You need a visa to live, work, or study in the UK if you are not a UK citizen or do not have permission to stay there indefinitely.

Many countries use visas to let people from other countries come in for a limited time. If you’re moving to the UK, even just for a bit, you must have the correct visa.

In 2022, you can apply for different types of visas to visit the UK. This includes all the details you need to know about them. Like;

• how long each visa lasts
• how each visa is for
• how to apply for each UK visa type.
• how to see if you’re eligible

Who Needs To Have a Family Visa?

You can apply for a family visa if you fit into one of these categories:

• You are the spouse or partner of a UK citizen.
• You are going to marry someone from the UK.
• You are the son or daughter of someone who is a citizen of the United Kingdom.
• You are the mother or father of a person who is a citizen of the United Kingdom.
• You will stay with a family member in the UK who will care for you.

How long does a Family Visa last?

A family visa is valid for two years and nine months. You can get a new visa before your old one runs out.

Are you eligible for a Family Visa?

You must also meet other requirements in addition to the ones mentioned above. These are:

• If you still need to get a GCSE or equivalent in English, you can take a test to show you can speak English well.
• Proof that you have enough money to support yourself and your family.
• Evidence of your connection (like a wedding or birth record)
• A document that shows who you are (like a passport).

Requirements are different for everyone, so make sure you understand what you need to qualify before you apply.

Student Visas

A student visa lets you study in the UK for a certain period. In the UK, students can get a visa to check and also a visa after they finish studying to stay longer in the UK.

Who Needs a Student Visa?

You can ask for a Student Visa if you:

• Get a guaranteed spot in a UK course.
• “Are getting help from a student who has a license. “
• If you are 16 or 17, make sure your parents say it’s okay.

Children and students aged 4-17 can get a visa to study at a private school in the UK.

You can get a Graduate Visa if:

• You finished your studies in the UK.
• You are still in the UK with a Student Visa.

How long does it last?

The length of your student visa depends on how long your course is. You can stay for up to 5 years if you finish college or higher studies. If you finish lower-level courses, you can wait for two years.

A Graduate Visa is for people who have finished their Bachelor’s or Master’s degree, and it lasts for two years. If you have a Ph.D. or doctoral degree, you can stay in the country for three years with a Graduate Visa.

Are you eligible for a Student or Graduate Visa?

If you want to study in the UK, you need to show that you have enough money to support yourself during your studies.

If you want to keep studying, you can ask to stay longer with your Student Visa. If you’re going to learn in the UK, you can change your visa to a Student Visa from another type of visa.

If you want a Graduate Visa, you must apply before your Student Visa runs out. You must use it before you leave the UK. Once you return to your home country, you can’t apply for a Graduate Visa anymore.

Work visas

If you are visiting the UK for work, there are different visas you can request. These are divided into four groups.

• Long-term work visas are for people who have permanent or long-term job contracts.
• Temporary work visas are for people who want to work in another country for a short period or a specific, short-term job.
• Visas for people who want to invest or develop new ideas for UK businesses.
• Other visas and exceptions are available for people in specific special categories.

Who Needs a Work Visa?

Each visa lets people with specific skills work in the UK. Here are the main visas and who they are for:

Long-term work visas

• Skilled Worker Visa is for people with unique skills and experience. You can see the complete list of jobs you can apply for here.
• Health and Care Worker Visa – for people who have skills in health and care for adults, like doctors, nurses, and caregivers.
• Visa for people who have a job in another country and must move to the UK for work.

Short-term Work Visa

• Visa for people who want to do unpaid work at a UK charity.
• Visa for creative workers – for people who work in creative jobs like actors, musicians, or people who work on TV and movie sets.
• Seasonal Worker – temporary gardening work, like picking fruits or flowers. This visa has a limit every year. In 2021 30,000 visas were given out, and more than 10,000 were given out in 2020.

Investor and Talent visas

• Innovator and Start-up Visas are for people who want to start a new and creative business in the UK.
• The Global Talent Visa is for people who are already leaders or have the potential to be leaders in academics, arts, or digital technology.

There are more than these types of visas in the UK. You can book a one-on-one consultation with us if you need a different job.

How long does a Work Visa last?

The duration of your work visa depends on what kind of visa you have and how long your job contract is. Temporary work visas let you stay in the UK for 6 to 12 months. Long-term work visas allow you to stay for up to 5 years. You can keep it longer if you need to.

Are you eligible for a Work Visa?

To get a work visa, you need a job contract. They will pay for you while you are in the UK.

Before applying for a work visa, ensure you meet the requirements for that specific visa. The requirements for most eligibility criteria are focused on:

• What kind of job do you want to do?
• Your employer has to be approved by the Home Office if you have been working for them for a long time.
• Your employer must pay you a minimum amount, depending on your job.
• Your own money that you save (if you work for a short time)
• Agreement for your business plan (if you want to get a visa for investors and talented people)

If you get a new job, you can still stay in the UK if your new employer is approved and you still meet all the other requirements.

Tourist visas

You might not need a visa if you are going to the UK for a short visit. The UK divides visitors into two groups: those who need a visa and those who don’t. If you are from a country that does not require a visa to visit the UK, like an EU country or the US, you do not need a tourist visa.

If you come from a country that needs a visa, you must apply for a Standard Visitor Visa no matter how long you want to stay.

Who Needs a Tourist Visa?

If you are from a country requiring a visa to visit the UK, you must apply for a Standard Visitor Visa. You can’t work or study with this visa.

How long do Tourist Visas last?

Tourist visas usually stay valid for six months. You can sometimes ask for a more extended visa. For instance, if you’re coming for private medical treatment, your passport could be valid for up to 11 months.

You can get a tourist visa to stay in the UK for a long time, for up to 6 months at a time. You can do this for 2, 5, or 10 years.

If you stay longer than allowed on your tourist visa, you might be sent back to your country and not allowed to return to the UK for ten years. Be sure to have the correct visa for your time in the UK.

Are you eligible for a UK Tourist Visa?

Many people can get a visa to visit the UK. You need to be able to prove that:

• You plan to leave the UK when your permission to stay runs out.
• You can have enough money to support yourself and your family during your trip.