

are visiting for a formal exchange or to carry out research

are not filling a permanent teaching post

You can stay in the UK for up to 12 months in total.

Before you extend your stay, check if you need an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate. You may need one if you’re researching certain subjects at postgraduate level or above.

If you’re retaking the PLAB test

You can extend your stay in the UK to retake the PLAB test.

You must provide written confirmation from the General Medical Council that you are sitting the test.

You can stay up to 6 months to retake the test.

If you’ve passed the PLAB test and want to do a clinical attachment

If you’re successful in the PLAB test, you can apply to extend your stay to do an unpaid clinical attachment. You must not treat patients.

You must provide written confirmation of your clinical attachment offer and confirm you’ve not done one in the UK before.

You can stay in the UK for up to 18 months in total.

Apply to extend your stay as a visitor

You must apply online before your current visa expires.

Once you’ve started your application you can save your form and complete it later.

Apply now

Continue your application

Proving your identity and providing supporting documents

When you apply, you’ll be asked to make an appointment at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) service point to provide your biometric information (your fingerprints and a photo).

You’ll also need to submit your supporting documents. You can:

upload them into the online service

have them scanned at your UKVCAS appointment

You must not travel outside of the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man until you get a decision. Your application will be withdrawn if you do.

Get help to apply online

You can get help with completing the online form if you:

do not feel confident using a computer or mobile device

do not have internet access

You can only use this service if you’re applying to extend your visa in the UK.

You cannot get immigration advice through this service.

Fees

It costs:

£993 to extend this visa

an extra £800 if you use the super priority service

You must also pay £19.20 to have your biometric information (fingerprints and a photo) taken.

How long it takes to get a decision

A decision will usually be made within 8 weeks of your application date if you use the standard service.

If you use the super priority service a decision will be made:

by the end of the next working day after your UKVCAS appointment if your appointment is on a weekday

2 working days after your UKVCAS appointment if your appointment is at the weekend

Working days are Monday to Friday, not including bank holidays.

Once you’ve got your decision letter, your biometric residence permit will take up to 10 working days to arrive.

You’ll be contacted if your application is complex and will take longer, for example:

if your supporting documents need to be verified

if you need to attend an interview

because of your personal circumstances (for example if you have a criminal conviction)

Once you’ve applied you can stay in the UK until you’ve been given a decision, as long as you applied before your last visa expired.


Marriage Visitor visa

Overview

You must apply for a Marriage Visitor visa if:

you want to get married or register a civil partnership in the UK

you want to give notice of a marriage or civil partnership in UK

you’re not planning to stay or settle in the UK after your marriage or civil partnership

you meet the other eligibility requirements

You do not need a Marriage Visitor visa to convert your civil partnership into a marriage - you can apply for a Standard Visitor visa.

You cannot apply if you qualify for British citizenship - including if you can have dual nationality. You must apply for British citizenship instead.

If you or your family are from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein

You will not need a Marriage Visitor visa if you come to the UK on or before 30 June 2021.

If you come to the UK from 1 July 2021 you’ll need to apply for a visa, unless one of the following applies:

you have settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme

you have applied to the EU Settlement Scheme, and you have not got a decision yet

you’re an Irish citizen

What you can and cannot do

You can:

marry or enter into a civil partnership in the UK within 6 months of your arrival - you must use a venue licensed for this purpose

pass through the UK in transit (on your way to another country)

You cannot:

get public funds (benefits)

bring in family members (‘dependants’) - they must apply separately

live in the UK for extended periods through frequent visits

extend your visa or switch to another visa

work - except for permitted activities related to your work or business overseas, such as attending meetings

study

Read the guidance for more information about what you can and cannot do with a Marriage Visitor visa.

How long you can stay

You can use this visa to visit the UK for up to 6 months.

When to apply and how long it takes

If you need a visa, you must apply online before you come to the UK.

As part of your application, you’ll need to book an appointment at a visa application centre to prove your identity and provide your documents.

Allow time to attend your appointment, as the visa application centre could be in another country.

The visa application centre may keep your passport and documents while processing your
application.

The earliest you can apply is 3 months before you travel.

Getting a decision

Once you’ve applied online, proved your identity and provided your documents, you’ll usually get a decision on your visa within 3 weeks.

Find out how to get your visa decision faster - this depends on what country you’re in.

Fees

It costs £95 to apply.

Eligibility

You must prove that:

you’re 18 or over

you’re free to give notice of marriage, to marry or enter into a civil partnership in the UK within 6 months of your arrival

you’re in a genuine relationship

you’re visiting the UK for less than 6 months

you’ll leave the UK at the end of your visit

you’ll not live in the UK for extended periods through frequent or successive visits, or make the UK your main home

you’re able to support yourself during your trip (or have funding from someone else to support you)

you’re able to pay for your return or onward journey (or have funding from someone else to pay for the journey)

you have proof of any other activities you want to do in the UK, as allowed by the Visitor Rules

Documents you'll need

You must provide a passport or travel document. Your passport should be valid for the whole of your stay in the UK and contain a blank page for your visa.

You can supply the following to support your application:

details of the marriage or civil partnership and proof that you’ve paid money for some of its costs

proof that you’re planning to get married in the UK, for example a booking confirmation or emails between you and the venue

See the full list of documents you can provide to prove your eligibility.

You’ll need to provide a certified translation of any documents that are not in English or Welsh.

If you’ve been married before

You’ll need to show proof that you’re free to marry or enter into a civil partnership again, for example a:

decree absolute

death certificate of a previous partner

You may need to provide additional documents depending on your circumstances.

Apply from outside the UK

If you need a visa, you must apply online before you travel to the UK.

Check what documents you’ll need to apply.

If you’re from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein, you will not need a Marriage Visitor visa if you come to the UK on or before 30 June 2021.

Proving your identity and providing supporting documents

As part of your online application, you need to book an appointment at a visa application centre. You’ll have your fingerprints and photograph (known as ‘biometric information’) taken at your appointment.

Apply for a Marriage Visitor visa

Once you’ve started your application you can save your form and complete it later.

Apply now

Continue your application

You can sign back into your application if you’ve saved it. Check your email and follow the link to return to your application.

Apply with family members

Your partner must apply for their own Marriage Visitor visa and pay the fee if you both need one. Your child will need to apply as a standard visitor if they need a visa.

You can apply on behalf of your partner and child, if they cannot apply for themselves.

They must attend their own appointment at a visa application centre.

How long it takes to get a decision

You’ll get an email or a letter containing the decision on your application. This will explain what you need to do next.

If you need to change or cancel your application

If you need to change something in your application after you’ve sent it contact UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI).

You can ask to cancel your application. You’ll only get your fee refunded if the application has not been processed yet.


