People from outside of the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland can apply for a family visitor visa. People who cannot apply for a Family Visitor visa are those who qualify to become citizens of the United Kingdom. This includes people who are eligible for dual nationality and will be required to apply for British citizenship.

Requirements for a Tourism, Leisure or Family Visit Visa

In order to qualify for a Tourism, Leisure or Family Visit Visa you will need to satisfy UK Visas & Immigration that:

• You are a visa national (a non-visa national can normally seek entry as a Visitor on arrival at the UK border);
• You are genuinely seeking entry to the UK for a purpose that is permitted by the visitor routes;
• You will not undertake any prohibited activities;
• You have sufficient funds to cover all reasonable costs in relation to your visit (including travel, maintenance and accommodation costs) without working or accessing public funds;
• You will leave the UK at the end of your visit;
• You will not live in the UK for extended periods through frequent or successive visits, or make the UK your main home;
• Your application does not fall for refusal under the general grounds for refusal.

Tourism, Leisure or Family Visit Visa Permitted Activities 

In order to qualify for a Tourism, Leisure or Family Visit Visa you will need to satisfy UK Visas & Immigration that you are genuinely seeking entry to the UK for a purpose that is permitted by the visitor routes and will not undertake any prohibited activities.

Tourism, Leisure and Family Visit Visa holders may undertake the following permitted activities:

• Visit friends and family in the UK;
• Travel to the UK for a holiday;
• Take part in an educational exchange or visit with a state funded school, academy or independent school;
• Attend a course of study (other than an English language course) for a maximum of 30 days.

Because the Tourism, Leisure and Family Visit Visa is a sub-category of the Standard Visitor route, Tourism, Leisure and Family Visitors may also undertake other activities that are permitted under the Standard Visitor route.

Intention to Leave the UK Requirement for a Tourism, Leisure and Family Visit Visa

In addition to satisfying the Home Office that you are genuinely seeking to enter the UK for a permitted purpose, as part of your application for a Tourism, Leisure or Family Visit Visa you will also need to satisfy the Home Office that you will leave the UK at the end of your visit and will not live in the UK for extended periods through frequent or successive visits, or make the UK your main home.

In assessing your application, the Home Office will consider a range of factors including:

• Your previous immigration history, including visits to the UK and other countries;
• Your financial circumstances as well as your family, social and economic background;
• Your personal and economic ties to your country of residence.

Factors which may cause the Home Office to doubt that you are a genuine visitor include having few or no family and economic ties to your country of residence, whilst having several family members in the UK, previous attempts to deceive the Home Office in an immigration application and discrepancies between statements made by yourself and your sponsor.

Tourism, Leisure and Family Visit Visa Financial Requirement

You will need to have sufficient funds to cover all reasonable costs in relation to your visit (including travel, maintenance and accommodation costs) without working or accessing public funds.

Your funds will need to be held in a permitted financial institution.

Your travel, maintenance and accommodation costs may be met by a third party if the third party has a genuine professional or personal relationship with you, they are not, and will not be, in breach of immigration laws and they can support you throughout the duration of your stay as a Visitor.

Tourism, Leisure and Family Visit Visa Validity Period

If you wish to enter the UK for the purpose of a Tourism, Leisure or Family Visit you may apply for a Visit Visa that is valid for either 6 months, 2 years, 5 years or 10 years.

You may enter and leave the UK multiple times during the validity period of your Visit Visa unless your Visit Visa is endorsed for a single or dual entry.

Each visit to the UK must not exceed 6 months.

Tourism, Leisure and Family Visit Visa Right to Work

Tourism, Leisure and Family Visitors are not permitted to work in the UK or, with few exceptions, receive payment from a UK source for any activities undertaken in the UK.

This means that Tourism, Leisure and Family Visitors cannot take employment, establish or run a business as a self-employed person, work for an organisation or business in the UK, undertake a work placement or internship in the UK or otherwise provide or sell goods or services in the UK.

Tourism, Leisure and Family Visitors are permitted to undertake activities relating to their employment overseas remotely whilst they are in the UK, such as responding to emails or answering phone calls.  However, the main purpose of your visit to the UK should be to undertake a permitted activity, rather than specifically to work remotely from the UK.

Tourism, Leisure and Family Visitors are also permitted to come to the UK to seek employment and attend job interviews. However, if successful in obtaining employment, you will be expected to leave the UK and seek the appropriate entry clearance prior to commencing work.

How Our Immigration Advisers Can Help

Our immigration advisers are experienced in assisting individuals from across the globe to secure visas to visit the UK for the purpose of tourism, leisure and family visits.

Whether you are seeking advice on the merits of applying for a Tourism, Leisure or Family Visit Visa, or assistance with preparing a Tourism, Leisure or Family Visit Visa application, our immigration advisers can assist.

We pride ourselves on being approachable and proactive in understanding and meeting our client’s needs. We are a highly driven team, dedicated to providing clear and reliable immigration advice to our clients as part of a professional and friendly service.