Visitor Visa
Do You Need a Visa to Visit / Holiday the UK?
Here at Restless we have been getting a few people asking us ‘do I need a visa to visit the UK?’ So we are going to lay down the facts to make it easy to answer this.
Commonwealth Citizens
If you hold a passport for Australia, New Zealand or any other country that is a part of the Commonwealth, then you do not require a visa, provided you are going as a tourist for less than 6 months*.
Permanent Residents of Commonwealth Countries
This rule unfortunately does not extend to persons who hold permanent residency in a Commonwealth country. If you are a passport holder of another country and permanently living in Australia or New Zealand, you may need a visa to visit the UK depending on your passport. Please go to the UK Border Agency’s website to view all the countries that require a visa to visit the UK.
*Circumstances where you will need to get a Visitor’s visa even though you hold a passport of a country that is part of the Commonwealth:
Refused Entry - if you have previously been refused entry from the UK, then it is advisable to apply for a 6 month Visitor visa.
Criminal Record - If you have criminal record including serious offences, particularly assault or drug related, then it is advisable to apply for a 6 month Visitor visa.
Applying for a 6 month Visitors Visa
When applying for any type of UK visa is it important to answer the questions in a way that is precise and does not give unnecessary information. Sufficiently answer the questions, try to avoid over-explaining things. Here are a few tips and things to remember when applying
Key things the BHC Entry Clearance Officers are looking for:
- Duration of your proposed visit is no longer than 6 months
- Evidence that you intend to leave the UK at the end of your visit.
- Have sufficient funds to pay for your travel to the UK and for the duration of the holiday.
- Clearly stated that you intend to holiday and do not intend to study or work
Supporting Documents
At the end of the day this application process is based on what evidence you provide of your intentions as a traveller to the UK. You may say ‘I will definitely leave at the end of the visa’, but they can only go of what documentation you provide. Therefore you need to go further and provide documented evidence.
Here are some examples of supporting evidence you might use if applicable:
- A letter from your employer granting leave of absence from your job for a specified period. The letter should also say how long you have been employed by that employer, in what job(s) and should indicate when you are expected back at work.
- If you are self-employed, evidence of your business activities and financial standing.
- Evidence of any property you own in your home country.
- If you are a student, a letter from your school or college stating which course you are on, its start and finish dates and the dates of the holiday period during which you intend to visit the United Kingdom.
- It will also help if you can show that you have family or social ties and responsibilities to return to.
- Evidence of any firm travel plans you have made.
- Bank statements going back over a period of several months; and evidence of savings available to you.
