Can I visit the UK as a tourist?

For people who want to visit the UK for tourism, family visits, business or short courses.

Applies to: England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland Last checked against official sources: 30 September 2026

You can usually visit for up to 6 months for tourism, family visits, some business and short courses. Depending on your nationality, you'll need a Standard Visitor visa, an ETA, or neither.

A Standard Visitor visa costs £135 for up to 6 months.
You can apply up to 3 months before you travel.
You can't work, claim benefits, or marry on this visa.

Key facts

Up to 6 months
Visa costs £135
No work or benefits

Visa, ETA or nothing?

What you need depends on your nationality.

You	What you need
From a country that needs a visa	A Standard Visitor visa before you travel
From Europe, the USA, Australia, Canada or certain other countries	Usually an electronic travel authorisation (ETA)
British or Irish passport holder	Nothing
Already have permission to live, work or study in the UK	No ETA needed

An ETA costs £20 and lets you visit the UK, Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man for up to 6 months. Apply on GOV.UK, as other websites may charge more.

What you can do as a visitor

tourism and holidays
see family or friends
certain business activities
study, do a placement or take an exam
for medical reasons
a permitted paid engagement

Visa fees

Visa	Fee	Longest stay per visit
Standard Visitor, up to 6 months	£135	6 months
Long-term, 2 years	£506	6 months
Long-term, 5 years	£903	6 months
Long-term, 10 years	£1,128	6 months

Example: if you visit the UK every year, a 10-year visa at £1,128 works out at about £113 a year. Buying a 6-month visa each year would cost £135 each time.

A long-term visa lets you make many visits, but each visit can still only be up to 6 months.

How to apply for a visa

Apply online. The earliest you can apply is 3 months before you travel.
Have your passport ready. It must be valid for your whole stay.
Give your travel history for the past 10 years if asked.
Go to a visa application centre for your fingerprints and photo. You usually get your passport back the same day.
Wait for a decision, usually within 3 weeks.

You may be able to pay for a faster decision. Check on GOV.UK whether this is offered where you apply.

Things you cannot do

paid or unpaid work for a UK company, or self-employed work (unless it is a permitted paid engagement)
claim benefits
marry or register a civil partnership

Children

There is separate GOV.UK guidance for visitors under 18. Read it before you apply for a child.

The rules are the same across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Related guides

Where this comes from

Visit the UK as a Standard Visitor on GOV.UK
Apply for a Standard Visitor visa on GOV.UK
Electronic travel authorisation (ETA) on GOV.UK
Apply for an ETA on GOV.UK

Get it done

This takes you to the official service, which is free to use.

Check if you need a visa

Common questions

How long does a UK visitor visa take?

You will usually get a decision within 3 weeks of applying and going to your appointment.

Can I get a long-term UK visitor visa?

Yes, you can apply for a visitor visa that lasts up to 10 years, which costs £1,128. You can usually still only stay for up to 6 months at a time.

Can I study on a UK visitor visa?

Yes, you can do a course of up to 6 months as a Standard Visitor.

Can I extend a UK visitor visa?

You may be able to extend if you have permission to stay for less than 6 months, but only up to a total of 6 months.

Official sources

1.Visit the UK as a Standard Visitorwww.gov.uk/standard-visitor
2.Apply for a Standard Visitor visawww.gov.uk/standard-visitor/apply-standard-visitor-visa
3.Standard Visitor: extend your staywww.gov.uk/standard-visitor/extend-your-stay

Checked against GOV.UK on 30 September 2026

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