Are you planning a trip to the UK?
What people generally call a "UK travel visa" does not refer to one single visa.
- Applying for a Standard Visitor Visa in advance
- Travelling with a UK ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation) instead of a visa
- Cases where neither an ETA nor a visitor visa is required, depending on nationality or circumstances
So the first thing to check when preparing a trip to the UK is this: "Do I need to apply for a UK travel visa, or do I need to get an ETA?"
The Standard Visitor route covers a wide range of visit purposes: not only tourism, but also visiting family and friends, permitted business activities, short-term study of up to 6 months, certain medical purposes and Permitted Paid Engagements. For an ordinary visit, the length of stay is usually up to 6 months.
A UK ETA is not a visa. It is an electronic travel authorisation you obtain before travelling to the UK. Being granted an ETA does not in itself guarantee entry to the UK.
What changes depending on your purpose of travel to the UK?
| Category | Main purpose | Usual stay | Key points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tourism | Holidays, sightseeing, travel | Up to 6 months | Genuine Visitor requirement |
| Visiting family and friends | Visiting relatives or friends | Up to 6 months | Explaining the relationship, accommodation and costs matters |
| Business trips | Meetings, conferences, contracts, exhibitions | Up to 6 months | Only permitted business activities are allowed |
| Short-term study | Courses, exams, some research | Usually up to 6 months | Check the course and institution requirements |
| Medical purposes | Private treatment, specific medical purposes | Varies by case | Treatment plan and ability to pay the costs |
| Marriage | Getting married or forming a civil partnership in the UK | Separate route | Consider the Marriage Visitor Visa |
| Transit | Passing through the UK to a third country | Short | Transit rules must be checked separately |
What is the Standard Visitor Visa?
The Standard Visitor is the main visit route for tourism, visiting family and friends, business trips and other activities permitted under the Visitor Rules. However, simply having a travel itinerary and a hotel booking is not enough for an application to be approved.
One of the most important concepts in UK visit decisions is whether you are a Genuine Visitor — that is, a genuine, temporary visitor.
Eligibility for a UK travel visa
What does "Genuine Visitor" mean?
- You must intend to leave the UK at the end of your visit.
- You must actually be in a position to leave the UK.
- You must not intend to live in the UK for extended periods through frequent or successive visits.
- The purpose of your trip must be an activity permitted under the Visitor Rules.
- You must not intend to carry out prohibited work or business activities.
- You must be able to cover the cost of your travel, accommodation, living expenses and your return or onward journey without working or relying on public funds in the UK.
The heart of a UK travel visa is therefore not simply your bank balance or your salary. It is about explaining, as a whole, whether you really are a temporary visitor, why you are going to the UK, whether you will return once the trip ends, and whether you can meet the cost of the trip from ordinary, legitimate funds.
Financial requirements and eligibility criteria for a UK travel visa
How much do I need to have in my bank account for a UK travel visa?
There is no set minimum bank balance
The Standard Visitor route has no fixed bank balance threshold — no "at least £○○" figure that applies to every applicant in the same way.
- Length of your trip to the UK
- Airfare
- Accommodation costs
- Living costs in the UK
- Number of family members travelling with you
- Your usual income
- Your usual spending
- The funds actually available for the trip
For example, if you plan to spend far more on the trip than your travel period and usual income would suggest, or if a large sum was suddenly deposited into your account shortly before applying, you may need to explain where that money came from.
Is there a minimum salary for a UK travel visa?
There is no minimum salary requirement. Not only employees, but also people who are not working, students and retirees can visit the UK if they meet the requirements.
That said, your job, business, pension, studies and family ties can all serve as evidence — not only of your financial situation, but also of the circumstances that will bring you home after your visit to the UK.
Do I need to own a lot of property or assets?
No. There is no rule that you must own a home or other property in order to get a Standard Visitor Visa. Nor is there any across-the-board requirement that your total assets exceed a certain amount.
What matters is not the size of your total assets, but whether you can genuinely meet the costs of this particular trip to the UK using lawful funds you can account for.
Can my family or my employer pay for my trip?
Yes. You do not have to pay for every element of the trip yourself.
- Airfare
- Accommodation costs
- Living costs in the UK
- Other travel costs
However, you should be able to explain the following.
- The genuine relationship between you and the person or organisation supporting you
- Their financial ability to provide those funds
- That they genuinely intend to pay for your trip
So rather than simply submitting someone else's bank statement, it is important to also explain why that person is paying for your trip.
Do I need IELTS for a UK travel visa?
For an ordinary Standard Visitor trip for tourism or visiting family and friends, an English language test is not a mandatory requirement.
| Item | Ordinary tourism or visit |
|---|---|
| English language test | Not required |
| IELTS | Not required |
| Minimum CEFR level | None |
| Minimum education | None |
| Required occupation | None |
| Minimum salary | None |
| Property ownership | Not required |
So for tourism or visiting family and friends in the UK, there is no requirement for B2 English, a particular salary, a particular level of education or a Sponsor Licence, as there would be for a work visa. What matters far more is the genuineness of your purpose, your financial means, the likelihood that you will return home and the consistency of your application.