Permitted Paid Engagement visa

Overview

You may be able to visit the UK for a paid engagement if you’ve been invited as an expert in your profession.

You can apply for a Permitted Paid Engagement visa if you:

are invited by a UK-based organisation or client

want to come to the UK to do specific paid work without having to be sponsored under the points-based visa system

meet the other eligibility requirements

You may not have to apply for a visa. What you need to do depends on your nationality.

Check if you need to apply for a UK visa.

What you can and cannot do

You can be invited by a UK-based organisation or client to:

be a student examiner or assessor

take part in selection panels as a highly qualified academic if you’re invited by an education, arts or research organisation

give lectures at a higher education institution, as long as it’s not a part-time or full-time role

examine UK-based pilots so they meet the standards of the country you come from if you’re invited by an approved UK training organisation regulated by the UK Civil Aviation Authority

provide advocacy in a particular area of law

take part in arts, entertainment or sporting activities including broadcasting

take part in fashion modelling assignments

You can also do minor activities related to your work or business overseas, such as attend meetings.

You cannot:

do paid work unrelated to your main job or area of expertise at home, other than what’s allowed by your visa

extend this visa or switch to another visa

live in the UK for extended periods

get public funds (benefits)

study

marry or register a civil partnership, or give notice of marriage or civil partnership

bring family members (‘dependants’) with you on your application - they must apply separately

Read the guidance for more information about what you can and cannot do with a Permitted Paid Engagement visa.

How long you can stay

You can stay in the UK for up to 1 month.

When to apply and how long it takes

If you need a visa, you must apply online before you come to the UK.

As part of your application, you’ll need to book an appointment at a visa application centre to prove your identity and provide your documents.

Allow time to attend your appointment, as the visa application centre could be in another country.

The visa application centre may keep your passport and documents while processing your
application.

The earliest you can apply is 3 months before you travel.

Getting a decision

Once you’ve applied online, proved your identity and provided your documents, you’ll usually get a decision on your visa within 3 weeks.

Find out how to get your visa decision faster - this depends on what country you’re in.

Fees

A Permitted Paid Engagement visa costs £95.

Eligibility

You must show that:

you’re 18 or over

you’re visiting the UK for no more than 1 month

you’ve been formally invited and paid by a UK-based organisation to attend an event or other permitted engagement

you’ll leave the UK at the end of your visit

you will not live in the UK for extended periods through frequent or successive visits, or make the UK your main home

you’re able to support yourself during your trip (or have funding from someone else to support you)

you’re able to pay for your return or onward journey (or have funding from someone else to pay for the journey)

you have proof of any business or other activities you want to do in the UK, as allowed by the Visitor Rules

Documents you'll need

When you apply you must provide:

a current passport or other valid travel document - your passport must have a blank page for your visa

a formal invitation from the UK-based organisation or client you’ll be paid by

proof that the paid engagement relates to your expertise, qualifications and main job in your home country, for example a letter from your employer

See the full list of documents you can provide to prove your eligibility.

You’ll need to provide a certified translation of any documents that are not in English or Welsh.

Additional documents

You must provide extra documents if you’re an established arts, entertainment or sporting professional. You can provide any of the following:

publications

publicity material

proof of awards

media coverage and reviews

proof of recent performances

You may need to provide additional documents depending on your circumstances.

Apply from outside the UK

If you need a visa, you must apply online before you travel to the UK.

Check what documents you’ll need to apply.

Proving your identity and providing supporting documents

As part of your online application, you need to book an appointment at a visa application centre. You’ll have your fingerprints and photograph (known as ‘biometric information’) taken at your appointment.

Apply for a Permitted Paid Engagement visa

Once you’ve started your application you can save your form and complete it later.

Apply now

Continue your application

You can sign back into your application if you’ve saved it. Check your email and follow the link to return to your application.

Apply with family members

Each family member must make their own application and pay the fee.

You can apply on behalf of your partner and child, if they cannot apply for themselves.

They must attend their own appointment at a visa application centre.

How long it takes to get a decision

You’ll get an email or a letter containing the decision on your application. This will explain what you need to do next.

If you need to change or cancel your application

If you need to change something in your application after you’ve sent it contact UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI).

You can ask to cancel your application. You’ll only get your fee refunded if the application has not been processed yet.


Parent of a Child Student visa

Who can apply

You can only apply for a Parent of a Child Student visa if your child has or is applying for a Child Student visa. Or if they currently have a Tier 4 (Child) visa.

Your child must be aged between 4 and 11 when you apply, and be attending an independent school in the UK.

You must also:

be the only parent accompanying your child in the UK

maintain your main home outside the UK

plan to leave the UK when your visa expires

Bringing family members with you

To be eligible for a Parent of a Child Student visa you must be the only parent accompanying your child in the UK. The child’s other parent must live abroad, and cannot apply to join you in the UK.

You can bring your other children with you if they also have or are applying for a Child Student visa.

You cannot bring other family members with you on this visa. They may be able to apply to come to the UK on a short-term visit visa.

If you or your family are from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein

If you or a close family member started living in the UK before 1 January 2021, you may be able to apply to the free EU Settlement Scheme.

Otherwise you need a visa to come to the UK for more than 6 months. The earliest your Parent of a Child Student visa will start from is 1 January 2021.

Irish citizens do not need to apply for a visa or to the EU Settlement Scheme.

How long you can stay

You can stay in the UK until your child’s visa expires or they turn 12, whichever happens first.

You can extend your visa while in the UK as long as you meet the eligibility requirements.

If you leave the UK

If your child is staying in education in the UK without you, you must make arrangements for their ongoing care. For example, if your child turns 12 and their visa is still valid, they may be able to start boarding at their current school, or live with other family members in the UK.

What you cannot do

While you’re in the UK on a Parent of a Child Student visa, you cannot:

do paid work

study

start a business

make the UK your main home

apply for benefits (public funds), or the State Pension

bring other family members with you

switch to a different type of visa

Money you need

When you apply for a Parent of a Child Student visa, you must:

pay the application fee

pay the healthcare surcharge for each year of your stay

prove that you have enough money to support yourself and your child while you’re in the UK

Visa application fee

A Parent of a Child Student visa costs £516.

Healthcare surcharge

You’ll also have to pay the healthcare surcharge as part of your online application. It usually costs £624 per year.

This is so you can use the National Health Service (NHS) in the UK.

Check how much you’ll need to pay before you apply.

You pay the surcharge as part of your online visa application.

Money to support yourself and your child

You’ll need to show that you have enough money to support yourself and your child in the UK.

You’ll need £1,560 for each month of your stay up to a maximum of 9 months. This amount is to support both you and your child.

