Student Immigration Service

Who needs to apply for a Standard Visitor visa

Your nationality will determine whether you need to apply for a Standard Visitor visa (entry clearance), the Electronic Visa Waiver or Electronic Travel Authorisation.

Non-Visa Nationals (no entry clearance required)

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 (entry clearance required)

If you are a national of one of the countries on the visa national list, you will need to apply for a visa application and receive a successful decision, before you can travel to the UK (entry clearance).

You should do this around 2 to 3 months before you intend to travel.  

UKVI list of visa nationals 

*With some exceptions for certain nationalities (Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates) who are coming to visit the UK, where they may choose to apply for an Electronic Visa Waiver (EVW) or Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) instead to travel to the UK.

Applying for a Standard Visitor visa or Electronic Visa Waiver 

Electronic Visa Waiver (EVW) 

Nationals of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates may apply for an Electronic Visa Waiver (EVW) before 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

Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) 

The new Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) will be required by certain nationalities, who wish to come to the UK for up to 6 months for tourism, visiting family and friends, business or short-term study.

Due to recent changes to the UK Immigration Rules, you can no longer apply for an EVW, if you’re from Qatar and will be able to apply for the new ETA instead. 

If you’re a national of Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia or the United Arab Emirates you can apply for an ETA if you’re travelling to the UK on or after 22 February 2024 (These nationalities will be able to apply from 1 February 2024)

*Visitors of these specified nationalities do not need an ETA/EVW if they already have either a valid visa or permission to live, work or study in the UK.

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 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 visa 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. 

Contact us through our enquiry form