What you can and cannot do as a Standard Visitor
What you can do as a Standard Visitor
- Tourism and holidays
- Visiting family and friends
- Attending meetings
- Interviews
- Attending conferences and seminars
- Negotiating and signing contracts
- Attending and promoting at trade fairs, within limits
- Certain site visits and inspections
- Permitted work connected with an overseas employment relationship
- Permitted study of up to 6 months
- Exams
- Some research
- Volunteering with a registered charity for up to 30 days
- A Permitted Paid Engagement that meets the requirements
- Visits for permitted medical purposes
If you are travelling to the UK for business, rather than simply assuming "business trips are allowed", it is important to check whether the work you will actually carry out in the UK falls within the Permitted Activities.
What you cannot do as a Standard Visitor
- Taking up ordinary paid employment with a UK company
- Working in an ordinary unpaid capacity for a UK company
- Setting up or running a business in the UK as a self-employed person
- Internships or work placements that are not permitted under the Visitor Rules
- Selling goods directly to the public
- Providing ordinary goods or services
- Receiving public funds
- Effectively living in the UK long term through repeated short visits
- Getting married or registering a civil partnership in the UK on a Standard Visitor or an ETA alone
If getting married in the UK is your main purpose, you should look into an appropriate route such as the Marriage Visitor Visa.
The difference between the Electronic Travel Authorisation and the Standard Visitor Visa
| Item | UK ETA | Standard Visitor Visa |
|---|---|---|
| Nature | Electronic travel authorisation | Entry clearance for a visit |
| Who it is for | Nationals of ETA-eligible countries | Visa nationals and others who need a visitor visa |
| Tourist stay | Usually up to 6 months | Usually up to 6 months |
| Cost as of September 2026 | £20 | £135 for a 6-month Standard Visitor |
| How to apply | App or online | Online application plus the required steps |
| Guarantee of entry | No | Border checks still apply even with a visa |
| Ordinary employment | Not allowed | Not allowed |
What do you need to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorisation?
- The passport you will use to travel to the UK
- An email address
- A payment method
- A photo of the applicant's face
- The information requested during the application
According to the official guidance, an ETA decision usually arrives quickly by email, but it can take up to 3 working days. As a rule, therefore, you should not begin your trip to the UK before you have confirmation that your ETA has been granted.
Apply for a UK travel visaCheck your UK travel visa
When you do not need an Electronic Travel Authorisation
- British citizens
- Irish citizens
- People who already hold a valid UK visa
- People who already have permission to live, work or study in the UK
- People who hold a relevant settled status
- People covered by an official exemption, such as airside transit where you do not pass through border control
Whether you need an ETA can depend on the nationality shown in your passport and on the purpose of your trip. It is therefore a good idea to check the current ETA requirements before you set off for the UK.
Main reasons a UK travel visa can be refused
1. The purpose of the visit is unclear
If you apply as a tourist but cannot properly explain your actual itinerary, where you will stay or why you are visiting the UK, this can cause problems. It can count against you in particular if your real purpose is suspected to be work or long-term residence in the UK.
2. Your intention to return home is not sufficiently explained
If your plans to leave the UK at the end of the trip and the realities of your life at home do not match the rest of your evidence, this can count against you in the Genuine Visitor assessment.
3. The source of your funds is unclear
If a large sum was suddenly deposited shortly before you applied, or the cost of the trip is disproportionate to your usual income, you may be asked to explain where the money came from.
4. False documents or false statements
Fake employment certificates, false bank evidence, fabricated invitation relationships or concealing material facts from the past can be extremely serious. Everything in your application and all your supporting evidence must match the actual facts.
5. Criminal records or previous refusals of entry
Having a criminal record or a previous refusal of entry to the UK does not automatically make a visit to the UK impossible in every case, but it can affect an ETA or Visitor decision, so you should consider the approach that fits your personal circumstances.
6. Effectively living in the UK through repeated visits
Even if each individual visit is 6 months or less, using frequent and successive visits to make the UK your de facto home is not permitted.
What to do if your UK visa or ETA is refused
UK travel visa document checklist
The documents you need can vary with your circumstances. In general, the following material may be considered in order to explain your purpose of visit and your financial means.
Basic documents
- A valid passport
- Details of your trip to the UK
- Your travel itinerary
- Material that explains the purpose of your visit
Accommodation
- Where you will stay in the UK
- Your accommodation plans
- The address of the person inviting you
- Material explaining your relationship with the person inviting you
Finances
- Bank statements
- Material explaining your travel costs, such as your balance
- Proof of employment
- Business documents
- Material explaining your current economic activity, such as pension records
Where a third party is paying for the trip
- The financial means of the person supporting you
- The relationship between you and that person
- Material showing they genuinely intend to provide that support
Business trips
- An invitation letter
- Documents relating to the meeting
- Documents relating to the conference
- Material explaining the contract and the purpose of the trip
Medical purposes
- Material explaining why the treatment is needed
- A booking with a medical provider or a treatment plan
- Material showing you can pay for the treatment and your living costs
Minors
- Consent from a parent or guardian
- Suitable travel arrangements
- Material on accommodation and care arrangements
More documents is not necessarily better. What matters is preparing highly relevant material that consistently supports the facts in your application and your purpose of travel.
