Family and Friends Visit
Travel to the UK to spend time with relatives and friends, attend family events and enjoy short visits of up to 6 months.
Validity
- Stay up to 6 months per visit
- Single or multi-entry visas available
- Not extendable – apply again if you need future visits
At a glance
- Visit family and friends in the UK
- Attend weddings, graduations and personal events
- Enjoy tourism and short recreational courses (max 30 days)
- No work or long-term residence allowed
About the visa
The Family & Friends Visit (within the UK Standard Visitor rules) allows short stays to visit relatives or friends, attend personal events, and enjoy tourism. It does not permit work or using successive visits to live in the UK.
Eligibility & permitted activities
You should be able to show that you:
- Are a genuine visitor who will leave the UK at the end of your trip
- Have sufficient funds and suitable accommodation for the visit (self-funded or sponsored)
- Will only undertake permitted visitor activities (social/family, tourism, short unpaid activities)
- Have a credible plan for the visit (dates, places, people you will see)
Typical permitted activities
- Spending time with family or friends; attending social gatherings
- Attending weddings, graduations or milestone celebrations
- Sightseeing and tourism within the UK
- Short recreational courses (non-work related) up to 30 days
What you can / cannot do
You can
- Visit relatives or friends and attend personal events
- Travel for tourism and short recreational study (up to 30 days)
- Stay in private accommodation or with your UK host
You cannot
- Take up paid or unpaid work for a UK business
- Access public funds or register long-term residence
- Use successive or frequent visits to effectively live in the UK
- Switch to another visa route from within the UK
Process
A typical application involves:
- Apply online via GOV.UK before travel
- Biometrics: book and attend a visa application centre
- Submit supporting documents (upload or provide at appointment)
- Decision: usually within a few weeks (priority services may be available)
Suggested supporting documents
- Passport/travel document and travel plans (intended dates, itinerary)
- Proof of funds for the trip (bank statements, payslips, or sponsor support)
- Accommodation details (hotel bookings or letter from your host with address)
- Invitation letter from your UK family/friend (relationship, purpose, dates)
- Evidence of ties to your home country (employment/education letters, family commitments)
Common refusal reasons
- Insufficient evidence of funds or unclear accommodation arrangements
- Weak evidence of ties to home country (risk of not leaving at the end of the visit)
- Vague or inconsistent invitation details (purpose, dates, relationship)
- Travel pattern suggests attempting to live in the UK via frequent visits
