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A Complete Guide about different Types of UK Visas
The UK is known for its high-quality infrastructure, stable economy and growing job opportunities. However, individuals travelling from different countries to the UK need a visa to enter this country to explore such opportunities. They must be aware of the different types of UK visas and choose the appropriate one in the application form.
Are you confused about the type of visa suitable for you? Stick till the end of this article to find out for yourself.
What Are the Various Types of UK Visas?
There are various types of UK visas. The applicants need to check these before applying for a visa to the UK. Some of the standard UK visa categories are listed below.
|
Types of UK Visas |
Description |
|
UK Visitor Visas - Visitor Visa |
As the name suggests, such visas are for tourists who wish to visit the UK for a holiday. Therefore, they need to procure this visa before any other formalities. |
|
UK Study Visas (Tier 4) |
Such visas are for people who visit the UK for study purposes. These include the Student Visa and the Doctoral Extension Scheme. |
|
UK Work Visa (Tier 1) |
People who come to the UK with employment need this visa. There are various work visas, including Investor, Entrepreneur, Graduate Entrepreneur and Exceptional Talent visas. |
|
UK Work Visa (Tier 2) |
Such work visas include General and Intra-company Transfers. |
|
UK Work Visa (Tier 5) |
Various types of such visas include Government Authorised Exchange, Youth Mobility Scheme, Creative and Sporting Visas, Charity Worker, Religious Worker and International Agreement visas. |
|
UK Family Visas |
People living in the UK can bring their families through a family visa. These are either Family visas or UK Ancestry. |
|
Other Visas |
Finally, these are the other kinds of UK visas. These include UK Settlement, Right of Abode and Residence Permit. |
As you can see, there are different types of UK visas, and it is essential to know about these before starting a visa application. In this regard, you can check out the following details of these visa types in detail.
UK Visitor Visa
Type :
- Family Visitor Visa
- General Visitor Visa
- Entertainer Visitor Visa
- Sports Visitor Visa
- Business Visitor Visa
- Child Visitor Visa
- Prospective Entrepreneur Visa
- Approved Destination Status (ADS) Visa
- Private Medical Treatment Visitor Visa
Eligibility :
- Applicants must possess sufficient funds to reside in the UK.
- They should be willing to return at the end of the visa validity.
- Moreover, they should produce a travel plan, schedule, and visa fees to the immigration experts.
Documents :
- Passport
- Bank statements to show sufficient fund
- Letter of consent form legal guardian (for minor)
Application fees : For a short-term stay for about six months, individuals must pay £104.05. On the other hand, the application fees for visas for a long-term stay range between £395.41 and £900.
Validity : The different types of visas in the UK come with different validity periods. For example, in the case of a visitor visa, a short-term visa allows you to reside for only about six months. On the other hand, a long-term visa can be valid for two, five or ten years.
UK Study Visas (Tier 4)
Type :
- Student Visa
- Doctoral Extension Scheme
Eligibility (Student visa) :
- Applicants must have sufficient funds to afford accommodation and the concerned course.
- Knowledge of English is mandatory.
- They should have been admitted to a course or university.
Eligibility (Doctoral Extension Scheme) :
- Applicants must possess a valid Tier 4 UK Study Visa during application.
- They can only apply for this visa if they are planning to complete a PhD or other doctoral-level qualifications.
- They must have sufficient funds to afford their education.
- Finally, they must apply while studying in the UK before 60 days of completing the last course.
Documents (Student visa) :
- Proof of admission for a course
- Passport
- Bank statements to prove financial stability
- Tuberculosis test results
- Letter of consent from legal guardians (for minors)
Documents (Doctoral Extension Scheme) :
- Passport
- Police registration certificate (optional)
- Biometric residence permit
- Recent photographs
Application fees : The visa application fee is about £371.56 for students. This is the same for minor students as well.
Validity : The validity of such visas is about five years if the students take up a degree course. Otherwise, the validity cannot exceed two years.
UK Work Visa (Tier 1) – Investor
Eligibility :
- Applicants must be at least 18 years of age.
- They must possess a fund of at least £2,000,000 for investing in the UK business.
Documents :
- Valid passport
- Certificate of criminal records (if any)
- Tuberculosis test results
Application fees : Individuals applying for this visa must pay about £1,732 as an application fee.
Validity : This visa is usually valid for about 3 years and 4 months. You can apply to extend it for another two years.
UK Work Visa (Tier 1) – Entrepreneur
Eligibility :
- Applicants must be at least 16 years of age.
- They must possess a fund of at least £50,000 for investing in a new business venture in the UK.
Documents :
- Valid passport
- Certificate of criminal records (if any)
- Proof of investment fund
- Bank statements
- Tuberculosis test results
Application fees : Individuals applying for this visa must pay about £1,118 as an application fee.
Validity : This visa is usually valid for about 3 years and 4 months. You can apply to extend it for another two years.
UK Work Visa (Tier 1) – Graduate Entrepreneur
Eligibility :
- Applicants must have completed Bachelor's, Master's or PhD.
- They must possess an official endorsement from any UK-based recognised body.
- Further, they should meet the English language requirements.
Documents :
- Valid passport
- Letter of endorsement
- Certificate of criminal records (if any)
- Proof of investment fund
- Bank statements
- Tuberculosis test results
Application fees : Individuals applying for this visa must pay about £397.60 as an application fee.
Validity : This visa is usually valid for about one year. After that, you can apply to extend it with proper justifications.
UK Work Visa (Tier 1) – Exceptional Talent
Eligibility :
- Applicants recognised as a leader in science, engineering, humanities, medicine, digital technology, etc., can apply for this visa.