For example, if you’re staying for 9 months or longer you’ll need to prove you have £14,040 (9 months × £1,560).

If you want to bring your other children

You’ll need an extra £625 per month, up to a maximum of 9 months, for each additional child that accompanies you to the UK. They must be a sibling of your other child and also have a Child Student visa.

If you’re extending your visa

If you’ve been in the UK for at least 12 months on a valid visa, you do not need to prove you have money to support yourself and your child for your visa application.

Documents you'll need to apply

When you apply you’ll need to provide:

a current passport or other valid travel document

proof that you have enough money to support yourself and your child - unless you’ve been in the UK for at least 12 months on a valid visa

evidence that you have a permanent home outside the UK

Depending on your circumstances, you might also need to provide:

your tuberculosis (TB) test results if you’re from a country where you have to take the TB test

a certified translation of any documents that are not in English or Welsh

Apply from outside the UK

You must apply online for a Parent of a Child Student visa before you travel to the UK.

The earliest you can apply is 6 months before you travel to the UK.

Check what documents you’ll need to apply.

Apply online

As part of your online application, you will need to book an appointment at a visa application centre to prove your identity. You’ll have your fingerprints and photograph (known as ‘biometric information’) taken at your appointment.

The visa application centre may keep your passport and documents while processing your application.

You’ll be told what you need to do when you apply.

Once you’ve started your application, you can save your form and complete it later.

Apply online

Continue your application

You can sign back into your application if you’ve saved it. Check your email and follow the link to return to your application.

How long it takes to get a decision

Once you’ve applied online, proved your identity and provided your documents, you’ll usually get a decision on your visa within 3 weeks.

You may be able to pay to get a faster decision. Check if your visa application centre offers faster decisions and other services.

After you apply

You’ll be contacted if your application is complex and will take longer, for example because:

your supporting documents need to be verified

of your personal circumstances (for example if you have a criminal conviction)

If you need to change or cancel your application

If you need to change something in your application after you’ve sent it, contact UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI).

You can ask to cancel your application by contacting UKVI. Your fee will only be refunded if UKVI has not started processing your application.

After you get a decision

You’ll get a letter or an email containing the decision on your application. This will explain what you need to do next.

Find out what happens after you get your decision.

Extend your visa

You can apply to extend your visa while in the UK as long as you and your child meet the eligibility requirements. This includes if your child currently has a Tier 4 (Child) student visa.

How long you can stay

When you extend your visa you can stay in the UK until the date your child’s student visa expires or they turn 12, whichever happens first.

When to apply to extend your visa

You must apply before your current visa expires.

You can stay in the UK until you get a decision on your visa application.

Apply to extend your visa

You must apply online.

When you apply, you’ll be asked to make an appointment at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) service point. At the appointment you must provide your biometric information (your fingerprints and a photo). It costs £19.20.

You’ll also need to submit your supporting documents. You can:

upload them into the online service

have them scanned at your UKVCAS appointment

Apply to extend

Continue your application

Get help to apply online

You can get help with completing the online form if you:

do not feel confident using a computer or mobile device

do not have internet access

You can only use this service if you’re applying to extend your visa in the UK.

You cannot get immigration advice through this service.

How long it takes to get a decision

Once you’ve applied online, proved your identity and provided your documents, you’ll usually get a decision on your visa within 8 weeks.

You may be able to pay to get a faster decision - you’ll be told if you can when you apply.

You can stay in the UK until you’ve been given a decision, as long as you applied before your last visa expired.

You must not travel outside of the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man until you get a decision. Your application will be withdrawn if you do.

After you apply

your supporting documents need to be verified

If you need to change or cancel your application

You can ask to withdraw your application by contacting UKVI. Your fee will only be refunded if UKVI has not started processing your application.

After you get a decision

Find out what happens after you get your decision.

If you applied for an administrative review because your application was refused, you can stay in the UK until you get your review decision.


Visa to pass through the UK in transit

Overview

You might need a visa to pass through the UK in transit (on your way to another country).

Check if you need one before you apply.

To get a transit visa you must prove that:

you’ll be in transit to another country, with enough funds and the intention to travel on

you can enter that country

the only purpose of your visit to the UK is transit

You do not need a transit visa if you:

have an EEA family permit

have an EU Settlement Scheme family permit

have a Home Office travel document, for example you’re a refugee or stateless person

have a Standard Visitor visa

have a Marriage Visitor visa

Types of transit visa

The visa you need depends on whether you’re going through UK border control when you arrive in the UK.

Your airline can tell you if you’ll go through border control.

You’re not going through UK border control

Apply for a Direct Airside Transit visa (DATV) if you’ll be changing flights in the UK and will not be going through UK border control.

You’re going through UK border control

Apply for a Visitor in Transit visa if you’ll be going through UK border control but leaving the UK within 48 hours.

You’ll need to apply for a Standard Visitor visa if:

you need to stay longer in the UK

you can prove you need to frequently pass through the UK over a longer period

Fees

Direct Airside Transit visa (DATV) - £35

Visitor in Transit visa - £64

The cost may vary slightly depending on which country you’re in.

Direct Airside Transit visa

You might need a Direct Airside Transit visa (DATV) if you:

will be changing flights in the UK on your way to another country

will not go through UK border control

You may not have to apply for a visa. What you need to do depends on your nationality and whether you need to enter the UK. Check if you need to apply for a visa.

You do not need one if you have a valid:

EEA family permit

EU Settlement Scheme family permit

Standard Visitor visa

Marriage Visitor visa

You must apply for another type of visitor visa if you’re travelling to or from Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man.

Documents you need

To apply for a DATV, you must have a current passport or other valid travel document.

You need to provide evidence that you’re allowed to enter the country you’re travelling to, such as a:

residence permit

green card

valid visa

If you’re not a resident or national of the country you’re travelling to, you may need to explain why you’re going there. You may need to provide details of where you’re staying.

You must also provide evidence that your onward journey is booked or confirmed, such as:

a flight booking email

printed tickets

confirmation from a travel agent

Bring your visa and documents with you when you travel through the UK.

Apply

You must apply online for a Direct Airside Transit visa.

You’ll need to have your fingerprints and photograph (known as ‘biometric information’) taken at a visa application centre as part of your application.

You may be able to get your visa faster or other services depending on what country you’re in - check with your visa application centre.

Apply now

Visitor in Transit visa

You might need a Visitor in Transit visa if you’re:

going through UK border control, for example to check in your luggage for a connecting flight

leaving the UK within 48 hours

not working or studying while in the UK

If you will not be going through UK border control, check if you need a Direct Airside Transit visa instead.