UK travel visa guidance by situation
Can minors travel to the UK?
Minors under the age of 18 can visit the UK. However, suitable arrangements must be in place for the journey and for their stay in the UK.
- Written consent from a parent or guardian
- Contact details for the parent or guardian
- Where they will stay in the UK
- Care arrangements in the UK
- Travel and living costs
- Plans to return home or travel on to a third country
Points to watch when visiting the UK on business
- Meetings
- Interviews
- Conferences
- Seminars
- Contract negotiations
- Signing contracts
- Certain trade fair activities
However, taking up ordinary employment with a UK company or performing substantive work in the UK is not permitted. So if you are travelling on business, it is important to look at exactly what you will be doing in the UK, task by task, and check whether it falls within the Visitor Permitted Activities.
Can I visit the UK for medical treatment?
If certain requirements are met, it is possible to visit the UK to receive treatment at a private medical provider.
- Your medical condition
- Why the treatment is needed
- An actual booking or treatment plan
- The duration of the treatment
- Your ability to pay for the treatment
- Your ability to cover living costs in the UK
If the treatment will take longer than the usual 6 months, you will need to check the separate rules on length of stay and costs.
What is a long-term Standard Visitor Visa?
People who need to visit the UK regularly can consider a long-term Standard Visitor Visa. However, holding a long-validity visa does not give you the right to stay in the UK for a long period in one go.
Each visit must comply with the Visitor purpose and the permitted length of stay, and using a long-term visa to visit the UK repeatedly and effectively make it your home is not permitted.
How can you improve your chances of a UK travel visa being granted?
- Explain the purpose of your trip simply and specifically
It must be clear why you are going to the UK.
- Make your itinerary, accommodation and costs consistent
Your travel dates, accommodation plans and expected costs should fit together sensibly.
- Explain the flow of your money, not just your bank balance
Rather than simply inflating a balance, you should be able to explain naturally how the funds were built up.
- If family or your employer is paying, explain the relationship
It helps to make clear the relationship between you and the person supporting you, and their actual ability to pay.
- If it is a business trip, check that the work is permitted
Check in advance whether it is a business activity permitted for Visitors.
- Do not hide material facts from the past
Previous visa refusals, criminal matters and immigration issues must be set out accurately.
- Do not think of an ETA as a visa or a guarantee of entry
An ETA is an electronic travel authorisation for travelling to the UK; it does not guarantee entry to the UK itself.
UK travel visa: key summary
| Assessment item | Ordinary travel or visit to the UK |
|---|---|
| English language score | None |
| Minimum salary | None |
| Minimum total assets | None |
| Fixed minimum bank balance | None |
| Sponsor Licence | None |
| Tourism | Allowed |
| Visiting family and friends | Allowed |
| Permitted business trips | Allowed |
| Ordinary employment | Not allowed |
| Public funds | Not allowed |
| Usual stay | Up to 6 months |
| Core assessment | Genuine Visitor + sufficient travel funds + a permitted purpose |
What matters most for a UK travel visa?
Unlike a work visa or a study visa, a UK travel visa is generally not a route that requires an English language score, a minimum salary, a particular level of education or property above a certain value.
- First, are you genuinely a temporary visitor?
You must intend to leave the UK at the end of the trip, and your circumstances must realistically allow it.
- Second, are the activities you plan in the UK permitted?
Your purpose must be one permitted under the Visitor Rules, such as tourism, visiting family and friends, business or short-term study.
- Third, can you properly meet the cost of the trip?
You must be able to cover the cost of the trip and your return journey using lawful funds you can account for.
For travellers from ETA-eligible countries, including Korean passport holders, it is particularly important not to reduce this to "ETA = UK visa". An ETA is an electronic authorisation obtained before travel, and people actually visiting the UK still have to meet the Visitor Rules.
Information you need to prepare for a trip to the UK
- How to apply for a UK ETA
- How to apply for a UK visa
- UK visa types and eligibility
- How to check a UK ETA or visa
- UK visa and ETA FAQ
- What to do if your UK visa or ETA is refused
Questions about UK travel visas or the Electronic Travel Authorisation?
When preparing a trip to the UK, the steps you need to take can vary with your nationality, the purpose of your visit, how long you will stay and any UK immigration status you already hold.
What you need to prepare also differs depending on whether the trip is for tourism, visiting family and friends, business or short-term study.
Please start by checking whether a UK ETA is what your situation calls for, whether you should prepare a Standard Visitor Visa, and which documents you need to look at.
Ask us about UK travel visas and the ETA
ETA-eligible countries, visa and ETA fees, permitted activities and the Immigration Rules can change, so please check the latest requirements on GOV.UK before you apply.