Who needs to apply for a Standard Visitor visa

Your nationality will determine whether you need to apply for a Standard Visitor visa, Electronic Visa Waiver or if you can travel directly to the UK without a visa.

Non-visa nationals

Nationals of certain countries (including EU nationals) do not need to apply for a visa from outside the UK if they are coming to stay in the UK for up to 6 months. As non-visa national you can request entry to the UK as a Standard Visitor when you arrive in the UK. You may need to show that you meet the requirements of a Standard Visitor visa.

You should prepare the documents listed on the visa application page and carry them in your hand luggage.

Find out more about the documents required for a Standard Visitor visa application

If your country is not on the UKVI list of visa nationals, you are a 'non-visa national'.

UKVI list of visa nationals

If you are a national of an EEA country, Switzerland, Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, or the United States you can use eGates at UK ports and airports.

Find out more about travelling to the UK

Visa nationals

If you are a national of one of the countries on the visa national list, you will need to apply for a visa before you travel to the UK. You should do this around 2 to 3 months before you intend to travel.

UKVI list of visa nationals

Applying for a Standard Visitor visa or Electronic Visa Waiver

Electronic Visa Waiver (EVW)

Nationals of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates may apply for an Electronic Visa Waiver (EVW) prior to travelling to the UK.

The EVW will give you a single entry permission to visit the UK for up to 6 months. It will also allow you to travel to the UK via the Republic of Ireland.

Find out more about Electronic Visa Waivers

Applying for a Standard Visitor visa or Electronic Visa Waiver

If your study is longer than 6 months

If your period of study is longer than 6 months, it is unlikely that you will meet the requirements of the Standard Visitor route, as you must prove that you:

do not intend to extend your stay or live in the UK through frequent and successive visits
intend to leave the UK within 6 months
intend to study for no more than to 6 months

There are certain circumstances where it may be possible for you to come to the UK as a Standard Visitor, even if your programme is longer than 6 months. For example,

if you are studying a distance learning programme and you wish to come to the UK for short periods of study activity (for example, exams, meetings with a supervisor, revision sessions)
if you need to repeat a single semester, or resit exams before progressing to the rest of your programme
if you can complete your studies within 6 months of arriving in the UK

If you would like further advice on whether you could come to the UK as a Standard Visitor for your studies, please contact us with full details of your circumstances.

This article was published on 26 May, 2022