You do not need a transit visa if you have a valid:

EEA family permit

EU Settlement Scheme family permit

Standard Visitor visa

Marriage Visitor visa

You need to apply for a Standard Visitor visa if you’re staying in the UK for more than 48 hours.

Travel to the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man or Ireland

You might need to apply for a visitor visa to travel through the UK to get to the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man or Ireland.

You’ll usually need to apply for a Standard Visitor visa unless you’re exempt.

You do not need a UK visitor visa if:

you have a valid visa for the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man

you have a valid Irish biometric visa (marked ‘BC’ or ‘BC BIVS’ in the ‘Remarks’ section)

If you need to pass through the UK regularly

You can also apply for a long-term Standard Visitor visa if you need to pass through the UK in transit regularly over a longer period. You can stay for a maximum of 6 months on each visit and your visa can last for 2, 5 or 10 years.

Documents you need

To apply for a Visitor in Transit visa, you must have a current passport or other valid travel document.

residence permit

green card

valid visa

a flight booking email

printed tickets

confirmation from a travel agent

Your onward flight must be within 48 hours of your arrival in the UK.

Apply

You must apply online for a Visitor in Transit visa.

Apply now


Skilled Worker visa

Overview

A Skilled Worker visa allows you to come to or stay in the UK to do an eligible job with an approved employer.

This visa has replaced the Tier 2 (General) work visa.

Some health workers and their families will get their visas extended for free because of coronavirus (COVID-19).

If you or your family are from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein

If you or your close family member started living in the UK before 1 January 2021, you may be able to apply to the free EU Settlement Scheme.

Otherwise you need a visa to work in the UK.

Irish citizens do not need to apply for a visa or to the EU Settlement Scheme.

Eligibility

Your job

To qualify for a Skilled Worker visa, you must:

work for a UK employer that’s been approved by the Home Office

have a ‘certificate of sponsorship’ from your employer with information about the role you’ve been offered in the UK

do a job that’s on the list of eligible occupations

be paid a minimum salary - how much depends on the type of work you do

The specific eligibility depends on your job.

You must have a confirmed job offer before you apply for your visa.

Knowledge of English

You must be able to speak, read, write and understand English. You’ll usually need to prove your knowledge of English when you apply.

If you’re not eligible for a Skilled Worker visa

You may be eligible for another type of visa to work in the UK.

How long you can stay

Your visa can last for up to 5 years before you need to extend it. You’ll need to apply to extend or update your visa when it expires or if you change jobs or employer.

If you want to stay longer in the UK

You can apply to extend your visa as many times as you like as long as you still meet the eligibility requirements.

After 5 years, you may be able to apply to settle permanently in the UK (also known as ‘indefinite leave to remain’). This gives you the right to live, work and study here for as long as you like, and apply for benefits if you’re eligible.

How to apply

You must apply online.

How you apply depends on whether you’re:

outside the UK and are coming to the UK

inside the UK and extending your current visa

inside the UK and switching from a different visa

If you want to change your job or employer, you must apply to update your visa.

You can include your partner and children in your application to stay in the UK if they are eligible.

How long it takes

You can apply for a visa up to 3 months before the day you are due to start work in the UK. This date is listed on your certificate of sponsorship.

As part of your application, you’ll need to prove your identity and provide your documents.

You may need to allow extra time if you need an appointment to do this. You’ll find out if you need one when you start your application.

Getting a decision

Once you’ve applied online, proved your identity and provided your documents, you’ll usually get a decision on your visa within:

3 weeks, if you’re outside the UK

8 weeks, if you’re inside the UK

If you need to go to an appointment, you may be able to pay for a faster decision. How you do this depends on whether you’re outside the UK or inside the UK.

How much it costs

You, your partner or children will each need to:

pay the application fee

pay the healthcare surcharge for each year of your stay

prove you have enough personal savings

Check how much money you’ll need.

If you work in public sector healthcare

If you’re a doctor or nurse, or you work in health or adult social care, check if you’re eligible to apply for the Health and Care Worker visa instead. It’s cheaper to apply for and you do not need to pay the annual immigration health surcharge.

What you can and cannot do

With a Skilled Worker visa you can:

work in an eligible job

study

bring your partner and children with you as your ‘dependants’, if they’re eligible

take on additional work in certain circumstances

do voluntary work

travel abroad and return to the UK

apply to settle permanently in the UK (also known as ‘indefinite leave to remain’) if you’ve lived in the UK for 5 years and meet the other eligibility requirements

You cannot:

apply for most benefits (public funds), or the State Pension

change jobs or employer unless you apply to update your visa

If your application is successful, you’ll get a full list of what you can and cannot do with a Skilled Worker visa.

Your job

You must meet all of the following requirements to be eligible for a Skilled Worker visa:

your job is eligible for this visa

you’ll be working for a UK employer that’s been approved by the Home Office

you’ll be paid at least the minimum salary for the type of work you’ll be doing

The minimum salary for the type of work you’ll be doing is whichever is the highest out of the following 3 options:

£25,600 per year

£10.10 per hour

the ‘going rate’ for the type of work you’ll be doing

Check if your job is eligible

Before you can find out if your job is eligible, you need to know its 4-digit occupation code.

If you already have a job offer, ask your employer for your occupation code.

Look up your job’s occupation code

If you do not know your code, you can search for your job in the ONS occupation coding tool.

Not every job title is included. If you cannot find your exact job title, try searching for similar jobs.

Make sure the job description matches what you’ll be doing. Some similar jobs have different codes, for example chefs and cooks. Chefs are eligible for a Skilled Worker visa, but cooks are not.

Check if an occupation code is eligible for this visa

When you know your occupation code, view the table of eligible jobs to see if it’s included.

The table is very large. It’s sorted in order of occupation code, with the smallest numbers at the top. You may be able to use your web browser to search for your code on the page.

Salary requirements

You’ll usually need to be paid at least £25,600 per year or £10.10 per hour, whichever is higher. If the ‘going rate’ for your job is higher than both of these, you’ll usually need to be paid at least the going rate.

Each occupation code has its own annual going rate. Check the going rate for your job in the going rates table.

If you work in healthcare or education

There are different salary rules if you work in some healthcare or education jobs, where the going rate is based on national pay scales.

When you can be paid less

If you do not meet the usual salary requirements, and you do not work in healthcare or education, you might still be eligible if your salary will be at least £20,480 per year and at least £10.10 per hour.

Check when you can be paid less.

Approved UK employers

You must have a job offer from an approved UK employer before you apply for a Skilled Worker visa. Approved employers are also known as sponsors, because they are sponsoring you to come to or stay in the UK.

View the list of approved UK employers.

If your employer is not currently approved, they can apply for a sponsor licence if they’re eligible.

They’ll need to pay a fee - £536 for small businesses and charities or £1,476 for medium and large organisations. It usually takes around 8 weeks to process a licence application.

