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- Frequently Asked Questions
Applying For The UK Visa
- Do I need a visa for the United Kingdom (UK)?
Certain nationalities, known as visa nationals, need
to obtain a visa before travelling to the UK. If you
are not a visa national; you may need a visa, depending
on the reason for coming to the UK.
*Some non-visa states: for example - Argentina, Australia,
Brazil, Canada, Hong Kong SAR, Japan, Malaysia, New
Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea and USA.
. A list of visa national countries can be found on
the UK
Border Agency Visa Services website.
- 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 Border Agency
offices overseas. If you need a visa, you must get it
before you travel to the UK.
- 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 a visa application form, or to a visa officer, can
lead to a refusal of the application.
- What if I don't understand English?
The UK visa application centre has staff who can understand
Japanese.
- Can I come to live permanently in the UK?
If you are not a British or European Economic Area national
and you wish to
settle permanently in the UK, you must qualify under
the Immigration Rules and must obtain a visa before
you travel to the UK.
- 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 a visa before travelling to the UK.
See the Family Members guidance note for more information.
- 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. The traveller will present their
documents to the immigration officer.
If you do not need a visa 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 6 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 6 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 such as a bank statement
and cash. |
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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 visa.
- 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 visa before arriving in the
UK. This is applicable to all nationals. It is also
mandatory for dependants to have a visa regardless of
the duration of their stay or nationality.
- 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.
- Do I need to send my original Bank book with my
application?
An original transaction record statement (For example
- Torihiki Meisaisho - 取引明細書)
can be submitted with your visa application instead of
your bank book. A transaction record statement can be
obtained from your bank.
The document must meet one of the following requirements:
- How much does a UK visa cost?
Please see the visa application
fee page on this website. Fees are payable at the
visa application centre where you applied for your visa.
The fees are payable in Yen. The visa application fee
reflects the administrative costs of processing an application
and is not refundable if your application is refused.
If a payment has been made the application is not submitted
or if the applicant refuses to provide biometric details
with their application, then we will refund the fee.
- How long does it take to get a UK visa?
Please see the information on the 'guide
to processing times' page on this website.
- Why do I have to wait for an interview date?
When a visa 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.
- I have just married a person settled in the UK.
Can they apply to the UK Border Agency for an extension
as a spouse?
Only if your partner holds a valid Fiancé (e)
visa can they apply to the UK Border Agency 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.
- 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 visa before
entering the UK. Upon the visa being endorsed in the
passport it is valid for 2 years from the date of issue.
- 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 UK Border Agency cannot be held responsible
for such losses.
Visa and Immigration Problems
- What happens if my visa is refused?
If your application is refused, you will get a written
notice explaining why. To ensure that we have made a
fair decision, in accordance with the Immigration Rules,
a visa officer 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 visa officer will tell
you and give you three documents:
| • |
the Notice of Refusal (this tells you why the
visa officer has refused your visa) |
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the Notice of Appeal (you must fill this in
and return it to the visa to explain why you think
they were wrong to refuse your visa); and a leaflet
explaining the appeal process |
| • |
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 2 types of appeal hearings,
oral or paper. Our aim is to process family visit appeals
as quickly as possible. Paper hearings, 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 which
handles the appeals process. 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 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 visa 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 visa officer will
then be able to decide whether you qualify for entry
before you travel. Please note: 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 a visa 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.
- 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.
- 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 a visa 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.
- 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 UK Border Agency at the British Embassy.
You may be asked to make another visa application.
- 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 visa officer, in your
hand luggage.
- 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
UK Border Agency 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 2 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 UK visa application centre before you travel
to the UK. Use
the link Do I Need a Visa? to find out if you need a
visa.
- I am a European Union/European Economic Area 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 a European Economic
Area family permit from a UK visa application centre
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.
European Union Countries
| 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
|
Bulgaria |
Rumania |
- European Economic Area countries
European Economic Area (the EU countries, plus Iceland,
Norway, Liechtenstein and Swiss)
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.
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