General information about UK visa types

Visas to England can be divided into several main categories. Firstly, there are short-term and long-term visas. The first group includes a visa for six months, and the second – all the rest: for 2, 5 and 10 years. The possibility of obtaining a long-term visa depends on how strong your need for it is, according to the British Embassy. This type of visa to the UK is usually issued to active travelers, people with relatives in England, as well as businessmen cooperating with British firms and corporations. If you want to apply for a long-term British visa, you should carefully study all the requirements for it.

In addition to terms, visas can also be divided into several categories according to the purpose of the trip. It is this information that is decisive in determining the type of your visa to the UK. The largest categories are immigrant and non-immigrant visas. The first of them assumes in the future permanent residence in the territory of the United Kingdom and the naturalization procedure (obtaining citizenship). The second type is visas issued for a temporary visit to a country for a specific purpose. It must be remembered that the real purpose of your trip must exactly match the one indicated on the visa, and if there are discrepancies, you may not be allowed into the country.

Non-immigrant visas, in turn, are divided into several types of UK visas. These are tourist, family (for visiting relatives), business (business visa), children (for all travelers under 18), sports (for participation in competitions and sporting events), and educational (for education and courses) and work (for the implementation of legal labor activity in the country). Each of these visas has its own characteristics, validity periods and requirements for applicants. We work with all types of non-immigrant visas to the UK, except for work and long-term study (more than 6 months).

Most Popular UK Visa Categories

Tourist visa (C-VISIT). Of all the categories of visas to the UK, this type is the most common and perhaps the most versatile. This visa can be both short-term and long-term, and also (in both cases) is a multivisa. It involves travel the purpose of study tourism with visits to attractions and events, allows trips to visit friends and even study in short non-linguistic courses. It is not allowed on a tourist visa to study English (and other languages), get an education, work, get married, and also apply for financial assistance to public funds and receive medical care.

Family visa (C-VISIT-FAMILY). This type of visa to the UK is intended for visiting immediate relatives (parents, children, siblings) who permanently and officially reside in the United Kingdom. To obtain a visa, confirmation of the financial well-being of the host party and an invitation from it are important. A visa can be issued both for a short and for any long term. Since a family visa only provides for visiting relatives and sightseeing, it also cannot study languages, work, marry, apply for financial and medical assistance from the state.

Business visa (C-VISIT-BUSINESS). Before those whose professional activities are connected with England, sooner or later the question arises of obtaining a business visa. This applies not only to those who go to negotiate deliveries and conclude contracts. This type of UK visa also allows you to attend professional exhibitions, conferences and other events. The key concept for this type of visa is the exchange of experience. Naturally, you can apply for a short-term or long-term visa, depending on the scope and duration of the cooperation. But on a business visa, you cannot work and receive income from any British sources.

Child visa (C-VISIT-CHILD). It does not matter if you are going to send your child to England on a school trip, to an English course, to visit relatives or to a sports competition, he will have to apply for a children’s visa. This is a special category of UK visas for applicants who are under the age of 18. Like all “adult” visas, children’s visas can be issued for a short or long period. Another feature of such a visa is that it must indicate whether the child is traveling alone or accompanied by a parent/responsible adult. On a visa for a child, however, you cannot receive secondary or higher education.

Study visa (C-VISIT-STUDENT). Learning English in English-speaking countries (and especially in the United Kingdom) is a great chance to improve your skills and overcome the language barrier. That is why short English courses are so popular. To pass one of these programs, you must apply to this category of visas to the UK – study. It allows you to study for six months, combining study with excursions, sightseeing and getting to know the life of modern England. However, it is important to remember that this visa does not allow you to receive secondary and higher education, as well as get a job.

Sports visa (C-VISIT-SPORT). If you are involved in sports or are a sports technician, you will need a sports visa to travel to England for professional events. This type of visa to the UK provides for participation in competitions and other sporting events as a participant or technical specialist (referees, coaches, etc.), provided that the applicant receives financial reward only in the form of prize money and travel and stay. Employment and signing contracts as an athlete, referee, technical specialist on a sports visa is not possible.

General visitor visa (Standard Visitor Visa). This type of visa is designed to combine all of the above options. This was done primarily for the convenience of applicants: by choosing a Standard Visitor Visa, you will save yourself from thinking about which visa is right for you, what requirements you must meet. A single visa option for tourism, visiting, business and other purposes is certainly a useful initiative of the Border Guard, but so far it is only available on the new British visa application portal, which is working in test mode. Most applicants are still using the current site, where the types of visas remain the same.

British Embassy in Moscow

121099 Moscow
Smolenskaya embankment, 10
Russia
Phone (consular department, press department, general questions) +7 495 956 7200
Fax +7 495 956 7481