If you already have a job offer from an approved employer

Your employer - also known as your sponsor - will check that you meet the eligibility requirements. They’ll give you a ‘certificate of sponsorship’ to prove this.

The certificate of sponsorship is an electronic record, not a physical document. It will have a reference number, which you’ll need for your visa application.

You must apply for your visa within 3 months of getting your certificate of sponsorship.

Check which documents you’ll need to apply.

When you can be paid less

You might still be able to apply for a Skilled Worker visa if your job is eligible but your salary is less than £25,600 or your job’s usual ‘going rate’. You must still be paid at least £10.10 per hour.

You can be paid between 70% and 90% of the usual going rate for your job if your salary is at least £20,480 per year and you meet one of the following criteria:

your job is in a shortage occupation

you’re under 26, studying or a recent graduate, or in professional training

you have a science, technology, engineering or maths (STEM) PhD level qualification that’s relevant to your job (if you have a relevant PhD level qualification in any other subject your salary must be at least £23,040)

you have a postdoctoral position in science or higher education

There are different salary rules if you work in some healthcare or education jobs.

Your job is in a shortage occupation

A ‘shortage occupation’ is a skilled job where there is a shortage of workers in the UK.

If your job is on the shortage occupation list, you can:

be paid 80% of the job’s usual going rate

pay a lower fee for your visa

View the shortage occupations list to see if your job is included and how much you’ll need to be paid.

Make sure you check there’s a shortage in the part of the UK you’ll be working in - England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.

You’re under 26, studying or a recent graduate, or in professional training

You can be paid 70% of your job’s usual going rate if one of the following applies:

you’re under 26 on the date you apply

you’re currently in the UK on a Student visa studying at bachelor’s degree level or above - or you have been in the last 2 years, and a Student or visit visa was your most recent visa

you’re currently in the UK on a Graduate Entrepreneur visa

you’ll be working towards a recognised qualification in a UK regulated profession

you’ll be working towards full registration or chartered status in the job you’re being sponsored for

If this applies to you, check how much you’ll need to be paid to qualify for this visa.

Your total stay in the UK cannot be more than 4 years if you apply for one of these reasons. This includes any time you’ve already spent in the UK on a Tier 2 (General) work visa.

You have a PhD level qualification that’s relevant to your job

If your job is eligible for a PhD salary discount, you can be paid 80% or 90% of the job’s usual going rate, depending on which subject you are qualified in.

If you have a science, technology, engineering or maths (STEM) qualification, you can be paid 80% of your job’s usual going rate, as long as you will still be paid at least £20,480 per year.

If you have a non-STEM qualification, you can be paid 90% of your job’s usual going rate, as long as you will still be paid at least £23,040 a year.

In both situations, you must:

have a UK PhD or an equivalent doctorate-level overseas qualification - you’ll need to apply through Ecctis (formerly UK NARIC) to check if an overseas qualification is equivalent to a UK PhD

be able to prove your qualification is relevant to the job you’ll be doing in the UK - your employer can confirm this

View the list of jobs that qualify for a PhD salary discount to see if your job is included and how much you need to be paid.

If you’re a research or academic leader, you may also be eligible to apply for the Global Talent visa. This visa has no language or minimum salary requirements.

You have a postdoctoral position in science or higher education

You can be paid 70% of your job’s usual going rate if you’ll be working in a postdoctoral position in certain science or higher education roles.

Your job must be in one of the following occupation codes to qualify for this salary discount:

2111: chemical scientists

2112: biological scientists and biochemists

2113: physical scientists

2114: social and humanities scientists

2119: natural and social science professionals that are ‘not elsewhere classified’, such as research fellows and sports scientists

2311: higher education teaching professionals

Your total stay in the UK cannot be more than 4 years if you apply to work in a postdoctoral position at 70% of the usual going rate. This includes any time you’ve already spent in the UK on a Tier 2 (General) work visa.

If you work in healthcare or education

There are different salary rules if you work in some healthcare or education jobs. Your salary must be at least £20,480 - or more if your job’s ‘going rate’ is higher.

The going rates for these jobs are based on the national pay scales set by the relevant independent body, for example the NHS.

View the list of eligible healthcare and education jobs to see if your job is included.

National pay scales tables

If your job is on the list, your salary must be at least the national pay scale rate for the job you’ll be doing.

These going rates apply whether you’ll be working in the public or private sector.

Check how much you’ll need to be paid in the:

table of national pay scales for eligible healthcare jobs - listed by NHS pay band and area of the UK

table of national pay scales for eligible teaching and education leadership jobs - listed by role and area of the UK

Ask your employer if you’re not sure what your role or pay band will be.

If your job is on the shortage occupation list

You and your family will pay a lower application fee if your job is in a shortage occupation.

View the list of healthcare and education shortage occupations to see if your job is included.

Make sure you check there’s a shortage in the part of the UK you’ll be working in - England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.

If your job is on the list, the reduced fee for each person applying is:

£464 if you’re staying for up to 3 years

£928 if you’re staying for more than 3 years

The fee is the same whether you’re applying from inside or outside the UK.

You’ll also need to pay the healthcare surcharge and prove you can support yourself in the UK - check how much money you’ll need.

Knowledge of English

You’ll usually need to prove your knowledge of the English language when you apply, unless you did this in a previous successful visa application.

Level of English

You must prove you can read, write, speak and understand English to at least level B1 on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) scale.

You can prove your knowledge of English by:

passing a Secure English Language Test (SELT) from an approved provider

having a GCSE, A level, Scottish National Qualification level 4 or 5, Scottish Higher or Advanced Higher in English, gained through study at a UK school that you began when you were under 18

having a degree-level academic qualification that was taught in English - if you studied abroad, you’ll need to apply through Ecctis (formerly UK NARIC) for confirmation that your qualification is equivalent to a UK bachelor’s degree, master’s degree or PhD

Who does not need to prove their knowledge of English

You do not need to prove your knowledge of English if you’re a national of one of the following countries:

Antigua and Barbuda

Australia

the Bahamas

Barbados

Belize

Canada

Dominica

Grenada

Guyana

Jamaica

Malta

New Zealand

St Kitts and Nevis

St Lucia

St Vincent and the Grenadines

Trinidad and Tobago

USA

If you’re a doctor, dentist, nurse, midwife or vet

You do not need to prove your knowledge of English if you’ve already passed an English Language assessment that is accepted by the relevant regulated professional body.

If you’re a vet, you may need to prove that you passed an English Language assessment with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons.

