Comprehensive travel visa information for the UK, covering everything you need to know about visa requirements, eligibility and application procedures for your journey to the United Kingdom

Study Visa: Visit the UK for up to 6 months for one of the following study activities:

• Study at an accredited institution in the UK. You need to prove that:
  – You’ve been accepted onto a course provided by an accredited UK institution
  – The course is no more than 6 months long (if it’s not a distance learning course)
  – The accredited UK institution cannot be an academy or state-funded school
• A short piece of research that’s relevant to your course
  You’ll need to confirm your overseas course provider that the research or research tuition is part of the course you’re doing
• Optional additional placement if you’re studying medicine
  You’re permitted to do unpaid clinical attachments if you’re a medical graduate
• Entrance exam or retake an exam or course module

Academic Visa: Visit the UK for up to 6 months if you’re a scientist, researcher or academic:

• Take part in formal exchange arrangements with UK counterparts
• Carry out research, either as part of your job or independently
• Senior doctors or dentists taking part in research, teaching or undertake a clinical practice

Event Visa: Visit the UK for up to 6 months if you’re participating in a paid engagement or event

• You have a written invitation from a UK-based organization or client for a pre-arranged event or engagement
• You can show you’re an expert in your profession and the engagement is relevant to your expertise
• You can be invited:
  – as a professional artist, entertainer or musician (For example, poets, make-up artists, stylists, set designers, photographers and fashion models)
  – as a professional sportsperson (For example, taking part in a sporting event)
  – as a qualified lawyer to represent a client (For example a court or tribunal hearing, arbitration or other form of legal dispute resolution)
  – to give a lecture or series of lectures (For example giving a lecture or series of lectures about your area of expertise)
  – to speak at a conference (For example when you are paid to speak at a conference or seminar)
  – to be a student examiner or assessor (For example to examine or assess students)
  – as an air pilot examiner (For example to examine UK-based air pilots to meet the national aviation regulatory requirements of your country)

Medical Visa: Visit the UK for up to 6 months for private medical treatment

• You’re getting treatment at a hospital or other medical facility
• You donate an organ
• You must prove that you:
  – have a medical condition that needs private consultation or treatment in the UK
  – have made arrangements for consultations or treatment
  – have enough money or funding to pay for your treatment