Visitor Visas and Appendix V: Legal Guidance for UK Entry Clearance

Marriage Visitor

Getting married or entering into a Civil Partnership in the UK.

Transit Visitor

Passing through the UK en route to another destination.

Standard Visitor

Tourism, visiting family and friends or short-term business activities.

Overview

The Visitor Visa route under the UK Home Office Immigration Rules allows individuals to enter the United Kingdom temporarily for purposes such as tourism, visiting family or friends, short business activity, or other permitted functions, subject to compliance with the criteria set out in Appendix V: Visitor.

This article provides a comprehensive legal guide to the main categories of Visitor Visa, the statutory requirements for entry clearance or leave to enter, and the common pitfalls that lead to refusal.

Types of Visitor Visas

Appendix V recognises several distinct Visitor routes depending on the purpose of the visit.

• Standard Visitor Visa: the most common route, for tourism, leisure, visiting family/friends, short courses, business meetings, conferences, short-term professional engagements, or other activities permitted under the Visitor rules. This visa usually permits stays up to 6 months per visit.

• Marriage / Civil Partnership Visitor Visa: for individuals coming to the UK to marry, enter a civil partnership, or give notice of marriage / civil partnership.

• Transit Visitor Visa: for persons passing through the UK to another country outside the Common Travel Area, provided they enter and leave within a short period (usually up to 48 hours, unless covered by transit-waiver schemes).

• Diplomatic Visa Arrangement (DVA) Visitor Visa: for holders of valid diplomatic passports nominated through a Note Verbale from their sending government. These visas can carry multiple-entry validity, subject to stay-at-a-time limits.

Each Visitor must satisfy the general requirements applicable under Appendix V, regardless of the route.

Legal Requirements for Entry Clearance or Leave to Enter

Entry Clearance / Leave to Enter

• Visa nationals must obtain Entry Clearance (a Visitor Visa) before travel.

• Non-visa nationals may seek leave to enter on arrival, unless travelling to marry / civil-partner / give notice, or intending to stay for more than six months.

• Applications for entry clearance must be made from abroad; leave-to-enter applications must meet biometric, identity and fee-payment requirements.

Suitability

Applicants must satisfy the suitability criteria, meaning they must not be inadmissible under general grounds for refusal (e.g. deception, previous immigration misconduct, criminality, security, etc.).

Eligibility / Genuineness Requirements

Key conditions include:

• The visitor must be a genuine visitor: intend to leave at the end of the visit; not use successive visits to establish residence; and undertake only permitted activities.

• The visitor must have sufficient funds to cover return/onward travel, maintenance, accommodation, and other costs without recourse to public funds. Financial support from a third-party sponsor is acceptable, provided the sponsor has a genuine personal or professional link and is not breaching immigration law.

• The visit must align with the permitted activities defined under Appendix Visitor: Permitted Activities, e.g. tourism, visiting family, short courses (up to six months), business meetings, permitted paid engagements (in limited circumstances), medical treatment, transit, etc.

Prohibited Activities

Visitors are prohibited from taking up employment, establishing or running a business, working for a UK employer, selling goods or services, or otherwise engaging in paid employment or remunerated work.

Child Visitors

Special rules apply if the visitor is under 18. Entry clearance must show if they are travelling accompanied; if unaccompanied, additional care, consent and welfare arrangements must be demonstrated.

Duration, Validity and Multiple-Entry Permissions

• Standard Visitor Visa normally allows up to 6 months per stay.

• A long-term Standard Visitor Visa may be issued for 2, 5 or 10 years, but each stay must not exceed 6 months.

• Exceptions: certain categories (e.g., visitors for private medical treatment, or academics under specific Visitor visa sub-categories) may be granted longer or tailored permissions, subject to compliance with additional rules.

Practical Application and Key Risk Areas

Even though the Visitor route appears straightforward, applications often fail because the decision-maker is not satisfied that the applicant meets the “genuine visitor” standard or has adequate financial/income ties outside the UK.

Common risk factors include:

• Insufficient evidence of return intention (e.g. weak employment ties, no property, inconsistent travel history)

• Inadequate funds or unclear source of maintenance / onward travel funding

• Overly frequent or successive past visits, giving rise to concerns the UK is the applicant’s de facto home

• Ambiguous or unrealistic travel or stay itinerary

• Poorly prepared documentation or presentation

These risks make it essential for applicants to build a robust case file demonstrating truthfulness, financial stability, strong ties to home country, and clear purpose of visit.

Why Legal Advice Matters

Given the discretionary nature of Visitor visa decisions and the strict interpretation by caseworkers, professional legal advice can be critical. An experienced immigration lawyer can assist with:

• Assessing genuineness and risk factors

• Preparing evidence of ties (employment, property, family) and financial means

• Drafting representations or cover letters when needed (e.g. long-term visa, special purposes such as treatment, academics, paid engagements)

• Advising on limitations (no work, limited study, compliance with permitted activities)

• Advising children or unusual scenarios (e.g., unaccompanied minors)

Conclusion & Key Takeaways

The Visitor Visa under Appendix V continues to play a vital role in UK immigration policy, allowing tourists, family visitors, short-term business travellers, and others to enter the UK lawfully for temporary stays.

Successful applications depend on strict compliance with the legal requirements: genuine visit intentions, appropriate funding, permitted activities, and full suitability under the general grounds for refusal.

Professional legal support significantly reduces the risk of refusal: by properly assessing the case, preparing documentation to meet Appendix V standards, and offering strategic guidance suited to your circumstances.

If you are considering a Visitor Visa to the UK for tourism, family visits, business meetings, or otherwise, our Regulated Immigration Lawyer can assist with assessing eligibility, preparing the application, and ensuring your case is presented clearly and robustly.

Diplomatic Visitor

International diplomatic official visitors.

FAQs