Apply For A United Kingdom Visa Online
You may need a visa to come to the UK to study, work, visit or join family.
There are different visas depending on:
- where you come from
- why you want to come to the UK
- how long you want to stay for
- your personal circumstances and skills
Before you apply, you must check if you need a visa and what type you need. Depending on your nationality, you might not need a visa to visit or transit through the UK.
Your application must be approved before you travel.
You do not need to apply for a visa if you’re an Irish citizen.
If you want to visit the UK
Apply for a Standard Visitor visa to visit the UK for up to 6 months. For example:
- for a holiday or to see family and friends
- for a business trip or meeting
- to do a short course of study
You must apply for a Marriage Visitor visa if you want to visit the UK to get married or register a civil partnership.
If you have a visitor visa you cannot take a job in the UK.
If you’re travelling through the UK
You might need a visa if you’re travelling through the UK on your way to another country, for example if you have a layover between flights.
Apply for a visa to travel through the UK.
If you want to study in the UK
Your course length, type and place of study affect which visa to apply for.
A Standard Visitor visa lets you do a short course of study that lasts no longer than 6 months.
A Short-term study visa lets you come to the UK to study an English language course that is over 6 months and up to 11 months.
A Student visa is usually for a longer course. You must be sponsored by a licensed college or university and have a confirmed place. You may be able to do some work on this visa.
A Child Student visa is for 4 to 17 year old who want to study at an independent school. If you’re 16 or over, you can do some work on this visa.
If you want to work in the UK
You can work in the UK on a short or long-term basis with a work visa. There are many types of work visa.
The visa you need depends upon:
- your skills and qualifications
- if you have a job offer and sponsorship
- if you want to bring your family with you
- what you’ll be doing - for example sporting, charitable or religious work
