Immigration Information
UK Immigration Information
Visas for Visitors
Requirements for leave to enter as a visitor
40. For the purpose of paragraphs 41-46 a visitor includes a person living and working outside the United Kingdom who comes to the United Kingdom to transact business (such as attending meetings and briefings, fact finding, negotiating or making contracts with United Kingdom businesses to buy or sell goods or services). A visitor seeking leave to enter or remain for private medical treatment must meet the requirements of paragraphs 51 or 54.
41. The requirements to be met by a person seeking leave to enter the United Kingdom as a visitor are that he:
(i) is genuinely seeking entry as a visitor for a limited period as stated by him, not exceeding 6 months; and
(ii) intends to leave the United Kingdom at the end of the period of the visit as stated by him; and
(iii) does not intend to take employment in the United Kingdom; and
(iv) does not intend to produce goods or provide services within the United Kingdom, including the selling of goods or services direct to members of the public; and
(v) does not intend to study at a maintained school; and
(vi) will maintain and accommodate himself and any dependants adequately out of resources available to him without recourse to public funds or taking employment; or will, with any dependants, be maintained and accommodated adequately by relatives or friends; and
(vii) can meet the cost of the return or onward journey.
Leave to enter as a visitor
42. A person seeking leave to enter to the United Kingdom as a visitor may be admitted for a period not exceeding 6 months, subject to a condition prohibiting employment, provided the Immigration Officer is satisfied that each of the requirements of paragraph 41 is met.
Refusal of leave to enter as a visitor
43. Leave to enter as a visitor is to be refused if the Immigration Officer is not satisfied that each of the requirements of paragraph 41 is met.
Requirements for an extension of stay as a visitor
44. Six months is the maximum permitted leave which may be granted to a visitor. The requirements for an extension of stay as a visitor are that the applicant:
(i) meets the requirements of paragraph 41 (ii)-(vii); and
(ii) has not already spent, or would not as a result of an extension of stay spend, more than 6 months in total in the United Kingdom as a visitor.
Any period spent as a seasonal agricultural worker is to be counted as a period spent as a visitor.
Extension of stay as a visitor
45. An extension of stay as a visitor may be granted, subject to a condition prohibiting employment, provided the Secretary of State is satisfied that each of the requirements of paragraph 44 is met.
Refusal of extension of stay as a visitor
46. An extension of stay as a visitor is to be refused if the Secretary of State is not satisfied that each of the requirements of paragraph 44 is met.
Visitors in Transit
Requirements for admission as a visitor in transit to another country
47. The requirements to be met by a person (not being a member of the crew of a ship, aircraft, hovercraft, hydrofoil or train) seeking leave to enter the United Kingdom as a visitor in transit to another country are that he:
(i) is in transit to a country outside the common travel area; and
(ii) has both the means and the intention of proceeding at once to another country; and
(iii) is assured of entry there; and
(iv) intends and is able to leave the United Kingdom within 48 hours.
Leave to enter as a visitor in transit
48. A person seeking leave to enter the United Kingdom as a visitor in transit may be admitted for a period not exceeding 48 hours with a prohibition on employment provided the Immigration Officer is satisfied that each of the requirements of paragraph 47 is met.
Refusal of leave to enter as a visitor in transit
49. Leave to enter as a visitor in transit is to be refused if the Immigration Officer is not satisfied that each of the requirements of paragraph 47 is met.
Extension of stay as a visitor in transit
50. The maximum permitted leave which may be granted to a visitor in transit is 48 hours. An application for an extension of stay beyond 48 hours from a person admitted in this category is to be refused.
Visitors Seeking to Enter or Remain for Private Medical Treatment
Requirements for leave to enter as a visitor for private medical treatment
51. The requirements to be met by a person seeking leave to enter the United Kingdom as a visitor for private medical treatment are that he:
(i) meets the requirements set out in paragraph 41 (iii)-(vii) for entry as a visitor; and
(ii) in the case of a person suffering from a communicable disease, has satisfied the Medical Inspector that there is no danger to public health; and
(iii) can show, if required to do so, that any proposed course of treatment is of finite duration; and
(vi) intends to leave the United Kingdom at the end of his treatment; and
(v) can produce satisfactory evidence, if required to do so, of:
- the medical condition requiring consultation or treatment; and
- satisfactory arrangements for the necessary consultation or treatment at his own expense; and
- the estimated costs of such consultation or treatment; and
- the likely duration of his visit; and
- sufficient funds available to him in the United Kingdom to meet the estimated costs and his undertaking to do so.
Leave to enter as a visitor for private medical treatment
52. A person seeking leave to enter the United Kingdom as a visitor for private medical treatment may be admitted for a period not exceeding 6 months, subject to a condition prohibiting employment, provided the Immigration Officer is satisfied that each of the requirements of paragraph 51 is met.
Refusal of leave to enter as a visitor for private medical treatment
53. Leave to enter as a visitor for private medical treatment is to be refused if the Immigration Officer is not satisfied that each of the requirements of paragraph 51 is met.
Requirements for an extension of stay as a visitor for private medical treatment
54. The requirements for an extension of stay as a visitor to undergo or continue private medical treatment are that the applicant:
(i) meets the requirements set out in paragraph 41 (iii)-(vii) and paragraph 51 (ii)-(v); and
(ii) has produced evidence from a registered medical practitioner who holds an NHS consultant post or who appears in the Specialist Register of the General Medical Council of satisfactory arrangements for private medical consultation or treatment and its likely duration; and, where treatment has already begun, evidence as to its progress; and
(iii) can show that he has met, out of the resources available to him, any costs and expenses incurred in relation to his treatment in the United Kingdom; and
(iv) has sufficient funds available to him in the United Kingdom to meet the likely costs of his treatment and intends to meet those costs.
Extension of stay as a visitor for private medical treatment
55. An extension of stay to undergo or continue private medical treatment may be granted, with a prohibition on employment, provided the Secretary of State is satisfied that each of the requirements of paragraph 54 is met.
Refusal of extension of stay as a visitor for private medical treatment
56. An extension of stay as a visitor to undergo or continue private medical treatment is to be refused if the Secretary of State is not satisfied that each of the requirements of paragraph 54 is met.
Parent of a Child at School
Requirements for leave to enter or remain as the parent of a child at school
56A. The requirements to be met by a person seeking leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom as the parent of a child at school are that:
(i) the parent meets the requirements set out in paragraph 41 (ii)-(vii); and
(ii) the child is attending an independent fee paying day school and meets the requirements set out in paragraph 57 (i)-(vi); and
(iii) the child is under 12 years of age; and
(iv) the parent can provide satisfactory evidence of adequate and reliable funds for maintaining a second home in the United Kingdom; and
(v) the parent is not seeking to make the United Kingdom his main home.
Leave to enter or remain as the parent of a child at school
56B. A person seeking leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom as the parent of a child at school may be admitted or allowed to remain for a period not exceeding12 months, subject to a condition prohibiting employment, provided the Immigration Officer or, in the case of an application for limited leave to remain, the Secretary of State is satisfied that each of the requirements of paragraph 56A is met.
Refusal of leave to enter or remain as the parent of a child at school
56C. Leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom as the parent of a child at school is to be refused if the Immigration Officer or, in the case of an application for limited leave to remain, the Secretary of State is not satisfied that each of the requirements of paragraph 56A is met.
More information on UK Immigration Rules and Regulations.
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