UK Visitor visa

Australians visiting the UK can stay in the country for a short period as a tourist, for business reasons or to do a short course.

The UK visitor visa is mostly used if you need to be in the UK for up to six months. It acts as a short term business visa, a tourist visa for UK holidays, an academic visit visa, and much more. It is often also used for private medical treatment.

A Standard Visitor visa is valid for up to six months. Visitors from some countries do not require a visa to visit the UK – make sure to check with a UK visas specialist before you apply.

You should apply for this visa if you wish to travel to the UK for the following reasons:

  • Tourism
  • Business activities, including attending meetings and conferences
  • Visiting family and friends
  • Doing a short course of study
  • For medical reasons, for example, to receive private medical treatment

To apply, you must show that:

  • You intend on leaving the UK at the end of your visit
  • You can support yourself and your dependants during your trip
  • You can pay for your return or onward
  • You have proof of any business or other activities you want to do in the UK that are allowed on the visitor visa

This visa does not allow you to:

  • Be self-employed in the UK or work for a UK company (paid or unpaid)
  • Conduct frequent visits with aim of living in the UK during those periods
  • Receive public funds
  • Do a course of study that is longer than six months
  • Marry or register a civil partnership, or give notice of marriage or civil partnership

Certain circumstances will allow you to stay in the UK longer on a visitor visa.

These include:

  • Taking part in academic research and exchange programmes (stay up to 12 months, including dependants)
  • Private medical treatment (stay for up to 11 months)

Those who visit the UK frequently may be able to apply for a long-term Standard Visitor visa (of two, five or 10 years). You may not visit the UK for more than six months at a time on this visa.

How to get a visitor visa if you are under 18

If you are under 18 years of age you can apply for a visitor visa, provided you meet the following requirements:

  • You have made suitable arrangements for your travel and stay in the UK
  • You’re able to pay for your return or onward journey
  • You have enough money to support yourself without working or getting help from public funds, or you have family and friends who can support you

If you are travelling alone

You may also travel to the UK without an adult accompanying you if you are under 18 years.

Your parent or guardian will need to provide the following:

  • Written consent for you to travel to the UK
  • Their full contact details

Your parent or guardian will also need to provide proof that you have somewhere suitable to live during your stay in the UK, and the following details about the person you’ll be staying with:

  • Their name and date of birth
  • The address where you will be living
  • Details of your relationship to the person who’ll be looking after you
  • Your parent’s or guardian’s written consent for you to stay with that person while you’re in the UK

Applying from outside the UK

Your application must be done online. You will need to book an appointment at a visa application centre to have your biometric information (fingerprints and photograph) taken.

Extending your visitor visa

You may apply to extend your visitor visa, but only for specific reasons such as requiring further private medical treatment. Switching from a Standard Visitor visa to another type of visa is not allowed.

If you want to stay in the UK for other reasons than visiting, you will need to leave the UK and make a new application for a different visa.