United Kingdom visa guide: every route explained

Holidays in the UK are made on the Standard Visitor route, which allows stays of up to 6 months.

There is no separate family visit visa: relatives and friends visit on the Standard Visitor route for up to 6 months.

Patients can visit the UK for private treatment, for NHS treatment paid by their own government, or to donate an organ to a relative or close friend.

Recognised professionals can be paid by a UK organisation for a short, pre-arranged engagement under the permitted paid engagement rules of the Standard Visitor route.

Visa nationals who pass through UK border control on the way to another country, for example to collect luggage or change airports, and leave within 48 hours need a Visitor in Transit visa costing £74.50.

Nationals of the countries listed in Schedule 1 of the Immigration (Passenger Transit Visa) Order 2014 who change flights in the UK without passing border control need a Direct Airside Transit visa costing £41.50, unless they hold one of the exempting documents such as a valid US, Canadian, Australian or New Zealand visa.

Business trips are made as a Standard Visitor for up to 6 months, provided you are not paid by a UK organisation or client and do not do productive work there.

The Innovator Founder visa is for people setting up and running an innovative business in the UK that has been endorsed by an approved endorsing body.

The Ankara Agreement (ECAA) route applies only to Turkish nationals and their family members; it is not a general self-employment visa.

The Student visa is for people aged 16 or over offered a place by a licensed student sponsor, shown by a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS).

English courses of more than 6 and up to 11 months use the Short-term study visa, costing £228.

Global Talent is for leaders or potential leaders in academia or research, arts and culture, and digital technology.

Work experience, training, research and fellowships in the UK are done on the Government Authorised Exchange visa, which needs a sponsor that runs an approved exchange scheme.

The Skilled Worker visa lets you work for a Home Office-licensed employer in an eligible, usually degree-level, job paying at least £41,700 or the job’s going rate, whichever is higher.

The Graduate visa lets international students who have completed an eligible UK degree stay and work, look for work or be self-employed without a sponsor.

The High Potential Individual visa gives 2 years in the UK (3 for doctoral graduates) to work, look for work or be self-employed, without sponsorship, for people awarded a degree in the last 5 years by a university on the Home Office’s eligible list.

Employees of multinational groups who are sent to the UK branch to do an eligible job use the Senior or Specialist Worker visa.

The Seasonal Worker visa lets people aged 18 or over work on UK farms in horticulture for up to 6 months in any 10-month period, or in poultry production between 2 October and 31 December.

The Youth Mobility Scheme is the UK’s working holiday visa: young nationals of listed countries and certain British nationals can live, work and study in the UK for up to 2 years.

A spouse, civil partner, unmarried partner of 2 years or fiancé(e) of a British or Irish citizen, a settled person, a refugee or certain other sponsors can apply for a family visa to live in the UK.

Children can join parents settled or living in the UK, parents can come to care for a British or settled child, and adults who need long-term personal care can join a close relative.

Indefinite leave to remain (ILR) is UK settlement: it removes time limits on your stay and allows work, study and benefits, and after 12 months it usually allows a British citizenship application.

The ETA is a £20 digital permission that visa-exempt nationals, such as EU, US and Canadian citizens, need before visiting the UK for up to 6 months.