Standard Visitor Route
Section 1: Purpose and Contents of this page:
This page has been made to provide guidance on the Standard Visitor Visa Route under the Immigration Rules.
Contents:
A UK Standard Visitor Visa (SVV) is the authorizing document that gives worldwide citizens the right to enter and stay temporarily in the territory of the UK for the purposes or tourism, business, study - for courses up to 6 months, or any other permitted activities.
A UK Standard Visitor Visa is usually either:
A stamp you receive in your passport
You would normally receive this when you visit the Immigration Desk at a UK Border.
OR
A Digital Status, which can be verified online
You would normally receive this if you are a Non-Visa National and you entered the UK on their Passport, via the E-Gate.
OR
A document given by a UK consulate or embassy in your country of residence.
This is normally a Vignette, which is a sticker, that is placed in your Passport, which must be stamped with the date of your entry to the UK to activate it.
Please click on the following link for the full guidance from the UK Government:
The Standard Visitor Route is for anyone who is not a UK or Irish citizen, AND does not already have a valid immigration permission to enter the UK for the purposes listed below.
It provides the holder Permission to Enter for the purpose of visiting the UK to undertake permitted activities contained within "Appendix Visitor: Permitted Activities".
If you already hold a visa for the UK, the grant of this visa will cause your previous visa to be cancelled, and you will not receive a refund on that visa.
If your nationality is shown on the Visa Nationals List, you must apply for your standard visit visa in advance and obtain an "Entry Clearance" vignette (sticker) in your passport. The Entry Clearance vignette will be valid for 6 months, 2 years, 5 years or 10 years as per your application.
If your nationality is not shown on the Visa Nationals List, you do not need to apply in advance unless you are concerned that you may be refused entry to the UK due to previous breaches of UK immigration rules, or UK visa refusals. If you arrive at the UK border without another type of valid visa, you will be considered for entry to the UK as a Standard Visitor automatically (including if you use an e-gate).
How often, and for how long, can I visit the UK?
Whenever a new Visit Visa is granted (if you are required to apply in advance), and each time you enter the UK, UK border officials have the power to check that they are satisfied, on the balance of probabilities, that you are a "Genuine Visitor". The factors which are considered can be found in the Home Office Visit Guidance.
As part of this, it will be checked that you are not seeking to make the UK your home through frequent or lengthy visits. This can be done by assessing your travel history in combination with the length of time you are now intending to stay.
In practice, we would advise that, when using the Visitor Route:
- You should ensure you are in the UK for no longer than 180 days in any rolling 12-month period (otherwise, it is likely to be seen as attempting to make the UK your main home)
- Each time you enter the UK, if you have been to the UK in the previous 12 months, you should carry, in your hand luggage, evidence of when you arrived in and departed from the UK during that time (e.g. flight tickets, booking confirmations) as well as evidence which shows when you will leave the UK after your new visit (e.g. a return flight ticket). This is so that you can produce evidence of your travel pattern if queried by a border officer
I have arrived in the UK as a Visitor - when do I have to leave?
If you have applied for your visa in advance and have a vignette (sticker) in your passport:
Unless a border officer has informed you otherwise, your permission to be in the UK ends 180 days after you have entered the UK, or on the End Date shown on the vignette, whichever is sooner.
If you have not applied for your visa in advance and have entered the UK as a visitor (either via a staffed immigration desk or an e-gate):
Unless a border officer has informed you otherwise, your permission to be in the UK ends 180 days after you have entered the UK. You should retain evidence of the date you arrived in the UK (such as a boarding pass) so that you can show that you have not "overstayed" your permission.
Important:
You should also ensure your stay does not mean you will have remained in the UK for more than 180 days in one rolling 12-month period, and should leave the UK before this becomes the case if this is sooner than the above. Otherwise, you may experience problems the next time you attempt to enter the UK.
The Standard Visitor Visa is issued for the following reasons:
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for tourism, for example on a holiday or vacation
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to see your family or friends
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to volunteer for up to 30 days with a registered charity
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to pass through the UK to another country (‘in transit’)
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for certain business activities, for example attending a meeting or interview
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to take part in a school exchange programme
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to do a recreational course of up to 30 days, for example a dance course
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to study, do a placement or take an exam
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as an academic, senior doctor or dentist
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for medical reasons
With this visa you cannot:
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Work - paid or unpaid work for a UK company or as a self-employed person is prohibited - for EU nationals also
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Live in the UK for long periods of time through frequent or repetitive visits
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Switch to a student or work visa from inside the UK<
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Claim public funds (benefits)
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Do a course of study that lasts longer than 6 months (usually a distance learning or part-time course) - Click here for more information regarding visas that allow study for longer than 6 months
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Marry or register a civil partnership, or give notice of marriage or civil partnership. You’ll need a Marriage Visitor visa instead
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Extend your visit beyond 6 months
I will be / I am a student at Warwick, is this visa right for me?