How much it costs

When you apply for a Skilled Worker visa, you’ll need to have enough money to:

pay the application fee - the standard fee ranges from £610 to £1,408 depending on your circumstances

pay the healthcare surcharge - this is usually £624 per year

support yourself when you arrive in the UK - you’ll usually need to have at least £1,270 available (unless you’re exempt)

You’ll pay a lower application fee if your job is on the shortage occupation list.

You’ll be told how much you need to pay when you apply.

Application fees

If you’re applying from outside the UK, the standard fee depends on whether you’ll be in the UK for:

up to 3 years - £610 per person

more than 3 years - £1,220 per person

If you’re applying from inside the UK to extend, switch or update your visa, the standard fee depends on whether you’ll be in the UK for:

up to 3 years - £704 per person

more than 3 years - £1,408 per person

If your job is on the shortage occupation list

You and your family will pay a lower application fee if your job is on the shortage occupation list.

The fee for each person applying is:

£464 if you’re staying for up to 3 years

£928 if you’re staying for more than 3 years

The fee is the same whether you’re applying from inside or outside the UK.

There’s a different list of shortage occupations if you work in healthcare or education.

If you’re from an eligible country

Your application fee will be automatically reduced by £55 if you’re from one of the following countries:

Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden or Turkey.

If your job is on the shortage occupation list, you’ll get this reduction as well as paying a lower fee.

This reduction only applies to your visa application. Your partner and children will still need to pay the full application fee.

Healthcare surcharge

You’ll also have to pay the healthcare surcharge for each year of your stay - this is usually £624 per year. Check how much you’ll have to pay before you apply.

Money to support yourself

You must have at least £1,270 in your bank account to show you can support yourself in the UK.

You will need to have had the money available for at least 28 days in a row. Day 28 must be within 31 days of applying for this visa.

You’ll usually need to show proof of this when you apply, unless either:

you’ve been in the UK with a valid visa for at least 12 months

your employer can cover your costs during your first month in the UK, up to £1,270

Your partner and children will also need to prove they can support themselves while they’re in the UK. Check how much they’ll need.

Read the guidance on financial evidence for more information about the money you need and how to prove it.

If your employer can support you instead

Your certificate of sponsorship must confirm this. Your employer will need to complete the ‘sponsor certifies maintenance’ section on your certificate. This is under ‘Additional data’.

Documents you'll need to apply

When you apply you’ll need to provide:

your certificate of sponsorship reference number - your employer will give you this

proof of your knowledge of English

a valid passport or other document that shows your identity and nationality

your job title and annual salary

your job’s occupation code

the name of your employer and their sponsor licence number - this will be on your certificate of sponsorship

Ask your employer for a copy of your certificate of sponsorship if you do not have one.

If your certificate of sponsorship was issued before 1 December 2020

Your certificate of sponsorship will need to be updated because it was assigned to you before the Tier 2 (General) work visa was replaced by the Skilled Worker visa.

Ask your employer to update the ‘sponsor notes’ section in the UK visa sponsorship management system.

Other documents you might need

Depending on your circumstances, you might be asked to provide:

evidence that you have enough personal savings to support yourself in the UK, for example bank statements (unless your certificate of sponsorship shows your employer can support you)

proof of your relationship with your partner or children if they’re applying with you

your tuberculosis test results if you’re from a listed country

a criminal record certificate - if you’re working in certain jobs

a valid ATAS certificate if your employer tells you that you need one because your job involves researching a sensitive subject at PhD level or higher

your UK PhD certificate, or your unique Ecctis reference number (formerly unique UK NARIC reference number) if your qualification is from outside the UK - you’ll need to apply through Ecctis

You’ll need a blank page in your passport for your visa if you’re:

from outside the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein

from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein but do not have a biometric passport with a chip in it

If your documents are not in English or Welsh you’ll also need to provide a certified translation.

Criminal record certificate

You’ll need to provide a criminal record certificate if you’re applying from outside the UK and you work in:

education, for example teachers, education advisers and school inspectors, childminders, teaching assistants

healthcare, for example nurses, doctors, paramedics, managers, pharmacists, dentists and dental nurses, ophthalmic opticians

therapy, for example psychologists, speech and language therapists, counsellors

social services, for example social workers, managers, probation officers, welfare and housing officers

Check how to apply for criminal records checks.

If you work in healthcare, you might be able to apply for the Health and Care Worker visa instead.

If you’ve lived in more than one country

You might need to provide a certificate from each country you’ve lived in, depending on your age and how long you stayed in each country.

If you’re under 28, you’ll need a certificate from any country you’ve stayed in for a total of 12 months or more since you turned 18.

If you’re 28 or over, you’ll need a certificate from any country you’ve stayed in over the last 10 years.

When you’ve got your documents ready

You can apply online once your documents are ready.

How you apply depends on whether you’re:

outside the UK and are coming to the UK

inside the UK and extending your current visa

inside the UK and switching from a different visa

If you’ve read the guidance and you’re not sure if you’re eligible, you can use a Home Office checker tool. You’ll be asked to confirm that you meet all of the eligibility requirements.

Apply from outside the UK

You must apply online for a Skilled Worker visa.

Check which documents you’ll need to apply.

Your partner or children will need to apply separately.

Proving your identity and providing supporting documents

As part of your application, you’ll need to prove your identity. How you do this depends on where you’re from and what type of passport you have.

You’ll either:

have your fingerprints and photograph taken at a visa application centre - this is to get a biometric residence permit

use the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app to scan your identity document - you’ll also create or sign into your UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account

You’ll be told what you need to do when you apply.

If you do need an appointment:

the centre may need to keep your passport and documents while they process your application

you may have to travel to get to your nearest visa application centre (this could be in another country)

Apply for a Skilled Worker visa

Once you’ve started your application, you can save your form and complete it later.

Start now

Continue your application

Sign in to your account using the link from your sign-up email.

How long it takes to get a decision

Once you’ve applied online, proved your identity and provided your documents, you’ll usually get a decision within 3 weeks.

You’ll be contacted if your application will take longer, for example because:

your supporting documents need to be verified

you need to attend an interview

of your personal circumstances, for example if you have a criminal conviction

If you’ve applied through a visa application centre, find out if you can pay to get a faster decision - this depends on where you’re applying from.

After you apply

You can ask to cancel your application. You’ll only get your fee refunded if UKVI has not started processing your application.

You’ll get an email containing the decision on your application. This will explain what you need to do next.

Your partner and children

Your partner and children can apply to join you or to stay in the UK as your ‘dependants’ if they’re eligible. If their application is successful, their visa will end on the same date as yours.

Your relationship

A dependant partner or child is any of the following:

your husband, wife, civil partner or unmarried partner

your child under 18 - including if they were born in the UK during your stay

your child over 18 if they’re currently in the UK as your dependant

You’ll need to provide evidence of your relationship when you apply.

