UK Visa Types and Eligibility: A Complete Guide

Are you preparing to apply for a UK visa? UK visas are divided into many different categories depending on the purpose of your visit: tourism and business trips, work, study, start-ups and business, family and marriage, youth exchange, intra-company transfers, short-term work, and more.

Each visa differs not only in its eligibility requirements, but also in the English language level, salary or income, proof of funds, whether a Sponsor is required, whether you may work, and whether it can lead to settlement. That is why, before applying for a UK visa, the point is not simply to pick a visa by name but to identify precisely which visa matches your purpose of travel to the UK and your current circumstances.

On this page we set out the main types of UK visa and their eligibility requirements so you can compare them at a glance.

What types of UK visa are there?

• UK travel and business trips: ETA, Standard Visitor Visa
• Working in the UK: Skilled Worker Visa, Health and Care Worker Visa, Scale-up Worker Visa
• Highly skilled talent: Global Talent Visa, High Potential Individual (HPI) Visa
• Start-ups and business in the UK: Innovator Founder Visa, UK Expansion Worker Visa
• Studying in the UK: Student Visa, Child Student Visa, Parent of a Child Student
• Working after study: Graduate Visa, then consider switching to Skilled Worker, Global Talent or a similar route
• Family and marriage: Partner / Spouse Visa, Fiancé / Fiancée Visa, Child, Parent, Adult Dependent Relative
• Youth, short-term work and intra-company transfers: Youth Mobility Scheme, Temporary Work Visa, Global Business Mobility

The main UK visas compared at a glance

UK tourist and visitor visas

1. Standard Visitor Visa - tourism, business trips and visiting family or friends in the UK

The Standard Visitor is the main route for coming to the UK as a tourist, to visit family and friends, for a business trip, for meetings, conferences and exhibitions, and for certain short courses of study. In general you may stay for up to 6 months.

• You must be a Genuine Visitor.
• You must intend to leave the UK at the end of your visit.
• You must not intend to live in the UK for extended periods in practice through repeated visits.
• You must not do work that is not permitted for a Visitor.
• You or a legitimate sponsor must be able to cover your travel, accommodation and living costs.

An ordinary Standard Visitor Visa has no separate English language requirement. There is also no fixed minimum salary, minimum bank balance or property ownership threshold set out in the rules. What matters instead is whether your job, pay, bank statements, length of trip, travel costs and the source of your funds are reasonable and consistent.

UK work visas

2. Skilled Worker Visa - the UK skilled employment visa

The Skilled Worker Visa is the main work visa for skilled professionals who have received an eligible job offer from an approved UK employer.

• A Sponsor employer approved by the Home Office
• A Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS)
• An eligible occupation
• The required skill level
• Meeting the salary requirement for that occupation
• Meeting the English language requirement
• Proof of maintenance funds where required

The main English requirement for new applications is currently CEFR B2. In general you must meet whichever is higher: £41,700 a year or the Going Rate for the occupation. Maintenance funds of £1,270 may generally be required, and they usually have to be held for 28 days. If you continue to meet the requirements and complete the qualifying period, this route can generally lead to ILR.

3. Health and Care Worker Visa - the UK work visa for health and care professionals

This is a Skilled Worker family route for doctors, nurses, certain health professionals and social care occupations.

• The English requirement is usually CEFR B2
• Check the salary requirement for the occupation
• Check the exact occupation code
• Check whether new overseas recruitment is possible
• Check the Sponsor's licence and whether dependants are allowed

Some occupations may use whichever is higher of £31,300 or the relevant lower going rate, but occupations paid on NHS pay scales and care workers, among others, are subject to separate rules that must be checked.

4. Scale-up Worker Visa - the UK scale-up business work visa

This is a work route for people who have an eligible job offer from an approved Scale-up business.