This visa is suitable for an potential Warwick Student, or, a current Warwick Student who wishes to:
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Attend an interview for a course at Warwick
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Attend a course of study for up to 6 months
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Enrol as a visiting or exchange student for up to 6 months
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Attend a viva, if they do not already hold a visa that allows this
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Re-sitting exams, if they do not already hold a visa that allows this
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Attend an on campus portion of study as part of a distance learning course which is longer than six months duration, if they do not already hold a visa that allows this
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Attend their Graduation Ceremony, if they do not already hold a visa that allows this
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Invite friends or family members to visit you during your time at Warwick
Please note:
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This visa does not provide access to the National Health Service (NHS) for non-EU students.
However, if you are an EU, EEA or Swiss national, please refer to the GOV website - Healthcare for Visitors to the UK from the EU.
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Holders of this visa who do not have access to the NHS should, therefore, purchase adequate travel insurance before travelling, which includes cover for any medical costs for the duration of the visit.
The University cannot recommend any specific health or travel insurance, however, you should always research this carefully to ensure you are fully aware of what is and isn't covered.
Where you can apply for Standard Visitor Visa Status depends on if you are classed as a Non-Visa National or a Visa National under the Immigration Rules.
Visa Nationals MUST apply and pay for a Standard Visitor Visa in advance, and they can apply from any country outside of the UK.
Non-Visa Nationals can enter the UK on their Passports via the E-Gate, which will grant a Non-Visa National with the same Immigration Status as the Standard Visitor Visa.
You can find out if you are classed as a Visa National via the following link:
You can use the tool on the following link to check if you need to apply for visitor visa in advance OR if you are able to apply at the UK Border OR use an E-Gate.
GOV.UK | Check if you need a UK visa
Non-Visa Nationals - Including EU Nationals
You can apply:
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In advance, outside of the UK, within any country that you are legally in
OR
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On arrival at a UK Border, via the E-Gate system or by visiting the Immigration Desk
If you enter the UK via the E-Gate System:
You cannot get an Immigration Stamp if you use the e-Gate System, therefore, please keep a hold of you boarding pass as evidence of your date of entry, as you will need this to complete your enrolment.
Entering the UK via the E-Gate System will grant you the Standard Visitor Visa Status.
You will not receive any endorsement in your passport.
You are able to remain in the UK for up to 6 months within 12 months of your date of entry.
Once you hit 6 months you MUST leave the UK and you cannot return to the UK using your Passport or the Standard Visitor Visa route until 6 months has elapsed from your date of leaving the UK.
You must provide the University with evidence of your date of entry to the UK in the form of a boarding pass or flight ticket. It is your responsibility to ensure that you do not stay in the UK for more than 6 months as a visitor.
Visa Nationals
You must apply in advance, outside of the UK, within any country that you are legally in.
When you need to apply for your Standard Visitor Visa Status depends on if you are classed as a Non-Visa National or a Visa National under the Immigration Rules:
Visa Nationals MUST apply in advance
Non-Visa Nationals can apply in advance OR on arrival at a UK Border
You can find out if you are classed as a Visa National via the following link:
You can use the tool on the following link to check if you need to apply for visitor visa in advance OR if you are able to apply at the UK Border OR use an E-Gate.
GOV.UK | Check if you need a UK visa
Non-Visa Nationals - including EU Nationals
If you are a Non-Visa National, under the Immigration Rules, you can obtain a Standard Visitor Visa in advance - see guidance for Visa Nationals below, or on arrival at a UK Border via:
Entering via the E-Gate System
OR
If for whatever reason, you are unable to use the E-Gate System, you can apply for the Standard Visitor Visa at the Immigration Desk on arrival at a UK Border.
You will still need to carry with you the same application evidence as stated in "Section 6: What are the application requirements for the Standard Visitor Visa Route?" below.
You are able to leave the UK and re-enter the UK, IF you have not already exceeded 6 months since your first date of entry.
If you have exceeded 6 months in the UK:
You will not be able to re-enter the UK until 6 months has elapsed since you last left the UK.
If you have not exceeded 6 months in the UK:
Then you will need to re-enter as a visitor, either via the E-Gate System, or, via the Immigration Desk, each time you leave and return to the UK, although your total duration spent in the UK as a visitor must not exceed 6 months in a single 12 month period.
If you leave and re-enter the UK during your registration at Warwick we may request that you provide evidence of your departure date and re-entry to the UK.
Visa Nationals
If you are a visa national, you will need to apply for your visa in advance of your visit to the UK.
You can apply:
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No more than 3 months before you intend to travel.
