TOURISM, LEISURE AND FAMILY VISIT VISA
The Tourism, Leisure and Family Visit Visa is for individuals who wish to come to the
UK for a short-term stay for the purpose of visiting friends and/or family or for a short
holiday.
The Tourism, Leisure and Family Visit Visa is a sub-category of the Standard Visitor
route, which is a route for persons who wish to visit the UK for a temporary period of
up to 6 months.
The route does not lead to settlement in the UK and all visitors must make a separate
application, even when travelling as part of a group.
Requirements for a Tourism, Leisure or Family Visit Visa
In order to qualify for a Tourism, Leisure or Family Visit Visa you will need to satisfy
UK Visas & Immigration that:
- You are a visa national (a non-visa national can normally seek entry as a Visitor on
arrival at the UK border); - You are genuinely seeking entry to the UK for a purpose that is permitted by the
visitor routes; - You will not undertake any prohibited activities;
- You have sufficient funds to cover all reasonable costs in relation to your visit
(including travel, maintenance and accommodation costs) without working or
accessing public funds; - You will leave the UK at the end of your visit;
- You will not live in the UK for extended periods through frequent or successive
visits, or make the UK your main home; - Your application does not fall for refusal under the general grounds for refusal;
- You have obtained an Electronic Travel Authorisation, if required.
The exact requirements you will need to satisfy may vary depending on your
circumstances. You may want to speak to an immigration lawyer for expert advice.
Visa National Requirement
A visa national is someone who, by reason of their nationality, requires a Visit Visa in
order to enter the UK as a Visitor. Visa nationals must generally apply for a Visit Visa
before travelling to the UK.
The Home Office has published a list of nationalities that are required to apply for a
Visit Visa prior to travelling to the UK as a Visitor. The list includes a number of
exceptions, which allow certain visa nationals to seek entry as a Visitor on arrival in the
UK.
A non-visa national can normally seek entry as a Visitor on arrival in the UK. A nonvisa national must still satisfy the requirements for entry as a Visitor and so, on arrival,
should be prepared to explain, for example, the purpose of their visit and how they will
be maintained and accommodated in the UK, as well as their return travel
arrangements.
EU citizens are non-visa nationals and can seek entry as a Visitor on arrival in the UK
without needing to apply for a Visit Visa.
As well as preparing Visit Visa applications for visa nationals, our barristers regularly
assist non-visa nationals to satisfy the requirements for entry as a Visitor on arrival in
the UK.
Permitted Activities
In order to qualify for a Tourism, Leisure or Family Visit Visa you will need to satisfy
UK Visas & Immigration that you are genuinely seeking entry to the UK for a purpose
that is permitted by the visitor routes and will not undertake any prohibited activities.
Tourism, Leisure and Family Visit Visa holders may undertake the following permitted
activities: - Visit friends and family in the UK;
- Travel to the UK for a holiday;
- Take part in an educational exchange or visit with a state funded school, academy
or independent school; - Attend a course of study (other than an English language course) for a maximum of
30 days.
Because the Tourism, Leisure and Family Visit Visa is a sub-category of the Standard
Visitor route, Tourism, Leisure and Family Visitors may also undertake other activities
that are permitted under other sub-categories of the Standard Visitor route. This
includes permitted paid engagements, provided the paid engagement is arranged
before travelling to the UK and is completed within 30 days of arrival in the UK.
Intention to Leave the UK Requirement
In addition to satisfying the Home Office that you are genuinely seeking to enter the
UK for a permitted purpose, as part of your application for a Tourism, Leisure or Family
Visit Visa you will also need to satisfy the Home Office that you will leave the UK at
the end of your visit and will not live in the UK for extended periods through frequent
or successive visits, or make the UK your main home.
In assessing your application, the Home Office will consider a range of factors
including: - Your previous immigration history, including visits to the UK and other countries;
- Your financial circumstances as well as your family, social and economic
background; - Your personal and economic ties to your country of residence.
Factors which may cause the Home Office to doubt that you are a genuine visitor
include having few or no family and economic ties to your country of residence, whilst
having several family members in the UK, previous attempts to deceive the Home
Office in an immigration application and discrepancies between statements made by
yourself and your sponsor.
Tourism, Leisure and Family Visit Visa Financial Requirement
You will need to have sufficient funds to cover all reasonable costs in relation to your
visit (including travel, maintenance and accommodation costs) without working or
accessing public funds.
Your funds will need to be held in a permitted financial institution.
Your travel, maintenance and accommodation costs may be met by a third party if the
third party has a genuine professional or personal relationship with you, they are not,
and will not be, in breach of immigration laws and they can support you throughout the
duration of your stay as a Visitor.
Tourism, Leisure and Family Visit Visa English Language Requirement
Tourism, Leisure and Family Visit Visa applicants do not need to satisfy an English
language requirement.
Tourism, Leisure and Family Visit Visa Validity Period
If you wish to enter the UK for the purpose of a Tourism, Leisure or Family Visit you
may apply for a Visit Visa that is valid for either 6 months, 2 years, 5 years or 10 years.
You may enter and leave the UK multiple times during the validity period of your Visit
Visa, unless your Visit Visa is endorsed for a single or dual entry.
Each visit to the UK must not exceed 6 months.
Tourism, Leisure and Family Visit Visa Right to Work
Tourism, Leisure and Family Visitors are not permitted to work in the UK or, with few
exceptions, receive payment from a UK source for any activities undertaken in the UK.
This means that Tourism, Leisure and Family Visitors cannot take employment,
establish or run a business as a self-employed person, work for an organisation or
business in the UK, undertake a work placement or internship in the UK or otherwise
provide or sell goods or services in the UK.
Because the Tourism, Leisure and Family Visit Visa is a sub-category of the Standard
Visitor route, Tourism, Leisure and Family Visitors may also undertake other activities
that are permitted under other sub-categories of the Standard Visitor route. This
includes permitted paid engagements, provided the paid engagement is arranged
before travelling to the UK and is completed within 30 days of arrival in the UK.
Tourism, Leisure and Family Visitors are permitted to work remotely while in the UK,
but remote working must not be the primary purpose of the visit. The main purpose of
the visit to the UK should be to undertake a permitted activity, rather than specifically
to work remotely from the UK.
Tourism, Leisure and Family Visitors are also permitted to come to the UK to seek
employment and attend job interviews. However, if successful in obtaining
employment, you will be expected to leave the UK and seek the appropriate entry
clearance prior to commencing work.
Tourism, Leisure and Family Visit Visa Application Fees
The Home Office application fee for a Tourism, Leisure or Family Visit Visa for a short
stay of up to 6 months is currently £115.
If you wish to apply for a Tourism, Leisure or Family Visit Visa that is valid for either 2
years, 5 years or 10 years then the Home Office application fee will be £400, £771 or
£963 respectively.
How Our Immigration Barristers Can Help
Our immigration lawyers are experienced in assisting individuals from across the globe
to secure visas to visit the UK for the purpose of tourism, leisure and family visits.
Whether you are seeking advice on the merits of applying for a Tourism, Leisure or
Family Visit Visa, assistance with preparing a Tourism, Leisure or Family Visit Visa
application or legal representation to challenge a decision to refuse an application for
a Tourism, Leisure or Family Visit Visa, our immigration barristers can assist.
We pride ourselves on being approachable and proactive in understanding and meeting
our client’s needs. We are a highly driven team, dedicated to providing clear and reliable
immigration advice to our clients as part of a professional and friendly service. Contact
us at IQ Lawyers UK via our email at [email protected]. Please note this article
cannot be reproduced without the writer’s permission.