• A job offer from an approved Scale-up business
• An initial Certificate of Sponsorship
• English at B2
• Meeting the salary requirement
• Maintenance funds where required

The salary is usually whichever is higher of £39,100 or the Going Rate for the occupation, and funds of £1,270 are usually checked. After an initial period, dependence on the employer can be lower than on the standard Skilled Worker route.

UK highly skilled talent and start-up visas

5. Global Talent Visa - the UK visa for world-class talent

The Global Talent Visa is aimed at people recognised as a Leader or Potential Leader in academia and research, science, engineering, medicine, the humanities, arts and culture, or digital technology.

• An endorsement from a relevant approved body is generally required
• Winners of a prestigious award recognised in the rules may be exempt from endorsement
• There is generally no English language test requirement for the first application
• There is no fixed minimum salary or minimum net worth requirement

Depending on the specific route and your qualifications, it may be possible to apply for ILR relatively quickly.

6. Innovator Founder Visa - the UK innovative start-up visa

This visa is for founders who want to start a business in the UK on the basis of an innovative business idea.

• An endorsement from an approved Endorsing Body
• Innovative
• Viable
• Scalable
• English at CEFR B2

Unlike the former Innovator Visa with its flat £50,000 minimum investment, the current Innovator Founder route does not require the same minimum investment from every applicant. You must, however, show that you have sufficient funds to actually run the business and that the business is viable, and if you meet the settlement requirements you may be able to consider ILR after 3 years.

7. High Potential Individual (HPI) Visa

This visa may be considered by people who have obtained a degree within the last 5 years from a top overseas university on the Global Universities List recognised at the date of application.

• No Sponsor required
• No job offer required
• No minimum salary requirement
• Proof of English language ability required
• Generally a £1,270 funds requirement, usually held for 28 days

HPI is not in itself a direct settlement route, so it is worth considering a strategy of switching afterwards to Skilled Worker, Global Talent or a similar route.

UK study visas and post-study work visas

8. Student Visa - the UK student visa

This is the main student visa for people aged 16 and over undertaking longer courses at an approved UK education provider, and a CAS is required.

• English usually at B2 for degree level and above
• English usually at B1 for courses below degree level
• Living costs in London of £1,529 a month for up to 9 months
• Living costs outside London of £1,171 a month for up to 9 months
• Any unpaid tuition fees shown on the CAS may be added on top of the living costs

For the Student Visa, what matters is not simply how much property you own but the cash funds recognised by the rules and how long they have been held.

9. Child Student / Parent of a Child Student

The Child Student route is for students aged 4 to 17 studying at an Independent School in the UK. Parent of a Child Student is a restricted visa allowing one parent to accompany a young child studying in the UK under certain conditions.

• A Child Student must be able to cover tuition fees and the required living costs
• The Parent route is not designed for both parents to live in the UK long term
• There are also restrictions on the parent working

The child's age, the type of school, the finances and the conditions for the accompanying parent must all be checked at the time of application.

10. Graduate Visa - working and staying in the UK after study

This route is available to graduates who have successfully completed an eligible course in the UK on the Student route.

• No Sponsor required
• No separate minimum salary requirement
• Free to look for work and take employment
• Not a direct settlement route

Many people switch from the Graduate Visa to another eligible visa such as the Skilled Worker.

UK family and marriage visas

11. Family Visa - Partner / Spouse

This is the family visa for people in a genuine and subsisting spouse or partner relationship with an eligible Sponsor such as a British citizen or a settled person.

• English usually at A1 for the first application
• English usually at A2 at the extension stage
• The main minimum income requirement for new applications is currently usually £29,000 a year
• Cash Savings, pensions and certain non-employment income recognised by the rules can be combined under certain conditions

Simply owning property does not automatically satisfy the financial requirement. The main refusal risks are sham marriage, a lack of genuineness in the relationship, failing the financial requirement and submitting false documents.

12. Fiancé / Fiancée Visa

This is a form of Family Visa for people who intend to marry in the UK and then switch to the Partner / Spouse route.