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When completing the visa application form, remember to state specifically the date you want this visa to be valid (usually a few days before your intended travel date).
This is particularly important if you are coming to the UK for a period of study abroad or visiting research that is close to 6 months.
This is because there is a risk that the visa decision maker may grant your visa to be valid from the date of decision and therefore, your visa length may not cover the whole length of the course.
If your visa application form is completed correctly but the 'valid from' date is too early for you to complete the whole intended study duration, please raise it with your local visa application centre in the first instance.
Please see "Section 6: What are the application requirements for the Standard Visitor Visa Route?" below for the application requirements.
Please see "Section 7: How do I apply for a Standard Visitor Visa?" below for how to make your application.
A standard overseas UK visa application currently takes up to 6 weeks to complete.
Therefore, you should ensure you have given yourself enough time to make the application, receive your visa and travel to the UK.
To make an application under the Standard Visitor Route, you will need the following:
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Travel Document
This will usually be your current Passport, or a Temporary Travel Document issued by your Government or the UK Government
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Written confirmation (a letter) that you have been accepted on your course:
If you are applying to study at Warwick, this will be provided to you by your Admissions Team, or, if you are on a Distance Learning Course, your Department can provide this for you, for example, WBS Distance Learning MBA team or Warwick Student Mobility Team.
Or if you are inviting someone to visit you in the UK:
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A letter of invitation from you addressed to the person applying for the Standard Visitor Visa:
You can download an editable MS Word Letter Template on the following link:
Warwick | Student Immigration | Standard Visitor Visa Invitation Letter Template
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Previous travel documents/passports:
These should only be required to show previous travel or 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 current passport.
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Financial documents showing that you have sufficient funds available - there is no set amount of money that you need to evidence in your application, however, caseworkers will want assurance that you can support yourself while in the UK without working. As a guide, we suggest that you allow at least £1,000 for expenses such as accommodation and other living costs, for each month of your visit to the UK.
These must clearly show that you have access to the funds, such as:
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- Bank statements
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- Building society books
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- Proof of earnings, such as a letter from employer confirming employment details (start date of employment, salary, role, company contact details)
If you are being sponsored by a third party:
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- What support is being provided and whether it extends to any dependent family
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- How this support is being provided
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- The relationship between you and the sponsor, for example if they’re your family member or your employer)
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- The person supporting you is legally in the UK (if applicable), for example if they have a British passport or residence document
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ATAS certificate:
If your course is at Postgraduate level and is listed in Appendix ATAS of the Immigration Rules, you will be required to include an Academic Technology Approval Scheme clearance certificate (ATAS) certificate with your visa application, or at the border if seeking permission to enter on arrival to the UK.
You can apply for an ATAS certificate up to nine months before the start date of the course and it is valid for six months from the date of issue.
Nationals from the EU, EEA, Switzerland, Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea and the USA are exempt from obtaining ATAS clearance.
Please click on the following link to see the full application document requirements for the Standard Visitor route:
Click HERE for a step-by-step guide on how to fill out the Standard Visit Visa application form.
If your nationality is NOT listed on the following link, then you are are considered a Non-Visa National under the Immigration Rules, and you should follow the guidance in Non-Visa National section below.
If your nationality is listed on the following link, then you are are considered a Visa National under the Immigration Rules, and you should follow the guidance in Visa National section below.
Non-Visa Nationals - Including EU Nationals
If applying on arrival:
- You must carry your application evidence with you in your carry on luggage.
- You must visit the Immigration Desk on arrival at the UK Border, unless you are eligible to enter the UK using 'e-Gate' (see further information below)
- You must state the purpose for your visit, e.g. short period of study under 6 months, attending a viva, tourism, etc.
- The Border Force official will ask you for any evidence they require - do not volunteer any evidence unless they specifically ask you for it.
If they are satisfied, they will endorse your passport with an Ink Stamp, which will look similar to the image on the following image:
- Once you have received you have cleared Border Control, you will have leave as a Standard Visitor.
If you entered via the e-Gate:
If you are eligible to enter the UK via the e-Gate, you will not have obtained an Entry Stamp, and you will not be able to obtain a new one without leaving the Common Travel Area.
You will still, however, have obtained the Standard Visitor Immigration Status.
To prove you have the Right to Study in this scenario, please provide the University with your Boarding Pass, which confirms your date of entry to the UK in place of the Entry Stamp.
If you entered via the Republic of Ireland:
The period of leave that you will automatically be considered to have (if you are a non-visa national without entry clearance and are not an excluded person, as outlined in Article 3 of the Order) will increase from three to six months.
This will be reduced to two months if you enter the Republic of Ireland from the UK at a time when you still have permission to be in the UK but that permission expires while you are in the Republic of Ireland.