Your partner

You must be able to prove that either:

you’re in a civil partnership or marriage that’s recognised in the UK

you’ve been living together in a relationship for at least 2 years when you apply

If your child is 16 or over

They must:

live with you (unless they’re in full-time education at boarding school, college or university)

not be married, in a civil partnership or have any children

be financially supported by you

If your child lives with you, you’ll need to provide evidence of their address such as:

a bank statement

credit card bills

driving licence

NHS registration document

an official letter from their university or college

Money they need to support themselves

Your partner and children must have a certain amount of money available to support themselves while they’re in the UK.

You - or your partner or child - will need:

£285 for your partner

£315 for one child

£200 for each additional child

You - or your partner or child - will need to have had the money available for at least 28 days in a row. Day 28 must be within 31 days of you or them applying for this visa.

You’ll usually need to show proof of this when they apply, unless either:

you have all been in the UK with a valid visa for at least 12 months

your employer can cover your family’s costs during your first month in the UK - this must be confirmed on your certificate of sponsorship

If your partner or child is applying at a different time to you, they’ll only need to prove they have enough money to support themselves if they have been in the UK for less than 1 year.

Apply from outside the UK

Your partner and children must either:

apply online as your partner

apply online as your child

Each family member will need to complete a separate application and pay the visa fee.

They’ll also need your application number - you’ll get this when you apply. This number is called a Global Web Form (GWF) or a Unique Application Number (UAN). You’ll find it on emails and letters from the Home Office about your application.

Proving their identity

As part of their application, your partner and children will need to prove their identity.

They’ll either:

have their fingerprints and photograph taken at a
visa application centre - this is to get a biometric residence permit

use the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app to scan their identity document - they’ll also create or sign in to their UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account

They’ll be told what they need to do when they apply.

If they do need an appointment:

the visa application centre may need to keep their passport and documents while they process their application

they may have to travel to get to their nearest centre (this could be in another country)

How long it takes to get a decision

Once they’ve applied online, proved their identity and provided their documents, they’ll usually get a decision within 3 weeks.

They may be able to pay to get their visa faster or use other services depending on which country they’re in - check with the visa application centre.

Apply from inside the UK (extend or switch their visa)

Apply for your partner or child’s visa at the same time as you apply to extend or switch your own visa. This includes children who were born or have turned 18 during your stay.

If you cannot apply at the same time, your partner or child can apply to extend or switch their visas at a later date. This must be before their current visa expires.

Your partner or children cannot apply to switch to your Skilled Worker visa as your dependants if they are currently in the UK:

on a visit visa

on a short-term student visa

on a Parent of a Child Student visa

on a seasonal worker visa

on a domestic worker in a private household visa

on immigration bail

because they were given permission to stay outside the immigration rules, for example on compassionate grounds

How to apply

Your partner and children must apply online to either:

extend or switch to your Skilled Worker visa as your partner

extend or switch to your Skilled Worker visa as your child

They’ll need your application number - you’ll get this when you apply. This number is called a Global Web Form (GWF) or a Unique Application Number (UAN). You’ll find it on emails and letters from the Home Office about your application.

Proving their identity

As part of their application, your partner and children will need to prove their identity. They’ll either:

have their fingerprints and photograph taken at a
UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) service point - this is to get a biometric residence permit

They’ll be told what they need to do when they apply.

They must not travel outside of the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man until they get a decision. Their application will be withdrawn if they do.

How long it takes to get a decision

Once they’ve applied online, proved their identity and provided their documents, they’ll usually get a decision within 8 weeks.

They may be able to pay to get a faster decision - they’ll be told if they can when they apply.

Children born in the UK

If you have a child while you’re in the UK, they do not automatically become a British citizen.

You must apply for your child’s dependant visa if you want to travel in and out of the UK with them.

The form you fill in depends on if:

your child is inside the UK

your child is outside the UK

You’ll need to provide a full UK birth certificate for each child, showing the names of both parents.

You must apply for their dependant visa before they turn 18 if they want to stay in the UK.

Extend your visa

You can usually apply to extend a Skilled Worker visa or a Tier 2 (General) work visa if all of the following are true:

you have the same job as when you were given your previous permission to enter or stay in the UK

your job is in the same occupation code as when you were given your previous permission to enter or stay in the UK

you’re still working for the employer who gave you your current certificate of sponsorship

Some health workers and their families will get their visas extended for free because of coronavirus (COVID-19).

Your partner or children will need to apply separately.

You must not travel outside of the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man until you get a decision. Your application will be withdrawn if you do.

If you have a Tier 2 (General) work visa

You may need to meet different eligibility requirements, depending on:

whether you got the certificate of sponsorship for your first Tier 2 visa before or after 24 November 2016

whether you applied for your first Tier 2 (General) or Skilled Worker visa before 6 April 2021

your occupation code - some have different going rates

The requirements will apply if you either:

have a Tier 2 (General) work visa

had a Tier 2 (General) work visa which you’ve extended as a Skilled Worker visa

If you got your certificate of sponsorship before 24 November 2016

If you apply to extend before 24 May 2023, the minimum salary you’ll need to be paid is fixed at a lower rate. You’ll need to be paid at least £20,800 per year unless the ‘going rate’ for your job is higher than this.

If you got your certificate of sponsorship on or after 24 November 2016

If you apply to extend before 1 December 2026, you will still need to meet the new salary requirements, but your salary may also include allowances, such as London weighting. Any allowances must be guaranteed for the length of your stay.

If you applied for your first Tier 2 (General) or Skilled Worker visa before 6 April 2021

The minimum salary requirement of £10.10 per hour or the going rate for the type of work you’ll be doing does not apply.

Jobs with different going rates

For some jobs, the going rate for the Skilled Worker visa is different.

Occupation code | Going rate for Skilled Worker visa | 90% of going rate (for relevant STEM PhD) | 80% of going rate (for relevant non-STEM PhD or shortage occupation) | 70% of going rate (for new entrants)

2113 Physical scientists | £29,000 (£13.94 per hour) | £26,100 (£12.55 per hour) | £23,200 (£11.15 per hour) | £20,300 (£9.76 per hour)

2119 Natural and social science professionals | £29,000 (£13.94 per hour) | £26,100 (£12.55 per hour) | £23,200 (£11.15 per hour) | £20,300 (£9.76 per hour)

2311 Higher education teaching professionals | £33,000 (£15.87 per hour) | £29,700 (14.28 per hour) | £26,400 (£12.69 per hour) | £23,100 (£11.11 per hour)

If you’ve changed job or employer

You’ll need to apply to update your visa instead.

Fees

Check how much it costs for your type of visa.

You may also need to pay £19.20 to have your biometric information (fingerprints and a photo) taken.