• Unlike an ordinary spouse visa, work is not permitted at this stage
• You must switch to an eligible Partner / Spouse route after the marriage

Only after switching to an eligible route following the marriage can you stay long term and work.

13. Adult Dependent Relative

This is a very restricted route for parents, grandparents or adult relatives who need long-term care from a family member in the UK.

• Proof that long-term personal care is needed because of age, illness or disability
• Strict proof that the required level of care cannot reasonably be obtained in the home country

The requirements on this route are very strict, so it is important to establish the individual facts carefully.

UK youth exchange, intra-company transfer and short-term work visas

14. Youth Mobility Scheme - youth exchange and work in the UK

This is a scheme allowing young people who meet the age and other criteria for their nationality to live and work in the UK.

• No separate English language test
• No Sponsor required
• No minimum salary requirement
• A funds requirement of generally £2,530
• Usually held for 28 consecutive days

Youth Mobility is not in itself a direct settlement route.

15. Global Business Mobility - transfers to the UK by global companies

This is a group of business mobility routes for multinational companies transferring staff to the UK, entering the UK market and delivering projects.

• Senior or Specialist Worker
• Graduate Trainee
• UK Expansion Worker
• Service Supplier
• Secondment Worker

The purpose and the prospects of leading to settlement differ from the standard Skilled Worker route.

16. UK Expansion Worker Visa

This route can be used when an overseas business is setting up a branch or subsidiary in the UK and sends senior or specialist staff to the UK at that early stage.

• For the purpose of an overseas business expanding into the UK
• Staff being sent at an early stage of the expansion
• Distinct from an individual entrepreneur freely starting a business or seeking settlement

The company structure and the purpose of the transfer are the key points.

17. Senior or Specialist Worker Visa

This route is used when a multinational company transfers a senior manager or specialist employee to a related UK entity.

• An eligible relationship between the companies
• Work experience with the overseas business
• A Certificate of Sponsorship
• An eligible occupation
• Salary conditions

In general this visa is not designed as a direct settlement route in the way the Skilled Worker is.

18. Temporary Work Visa - UK short-term and specialist work visas

The main routes are Creative Worker, Charity Worker, Religious Worker, Government Authorised Exchange, Seasonal Worker and International Agreement.

• Most require a Sponsor and a Certificate of Sponsorship, or a designated programme
• The purpose and length of stay are restricted

The conditions of application vary depending on the exact Temporary Work sub-route.

Main circumstances in which a UK visa cannot be granted

1. Serious criminal record

A custodial or suspended sentence above a certain level, persistent offending, or an offence that has caused serious harm can be a mandatory or discretionary ground for refusal.

2. False documents or false statements

Forged employment letters, false bank balances, fake payslips, false qualifications or marital status, and concealing a previous visa refusal or a criminal record can all be very serious problems.

3. Previous breaches of UK immigration law

A history of overstaying, illegal working, breaching visa conditions, illegal entry or removal can have a serious effect on future UK visa decisions.

4. Where the stated purpose differs from the real purpose

Working under the guise of tourism or study, and any other case where the real purpose differs from the purpose of the visa applied for, can lead to refusal or problems on entry.

5. Where the source of the funds is unclear

Problems can arise if a large sum is suddenly paid into an account shortly before the application and you cannot explain the lawful source of the money and that it is genuinely available to you.

Find out what to do if your UK visa or ETA is refused

UK visa English, salary and financial requirements

UK visa English language requirements compared

Main UK visa salary and income requirements

• Skilled Worker: usually whichever is higher of £41,700 or the Going Rate for the occupation
• Scale-up Worker: usually whichever is higher of £39,100 or the Going Rate for the occupation
• Health and Care Worker: separate requirements by occupation. Some routes may use £31,300 or the lower going rate.
• Partner / Spouse: unlike the employment salary concept used for work visas, a minimum income requirement of usually £29,000 is checked.
• Main routes with no minimum salary requirement: Global Talent, Innovator Founder, HPI, Student, Graduate

How much money do you need to apply for a UK visa?