You must not engage in any 'occupation or employment' except an exempt work activity, for which you may receive a permitted payment. Occupation or employment that is prohibited includes: undertaking employment; doing any work for an organisation or business; establishing or running a business as a self-employed person; undertaking a work placement or internship; undertaking any direct selling to the public; fulfilling a contract to provide goods or services;
Note also that any immigration permission you are given on arrival in the Republic of Ireland is for the Republic of Ireland, not for the UK.
If applying in advance:
- Please follow the guidance for Visa Nationals below.
Visa Nationals
You must apply in advance:
- To apply for a visa, you will need to gather all your application evidence first.
- Once you have all your application materials you need to make your application using the online application form, via the following link:
GOV.UK | Standard Visitor Visa | Apply
- Click HERE for a step-by-step guide to the visa application form
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IMPORTANT: During the application form, you will be asked to state the "main reason for your visit to the UK".
If your main reason for coming to the UK to study at Warwick for less than 6 months (including as an exchange student from an overseas institution) you must select "Short-term study (up to 6 months), including recreational course".
If you select a different option, there is a risk your application will be refused, or that you will be granted a visa which does not permit you to study.
- Once you are satisfied you have filled in the form correctly, your need to pay for your application fee, and submit your online application.
- The application fee for this application is £100.00.
Once you have submitted your online application, please see "Section 8: I have applied for my Standard Visitor Visa, what happens now?" for your next steps.
If you have applied in advance:
Once you have submitted your online application, you will need to attend an appointment to verify your evidence.
You will then receive a decision to the email address you gave in your application in around 3 weeks.
You will then need to either:
- Attend the VAC to have your passport endorsed with your visa vignette
OR
- Post your passport to the instructed address to have it endorsed with your visa vignette.
If it has been more than 6 weeks since you attended your appointment, and you have not received your decision or Passport back, please contact the VAC where you applied.
If you have still not receved an update on your application within 5 working days of contacting the VAC, as stated above, then please contact Student Immigration via our Contact Form - link below, to advise us of this delay, and we will contact the UKVI for an update on your behalf:
If you applied in advance:
Once you have received your endorsed passport back, you should check your vignette for any errors.
For Example:
Is the visa valid for 6 months
Does your name match that on your passport specifically the spelling of your name
Any errors should be corrected via your VAC BEFORE you travel to the UK.
Errors can take up to 2 weeks to correct.
If you do not have enough time to correct your error before your intended date of travel, you must correct the error within 7 days of your arrival in the UK.
You MUST enter the UK during the validity period of your vignette.
If you are using this visa to study, and you are a new student:
You will need to have completed your course enrolment within 2 weeks of your course start date, 4 weeks if you are a PGR student.
- You can do this as soon as you have received your 'invite to register' email, even if you are not in the UK yet, or, have not made your application or received your visa yet.
- If you have not completed your course registration by this deadline, you will be withdrawn from your course.
You will need to ensure you arrive in the UK by your course latest arrival date - please see the guidance on the following link:
Warwick | Guidelines for current students
- If you have not arrived by your course latest arrival date, you will not be permitted to register, and you will be withdrawn from your course.
Arriving in the UK and beyond:
Once you arrive at the UK Border, you must visit the Immigration Desk to:
- Have your visa activated by UK Border Force, if you applied in advance
OR
- To have your passport endorsed with an Ink Stamp if you are a Non-Visa National, applying on arrival
OR
- Use your biometric passport to enter via an e-Gate if you are an eligible Non-Visa National.
If visiting the Immigration Desk, before you leave, please check the entry stamp to make sure they have endorsed the right vignette and that they have stamped the right date of entry.
- If it is not stamped, or incorrectly stamped, you may have to leave the UK and re-enter to activate your visa.
- If you enter the UK before the start date of your visa vignette (where you have applied in advance) you will not be permitted to enrol and will be required to exit the UK and common travel area so you can re-enter during the validity of your visa.
New Students Enrolment:
Once you have cleared Border Control, you will need to upload a clear and legible scan or photo of your Activated Vignette, Ink Entry Stamp or boarding pass/flight ticket to your enrolment portal, and book an appointment to attend an in person right to study event.
If you have further questions, or, if you receive a refusal, please click on the following link and contact us:
Please click on the following links for more information
University of Warwick:
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- Sample Invitation Letter for your family/friends to visit you (a Student visa holder) or to attend your Graduation
- Warwick | Student Immigration | I am a Student | Visa Portal | Right to Study / Visa that allow study at Warwick
- Warwick | Student Immigration | I am a Student | Visa Portal | Study Abroad Portal
- Warwick | Student Immigration | I am a Student | Visa Portal | Standard Visitor Visa Route | Staff Guidance
UK Government:
Other contacts: