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- FAQ's
APPLYING FOR THE UK VISA
- Do I need a visa for the UK?
Certain nationalities, known as visa nationals,
need to obtain a visa before travelling to the UK.
Even if you are not a visa national, you may need
an entry clearance, depending on the reason for
coming to the UK.
*Some non-visa states: Argentine, Australia,
Brazil, Canada, Hong Kong SAR, Japan, Malaysia,
New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea
and USA. This is not a complete list. To find out
if you require a visa to travel to the UK please
click here.
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Can my friend or family member in the UK apply
for my visa for me?
Visas for the UK can be issued only at UK entry
clearance offices overseas. If you need a visa,
you must get it before you travel to the UK.
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Can somebody else apply for a visa for me?
No, you need to come yourself in order to give
your biometric data and you must also sign the
application form personally to show that the information
given on it is true and accurate. Giving false
or misleading information, or failing to give
important relevant information on an entry clearance
application form, or to an entry clearance officer,
can lead to a refusal of the application.
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What if I don't understand English?
The UK visa application center has staff who can
understand Japanese.
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Can I come to live permanently in the UK?
If you are not a British or European Economic
Area (EEA) national and you wish to
settle permanently in the UK, you must qualify
under the Immigration Rules and must obtain an
entry clearance before you travel to the UK. For
more information, see our guidance notes.
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Can my children accompany me to, or join
me in the UK?
The rules concerning children are quite complicated,
but in many cases, they may be permitted to join
you. They may require entry clearances before
travelling to the UK. See the Family
Members guidance note for more information.
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Can I study in the UK?
The UK welcomes overseas nationals who wish to
study in the UK.
For more information on how to apply for a visa
to study in the UK, see the Students
guidance note for more general information
on studying in the UK. The
British Council website also gives advice
and guidance on schools.
- If I am planning to visit the UK or study for
less than 6 months do I need a visa?
Non-visa nationals planning to visit or study in
the UK for less than 6 months do not need prior
permission before travelling. Traveller may enter
the UK and present their documents to the Immigration
Officer as is present practice.
If you do not need an entry clearance when you arrive
in the UK, you will have to satisfy the Immigration
Officer that you qualify for entry. They will then
give you permission to stay in the UK for the maximum
of six months. You will not be allowed to extend
your stay in the UK as a student unless you arrived
with a student or prospective student visa, or are
studying on a course at degree level or higher.
- What do I need to show the Immigration Officer
if I am studying for less than six months?
It is recommended that non-visa nationals planning
to study for less than 6 months present the following
documents to the Immigration Officer upon entering
the UK:
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School letter confirming their intended
studies and the fee paid to date |
| • |
Evidence of finances i.e. bank statement,
cash, etc. |
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Evidence of accommodation arrangements (if
available) |
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Return air ticket or enough money to be
able to purchase a return ticket. |
- If I enter the UK as a visitor can I change
to a student?
No. You can only apply to extend your stay in the
UK as a student if you originally entered the UK
with a student visa. If you are in the UK as a visitor
and you want to study for longer than your current
approved visitor stay, you must return to your home
country to obtain the correct student Entry Clearance.
- Can I work in the UK?
Visitors are not allowed to work in the UK. The
majority of people coming to the UK to work require
a work permit. The
Work Permits web pages have full information.
Some students may take employment, but with restrictions.
There are also a number of other immigration categories
that allow people to take employment in the UK,
such as the Working Holidaymakers, Au Pairs, seasonal
agricultural workers and other forms of permit free
employment. See our guidance
notes for more details.
- If I have a work permit do my dependants and
I need a visa?
It is mandatory for all work permit holders staying
6 months or more to have a mandatory Entry Clearance
before arriving in the UK. This is applicable to
all nationals. Visa for dependants is mandatory
regardless of the duration of their stay or nationality.
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What is the acceptable maximum amount for
finance documentation that is required for a visa?
There is no minimum or maximum amount you must
be able to show that you or your sponsor has the
ability to meet the full costs of your stay in
the UK.
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How long will my visa be valid for?
The period for which your visa is valid is always
shown on the entry clearance placed in your passport.
A standard visit visa is usually valid for six
months, but we also issue visit visas that are
valid for 1, 2 or 5 years. All visit visas can
be used for an unlimited number of entries to
the UK. You may stay a maximum of 6 months on
each visit, or to the expiry date of the visa,
whichever is shorter. If you are coming for another
reason, the validity of the visa and how long
you may stay is dependent on the reason.
The entry clearance will show the date from which
it is valid. This is usually the date that it
is issued. However, if you do not plan to travel
immediately, you can ask for the start date to
be deferred by up to three months. You must tell
the entry clearance officer this when you make
your application.
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How much does a UK visa cost?
Go to Fees for an up-to-date list. Fees are payable
at the visa office to which you will apply, usually
in local currency. A fee is charged to pay for
the cost of processing your application and for
that reason it is not refundable. For up-to-date
information on fees in the local currency, please
contact the UK Overseas Mission where you intend
to apply.
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How long does it take to get a UK visa?
We aim to operate a fast and effective entry clearance
service. If an Entry Clearance Officer is satisfied
of your application with documents you submitted,
your visa will be authorized, once it is authorized
you will receive the passport with the visa from
UK Visa Application Centre within 4 working days
after the date of submission. If an in-depth interview
is required, we aim to process non-settlement
applications within 10 working days, but please
be aware that during peak periods, dealing with
increased volumes of visa applications, it can
take longer.
If you are applying to settle in the UK, in most
cases we are able to process your application
within 13 weeks.
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Why do I have to wait for an interview date?
When an entry clearance officer cannot make a
decision about issuing you a visa immediately,
you may be asked to attend for an interview. Though
we aim to do this within 10 days, this may take
longer, depending on where and when you apply.
Always try to make your application well in advance
of your intended travel date.
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I have just married a person settled in the
UK. Can they apply to the Home Office for an extension
as a Spouse?
Only if your partner holds a valid Fiancé
(e) visa can they apply to the Home Office for
an Extension. If they are currently in the UK
as a visitor, student or any other short-term
stay they cannot change immigration status and
will have to return to their home country. If
in doubt please check first before applying.
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I married my partner in Japan. Do they have
to apply for a Spouse visa before entering the
UK?
Yes. If you are marrying your spouse outside of
the UK they must apply for a mandatory spouse
Entry Clearance before entering the UK. Upon the
visa being endorsed in the passport it is valid
for two years from the date of issue.
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Can my spouse work in the UK and get National
Health Service (NHS) medical cover?
Yes. Your spouse is entitled to work and benefit
from NHS medical treatment if they hold a valid
Spouse visa.
- I have already purchased tickets for my travel.
Can I have my visa before the travel date?
You are advised not to buy a ticket due to delay
or refusal of your application would result in financial
loss. THE EMBASSY CANNOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR
SUCH LOSSES.
Visa and Immigration Problems
- What happens if my visa is refused?
If we refuse your visa, you will get a written notice
explaining why. To ensure that we have made a fair
decision, in accordance with the Immigration Rules,
an Entry Clearance Manager reviews every refusal
without a right of appeal within 24 hours. For some
types of application, there is a right of appeal
if we refuse your visa. If there is a right of appeal
the Entry Clearance Officers will tell you at the
time they refuse you and give you three documents:
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the Notice of Refusal (this tells you why
the Entry Clearance Officer has refused your
visa) |
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the Notice of Appeal (you must fill this
in and return it to the Entry Clearance Officer
to explain why you think they were wrong to
refuse your visa); and a leaflet explaining
the appeal process |
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If we refused you a visa before, you can
make another application at any time, but
if the reasons for your refusal still apply,
you can be refused again. |
- How long will my appeal take?
Family visit appeal - there are two types of appeal
hearings, oral or paper. Our aim is to process family
visit appeals as quickly as possible. Paper hearings,
generally, are dealt with more quickly than oral
hearings, but neither should take more than a few
weeks, once the papers have been received by the
Asylum and Immigration Tribunal (AIT) which handles
the appeals process. Unfortunately, it is not possible
to give guarantees on how long an appeal will take
and this information is given for guidance only.
Other appeals - It is not possible to give
time-scales for other appeals. It is unlikely that
the appeal will be listed for a hearing for some
considerable time, possibly up to one year.
- What if I have been refused a visa for, or
entry to the United Kingdom before?
If we have refused you a visa, or entry to the United
Kingdom before, it does not necessarily mean that
you will not be allowed to enter the UK again, but
it is very important that you tell the entry clearance
officer of this.
If you are not a visa national, depending on the
reason you wish to go to the UK, it may be better
if you apply for a visa before you travel. The entry
clearance officer will then be able to decide whether
you qualify for entry before you travel. Note that
if you would not normally need a visa, you will
not be prevented from travelling to the UK, but
you may have problems when you arrive.
- What if I have been refused a visa for or entry
to another country?
Each visa application for the UK is dealt with on
its own merits, but an entry clearance officer may
want to know why another country refused you a visa
or entry.
After I Get My Visa
- Does the visa guarantee my entry to the UK?
No, but if you have a valid UK visa, we will not
normally refuse you entry to the UK unless
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your circumstances have changed; |
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you gave false information; or |
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you did not tell us important facts when
you applied for your visa. |
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When you arrive in the UK, an Immigration
Officer may question you, so take all relevant
documents in your hand luggage. |
- What is the latest date I can arrive in the
UK with my visa?
The expiry date will be shown on the visa, but remember
that this is also the last day on which you are
permitted to stay in the UK.
- How long can I stay?
The last day on which you may enter or be in the
UK is the expiry date on the visa. For visitors,
this is normally a maximum of 6 months.
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Can I use the visa to enter the UK more than
one time?
UK visas are usually valid for multiple entries
to the UK, until the expiry date shown on the
visa.
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If my travel plans are delayed, can the validity
of my visa be changed?
No, except where there are compelling compassionate
circumstances. At the discretion of an entry clearance
officer, the expiry date of a visa can be extended
for up to 3 months, provided there has been no
change in your circumstances. Otherwise you should
apply for another visa.
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What if my reason for going to the UK changes?
A visa is normally issued for a specific purpose.
If your reason for going to the UK changes, you
should inform the Mission, preferably the one
that issued your visa. You may be asked to make
another visa application.
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Do I need to bring any documents with me?
On arrival, an immigration officer may ask you
to show evidence of your reasons for coming to
the UK. This may include travel tickets, evidence
of funding, letters from your sponsor or businesses
you are visiting, or school you will study at.
You should bring original documents that you showed
to the entry clearance officer, in your hand luggage.
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Can I extend my stay in the UK?
If you are a visa national coming for a short
visit to the UK, you are not allowed to extend
your stay or change from being a visitor to another
category. If you are coming to the UK for another
reason, you may be allowed to extend your stay.
You should contact the Immigration and Nationality
Directorate for more information.
- Do I need a re-entry permit in my passport?
All non-Japanese nationals returning to Japan after
their stay in the United Kingdom must have a valid
re-entry permit endorsed into their current valid
passport valid for a minimum of two months from
your planned date of departure from the UK.
The United Kingdom and Europe
- Can I get a visa for another European Union
or European Economic Area country from a UK visa
office?
No. You should contact the embassy or consulate
for the country that you want to visit.
- I have a Schengen visa. Can I use it for the
United Kingdom?
No. The UK is not part of the Schengen group of
countries and if you need a visa for the UK, you
must apply for one at a British visa office before
you travel to the UK. Use
the link Do I Need a Visa? to find out if you need
a visa.
- I am an EU/EEA national. My family member is
a visa national. Do they need a visa to live in
the UK?
Your family member will need to get an EEA Family
Permit from a UK visa office overseas before they
travel to the UK. You must either travel to the
UK together, or your family must be joining you
in the UK. Family permits are issued free of charge.
- Terms and Abbreviations
EU
European Union
| Austria |
Greece |
Netherlands |
| Belgium |
Hungary |
Poland |
| Cyprus |
Ireland |
Portugal |
| Czech Republic |
Italy |
Slovakia |
| Denmark |
Latvia |
Slovenia |
| Estonia |
Lithuania |
Spain |
| Finland |
Luxembourg |
Sweden |
| France |
Malta |
United Kingdom |
Germany
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EEA
European Economic Area (the EU countries, plus Iceland,
Norway and Liechtenstein)
Entry Clearance
A visa or entry clearance certificate
Entry Clearance Officer
An officer based in a UK mission overseas who issues
entry clearances
Schengen Area
The group of EU countries that do not have border/immigration
controls between them. The UK is not part of the
Schengen Area.
UK
United Kingdom
UK Mission/Post
A UK embassy, high commission or consulate overseas
Non Visa Nationals
Australia, Brazil, Canada, Hong Kong SAR, Japan,
Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa,
South Korea and USA. For the complete list of non
visa national please click here
UKBorder Agency
http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk/en/faqs/
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