There is no single asset threshold, such as "at least a certain amount in assets", that applies to every UK visa. The kind of funds required differs from visa to visa.

• Standard Visitor: the ability to cover your actual travel costs and your living costs in the UK
• Student: unpaid tuition fees plus the living costs required by the rules
• Skilled Worker: the employment conditions plus £1,270 in maintenance funds where required
• Youth Mobility: £2,530
• HPI: usually £1,270
• Family Visa: income and Cash Savings recognised by the rules
• Innovator Founder: funds to support your personal living costs and the viability of the business

So for a UK visa, the type of funds, their source, how long they have been held, whether they are genuinely available and whether the evidence meets the rules all matter more than simply "how much am I worth in total?".

Which UK visa is right for you?

• Travel, tourism or visiting family and friends in the UK: ETA or Standard Visitor
• Skilled employment in the UK: Skilled Worker / Health and Care Worker / Scale-up
• World-class talent: Global Talent
• Graduate of a top overseas university: HPI
• Starting an innovative business in the UK: Innovator Founder
• Studying at a UK university or graduate school: Student Visa
• Working in the UK after study: Graduate, then consider Skilled Worker / Global Talent and similar routes
• Marriage to or family life with a British citizen or settled person: Partner / Spouse / Family Visa
• Young people living and working in the UK: Youth Mobility Scheme
• Overseas businesses expanding into the UK or transferring staff: Global Business Mobility / UK Expansion Worker

Apply for a UK travel visa

Check these points before you apply for a UK visa

01. Your exact purpose in going to the UK

First be clear whether it is tourism, work, study or business.

02. English language ability

Depending on the visa there may be no English test at all, or a different requirement such as A1, A2, B1 or B2.

03. Salary or income

For work visas the occupation and the Going Rate matter, while for a Family Visa you need to check the separate minimum income requirement.

04. Financial capacity

The kind of funds that are accepted differs by visa: maintenance funds, tuition fees, travel costs or Cash Savings.

05. Sponsor or Endorsement

The Skilled Worker requires an approved employer and a CoS, while routes such as Innovator Founder require a separate endorsement.

06. Prospects of settlement

Not every UK visa leads directly to settlement. If you are planning to settle long term, it is best to consider the prospects of ILR from the moment you choose your first visa.

UK visas: the key points

First, there is no minimum asset requirement that applies across all UK visa routes. Living costs, tuition fees, salary, income or eligible cash assets are checked visa by visa.

Second, a high salary alone is not enough to obtain a UK work visa. You must also satisfy the Sponsor, Certificate of Sponsorship, eligible occupation and Going Rate requirements.

Third, English requirements differ by visa. The English requirements for the main work, business and study routes can change, so check the rules in force at the time of your application.

Fourth, for UK tourist and visitor visas, being a Genuine Visitor matters more than an English test score. The purpose of the visit, the intention to return home, the length of the trip and how reasonable your finances are, are all important assessment factors.

Fifth, be very careful with false documents and false statements. Even if you meet the basic eligibility requirements for a visa, submitting false evidence or concealing a material fact can lead to refusal and have a serious effect on future UK immigration applications.

Frequently viewed UK visa information

• How to apply for a UK visa
• UK travel visa and Electronic Travel Authorisation: applying and eligibility
• How to check a UK visa or ETA
• UK visa and ETA FAQ
• What to do if your UK visa or ETA is refused

Not sure which UK visa to apply for?

The right visa can differ according to your purpose in visiting the UK and your own circumstances. Please first confirm your purpose in going to the UK, whether that is tourism, a business trip, work, study, starting a business, or marriage and family, along with the requirements you currently meet, and then consider the appropriate visa route.

Enquire about a UK visa