Proving your identity and providing supporting documents

As part of your application you’ll need to prove your identity. How you do this depends on where you’re from and the type of passport you have.

You’ll either:

give your fingerprints and a photograph (biometric information) at a
UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) service point - this is to get a biometric residence permit

use the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app to scan your identity document - you’ll also create or sign in to your UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account

You’ll be told what you need to do when you apply.

Apply to extend your Skilled Worker visa

You must apply online before your current visa expires.

Once you’ve started your application, you can save your form and complete it later.

Apply now

Continue your application

Sign in to your account using the link from your sign-up email.

How long it takes to get a decision

You’ll usually get a decision within 8 weeks of your application date.

You’ll be contacted if your application will take longer, for example because:

your supporting documents need to be verified

you need to attend an interview

of your personal circumstances, for example if you have a criminal conviction

You may be able to pay to get a faster decision - you’ll be told if you can when you apply.

After you apply

If you need to change something in your application after you’ve sent it contact UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI).

You can ask to cancel your application. You’ll only get your fee refunded if UKVI has not started processing your application.

You’ll get an email or a letter containing the decision on your application. This will explain what you need to do next.

Update your visa if you change job or employer

You’ll need to apply to update your Skilled Worker or Tier 2 (General) work visa if:

you want to change your job and your new job is with a different employer

your job changes to a different occupation code, and you’re not in a graduate training programme

you leave a job that’s on the shortage occupation list for a job that is not on the list

You do not need to apply again if you stay in the same job, but your job is taken off the shortage occupation list.

If you’ll be doing a different job for your current employer, you only need to apply to update your visa if your new job is in a different occupation code.

Your partner or children will need to apply separately.

Eligibility and documents you’ll need to apply

Your new job must meet the eligibility requirements and you’ll need a new certificate of sponsorship to prove this.

You’ll only need to provide other evidence again if you’ve been in the UK for less than one year.

If you’re applying to add a second job to your current visa

You must apply to update your visa if you take on a second job that is either:

more than 20 paid hours a week in addition to the job you’re being sponsored for

in a different occupation code

Your second job must meet the eligibility requirements and you’ll need a new certificate of sponsorship to prove this.

You’ll also need to include a letter with your application explaining that you want to change your current permission to stay.

Your letter must state:

your name

your date of birth

your current certificate of sponsorship reference number

the date when your current permission to stay runs out

If your application is successful, you’ll get a new visa giving you permission to do both jobs.

You do not need to apply to update your visa if you’re taking on additional work in the same occupation code or you’ll be doing less than 20 paid hours a week.

When to apply to update your visa

You can apply to update your visa up to 3 months before the start date of your new job.

You can continue working in your current job while your new application is being considered, or to work out your notice period - as long as you apply before your current visa expires.

You should not start your new job until you’ve got confirmation of your new permission.

Proving your identity and providing supporting documents

As part of your application you’ll need to prove your identity. How you do this depends on where you’re from and the type of passport you have.

You’ll either:

use the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app to scan your identity document - you’ll also create or sign in to your UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account

You’ll be told what you need to do when you apply. You’ll also be told how to provide your supporting documents if you need to.

Apply to update your visa

You must apply online.

Once you’ve started your application, you can save your form and complete it later.

Apply now

Continue your application

Sign in to your account using the link from your sign-up email.

How long it takes to get a decision

You’ll usually get a decision within 8 weeks of your application date.

You’ll be contacted if your application will take longer, for example because:

your supporting documents need to be verified

you need to attend an interview

of your personal circumstances, for example if you have a criminal conviction

You may be able to pay to get a faster decision - you’ll be told if you can when you apply.

After you apply

If you need to change something in your application after you’ve sent it contact UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI).

You can ask to cancel your application. You’ll only get your fee refunded if UKVI has not started processing your application.

You’ll get an email or a letter containing the decision on your application. This will explain what you need to do next.

Switch to this visa

You might be able to apply to change (‘switch’) to a Skilled Worker visa if you’re already in the UK on a different type of visa.

Your partner or children will need to apply separately.

Eligibility

You must meet the following requirements:

your job meets the eligibility requirements

you can speak, read, write and understand English

Who cannot apply to switch to this visa

You cannot apply to switch to this visa if you’re currently in the UK:

on a visit visa

on a short-term student visa

on a Parent of a Child Student visa

on a seasonal worker visa

on a domestic worker in a private household visa

on immigration bail

because you were given permission to stay outside the immigration rules, for example on compassionate grounds

You must leave the UK and apply for a Skilled Worker visa from abroad if you’re in one of these categories.

Fees

Each person applying will need to pay:

the visa application fee

the healthcare surcharge for each year of their stay - check how much you’ll have to pay

You may also need to pay £19.20 to have your biometric information (fingerprints and a photo) taken.

If you’ve been in the UK for less than 1 year, you’ll also need to prove you have enough money to support yourself.

Proving your identity and providing supporting documents

As part of your application you’ll need to prove your identity.

How you do this depends on where you’re from and the type of passport you have.

You’ll either:

use the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app to scan your identity document - you’ll also create or sign in to your UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account

You’ll be told what you need to do when you apply.

Apply to switch to a Skilled Worker visa

You must apply online before your current visa expires.

Once you’ve started your application, you can save your form and complete it later.

Apply now

Continue your application

Sign in to your account using the link from your sign-up email.

How long it takes to get a decision

You’ll usually get a decision within 8 weeks of your application date.

You’ll be contacted if your application will take longer, for example because:

your supporting documents need to be verified

you need to attend an interview

of your personal circumstances, for example if you have a criminal conviction

You may be able to pay to get a faster decision -  you’ll be told if you can when you apply.

After you apply

If you need to change something in your application after you’ve sent it contact UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI).

You can ask to cancel your application. You’ll only get your fee refunded if UKVI has not started processing your application.

You’ll get an email or a letter containing the decision on your application. This will explain what you need to do next.

Taking on additional work

You can do additional paid work on this visa as long as you’re still doing the job you’re being sponsored for. You can also do unpaid voluntary work.

You can work up to 20 hours a week in a job that’s either:

in the same occupation code and at the same level as your main job

in a shortage occupation

Check if your job is on the list of:

healthcare and education shortage occupations

all other shortage occupations

Due to coronavirus (COVID-19), there’s currently no limit on the number of hours you can work or volunteer if you have a second job as an NHS doctor, nurse or paramedic.

If you’ll be working more than 20 hours a week or in a different occupation code

You’ll need to apply to update your visa so that you’re being sponsored to do both jobs.

You’ll need to:

get a new certificate of sponsorship from your second employer

include a letter with your application explaining that you want to change your current permission to stay