UK Visa Requirements

The UK Visas Unit was established jointly by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Home Office to manage the UK's entry clearance operation.  Entry clearance is the formal term used to describe the application process for "visa nationals" who wish to travel to the UK, or "non-visa nationals" who intend to visit for longer than 6 months or who want to settle in the UK.  The UK Visas website contains all the latest information about UK visa requirements, and can be found at www.ukvisas.gov.uk 

Not everyone wishing to enter the UK requires a visa.  People from certain countries always require entry clearance before travelling to the UK; they are called "visa nationals".  To find out if you are a visa national, check the country list on the UK Visas website.  

For "non-visa nationals", whether you require a work permit will depend on the purpose of your visit to the UK, your country of nationality and where you currently reside.  Click here to find out whether you will need a visa for your journey, and which forms you will have to complete if a visa is required.  

The UK Visas website also provides information leaflets to explain the application process, and identifies your nearest British Embassy, High Commission or Consulate/s, to which visa applications or queries may be addressed.     

The Immigration and Nationality Directorate has two web sites www.workingintheuk.gov.uk and www.ukvisas.gov.uk which provide information on the requirements for UK visa applications for businesspeople, their spouses and children.  Spouses and children may be given leave to enter or remain in the UK for a period not in excess of that granted to the businesspeople, as long as they have a valid entry clearance.  It is also possible to apply for indefinite leave to remain.  

To apply for a visa you will need to fill in an application form and take it to your nearest visa office along with your valid passport, two (or three) passport sized photographs, the fee for the visa and any additional forms or supporting documents requested.  Click here to download the appropriate application form.  

Applications must be made to the UK Mission in the country where you are resident before you travel to the UK.  An entry clearance officer will then review your application and you may be asked to attend an interview with them.

Most visa applications are granted, and if your application is refused the entry clearance officer will provide you with written reasons for the refusal.  It is possible to appeal against refusal of some types of entry clearance application.  Click here for more information about appealing against a visa refusal.

A visa can come in the form of either a stamp in your passport or a separate document.  These will advise you and the Immigration Officer at the port of arrival in the UK of the purpose of your travel, how long you can stay in the UK, and the latest date that you can enter the UK.  It is normally possible to leave and enter the UK as many times as you wish during the period your visa is valid.

American citizens can gain additional visa information and assistance on the website of the British Embassy in Washington D.C..  However, you should be aware that all visa applications must be made to the British Consulate General in New York.

 

Information specifically for Canadian citizens is provided by the 
British High Commission in Ottawa. 

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