UK visitor visa – what documents to provide
Standard Visitor visa allows genuine visitors to come to the UK to carry out business activities (business must not include work), tourist activities (including to visit family) or to obtain a private medical treatment in the UK.
It is important to remember that standard visit visa does not allow visitors to work in the UK and it does not allow to get married in the UK. If you are ever in doubt if you can carry out certain activity as a visitor in the UK you should seek legal advice. It is always best to be cautious and adhere to the UK immigration rules. UKVI provides a short summary of permitted activities.
Discretion in decision making and no right of appeal
Ultimately it is the UKVI immigration authority that has the decision power as to whether any visit visa applicant meets the criteria to be allowed to visit the UK. Home Office UKVI entry clearance officer will assess your case and make their decision.The rate of UK visit visa refusal is high. Applicants must prepare a clear, logical and well evidenced application, to maximise their chances of success.
Unfortunately, as a general rule there is no right of appeal following a visitor visa refusal. Most common way to address the previous visitor visa refusal is to submit a fresh application.
Document Checklist for UK visitor visa – general points to note
Providing best possible supporting documents is necessary to maximise your UK visit visa application chances of success. Documents are to demonstrate your circumstances and to evidence how you meet the Home Office requirements. The quality of the evidence you provide and how you present it has direct impact on your application. You may also find it useful to read our other article on how to avoid visitor visa refusal.
As an important point to note, applicants need to bear in mind that there are general requirements for visitor visa but the supporting documents may differ depending on applicant’s individual circumstances. So there is no one fits all approach when it comes to document checklist for UK visitor visa.
Document Checklist – being a genuine visitor
To visit the UK, applicant needs to demonstrate that they are a genuine visitor. They can do this by providing evidence that:
- you’re coming to do a permitted activity – see Appendix Visitor: Permitted Activities
- you’ll leave the UK at the end of your visit
- you’re able to support yourself and any dependants for the duration of your trip
- you’re able to pay for your return or onward journey and any other costs relating to your visit
If you submit a document that is not in English or Welsh, it must be accompanied by a full translation that can be independently verified by the Home Office. Each translation must contain:
- confirmation from the translator that it is an accurate translation of the original document
- the date of translation
- the translator’s full name and signature
- the translator’s contact details
Document Checklist – what documents to provide
You will need to complete online visitor visa application form and attend a visa centre in your country of residence for your photo and fingerprints to be taken. Before you submit your online application form you need to collect all the supporting documents for your application.
You will need to show that you are a genuine visitor who is coming to the UK to undertake a permitted activity, that you will leave at the end of your visit and that you have sufficient funds for yourself and any dependants to cover all reasonable costs in relation to your visit.
- if you are coming to the UK to do activities relating to your employment or study outside the UK (e.g. attending business meetings, performing as a musician or taking part in an educational exchange), you may want to provide documents detailing:
- what you will be doing in the UK, the reason for your visit and whether any costs are being met, including any letters from inviting or sending organisations
- circumstances in your home country, including documents that demonstrate your employment or student status, such as
- a letter from your employer on company headed paper, detailing your role, salary and length of employment
- a letter from your education provider, on headed paper, confirming your enrolment and leave of absence
- business registration documents or recent invoices that confirm on-going self-employment
- your current valid passport
- copies of your previous passports showing evidence of travel to other countries
- confirmation of legal residence, if you are not a national of the country in which you are applying or your right to reside there is not included in your passport
- financial documents showing that you have sufficient funds available. These must clearly show that you have access to the funds, such as:
- bank statements which detail the origin of the funds held
- building society books which detail the origin of the funds held
- proof of earnings, such as a letter from your employer confirming employment details (start date of employment, salary, role, company contact details)
Documents from sponsor – UK visitor visa
If someone else (your sponsor) is providing your travel, maintenance or accommodation you should provide evidence showing:
- what support is being provided and whether it extends to any dependent family
- how this support is being provided
- the person supporting you has enough funds to adequately support themselves and their dependents
- the relationship between you and the sponsor, for example if they’re your family member or your employer
- the person supporting you is legally in the UK (if applicable), for example if they have a British passport or residence document
What you can and cannot do as a visitor in the UK (‘permitted activities’)
You can visit the UK as a Standard Visitor:
- for tourism, for example on a holiday or vacation
- to see your family or friends
- to volunteer for up to 30 days with a registered charity
- to pass through the UK to another country (‘in transit’)
- for certain business activities, for example attending a meeting or interview
- for certain paid engagements or events (a ‘permitted paid engagement’) as an expert in your profession, for example to give lectures or perform
- to take part in a school exchange programme
- to do a recreational course of up to 30 days, for example a dance course
- to study, do a placement or take an exam
- as an academic, senior doctor or dentist
- for medical reasons
You cannot:
- do paid or unpaid work for a UK company or as a self-employed person, unless you’re doing a permitted paid engagement or event
- claim public funds (benefits)
- live in the UK for long periods of time through frequent or successive visits
- marry or register a civil partnership, or give notice of marriage or civil partnership – you’ll need to apply for a Marriage Visitor visa