- They must possess endorsement letters.
- They should pass the required English test.
Documents :
- Valid passport
- Letter of endorsement
- Certificate of criminal records (if any)
- Proof of financial stability
- Tuberculosis test results
Application fees : Individuals applying for this visa must pay about £665.95 as an application fee.
Validity : This visa is usually valid for about five years.
UK Work Visa (Tier 2) – General
Eligibility :
- Applicants must have a stable job offer in the UK.
- They must be receiving sponsorship from a licensed employer.
- They must meet the English language requirement.
Documents :
- Valid passport
- Letter of endorsement
- Certificate of criminal records (if any)
- Proof of financial stability
- Tuberculosis test results
Application fees : Individuals applying for this visa must pay about £665.95 as an application fee.
Validity : This visa is usually valid for about five years.
UK Work Visa (Tier 2) – Intra-company Transfers
Eligibility :
- Applicants must have received job offers in the UK.
- They must have a Certificate of Sponsorship from the employer.
- They must be legally allowed to work in the UK.
- Applicants must meet income criteria of £41,500 for Long-term Staff, £30,000 for Short-term, and £23,000 for Graduate trainees.
Documents :
- Valid passport
- Sponsorship certificate
- Letter of endorsement
- Certificate of criminal records (if any)
- Proof of financial stability
- Tuberculosis test results
Application fees : Individuals applying for this visa must pay about £1,302.68 as an application fee.
Validity : This visa is usually valid for about five years.
UK Work Visa (Tier 5)
Types :
- Government Authorised Exchange
- Youth Mobility Scheme
- Creative and Sporting Visa
- Charity Worker
- Religious Worker
- International Agreement
Eligibility (Government Authorised Exchange) :
- Applicants must possess a Certificate of Sponsorship from a UK-based licenced sponsor.
- They must have the financial stability to afford their lifestyle in the UK.
Eligibility (Youth Mobility Scheme) :
- Applicants must be between 18 and 30 years of age.
- They must be residents from the following countries.
- Canada
- Australia
- Hong Kong
- Monaco
- Japan
- New Zealand
- Republic of Korea (sponsorship required)
- Taiwan
Eligibility (Creative and Sporting Visas) :
- Applicants must possess a certificate of sponsorship.
- They should have sufficient funds in their savings account.
- Creative workers need to meet minimum income requirements.
Eligibility (Charity Worker, Religious Worker and International Agreement) :
- Applicants must possess a certificate of sponsorship.
- They should have sufficient funds to afford living in the UK.
Documents :
- Valid passport
- Sponsorship certificate
- Letter of endorsement
- Certificate of criminal records (if any)
- Proof of financial stability
- Tuberculosis test results
Application fees :
- Government Authorised Exchange - £207
- Youth Mobility Scheme - £267.67
- Creative and Sporting Visas - £373.66
- Charity Worker - £207
- Religious Worker - £207
- International Agreement - £207
Validity :
- Government Authorised Exchange – Three months
- Youth Mobility Scheme – Up to two years
- Creative and Sporting Visas – 12 months and 28 days
- Charity Worker – 12 months
- Religious Worker – Up to two years
- International Agreement - Up to two years
UK Family Visa
Types :
- Family visa
- UK ancestry visa
Eligibility (Family visa) :
- Applicants must be living in the UK and apply to bring their families here.
- Eligible relatives include parents, spouse/partner, fiancé or proposed civil partner.
Eligibility (UK ancestry) :
- Applicants must be Commonwealth citizens.
- They should not be residents of the UK, proving that at least one of their grandparents was born outside this country.
Documents (Family visa) :
- Passport
- Proof of relationship with the applicant
- Proof of English language
- Test of tuberculosis
Documents (UK ancestry) :
- Passport
- Birth certificate
- Proof of birthplace of grandparents
Application fees :
- Family visa - £3,559.76 for adult dependent relatives and £1,668.16 for joining the direct family.
- UK ancestry - £565.18
Validity :
- Family visa – one year
- UK ancestry visa – five years
Other Visa – UK Settlement
Types :
- Right to abode
- Residence permit
Eligibility (Right to abode) :
- Applicants must be British nationals.
- They must possess a British passport.
Eligibility (Residence Permit) :
- Applicants must have lived in the UK for at least ten years.
- If married to a British spouse, they can apply after two years.
- They must not have any criminal record.
- They should be able to handle their financial requirements.
Documents :
- Passport
- Marriage certificate (if applicable)
- Address proof
- Endorsement certificate
Application fees : Applicants must pay £168.67 while applying for a residence permit.
Validity : A residence permit enables the holder to stay in the UK for about ten years.
What Are the Key Features of a UK Visa?
Now that you know the different types of UK visa and their fees, you might wish to check out its features. These are listed below.
- Having one UK visa enables you to travel across four European countries without restrictions.
- These can offer both long-term and short-term stays in this country.
- You can also apply for permanent residency with a visa and get approval if you have proper justifications.
- Paying additional amounts will enable you to stay in the UK by extending your visa validity.
Thus, as this article observed, there are different types of UK visas. If you plan to move to the UK, you must check and assess all these types. They will help you select the appropriate form of visa. You can then apply for it after knowing the required fees and documents to get approval.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Important Articles about Visa Processes
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The information mentioned here about the countries, visa fees and others is taken from different sources. Digit Insurance is not promoting or recommending anything here. Please verify the same before you book your tickets, apply for a visa, buy a travel policy or make any other decision.
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