United Kingdom

UK VISA

The United Kingdom (UK) offers a range of visas for individuals planning to visit, work, study, or settle in the country. The UK operates on a points-based system for most visa categories, known as the “UK Immigration Rules.” Under this system, applicants must meet specific requirements and accumulate enough points to be eligible for a visa. Immigrants frequently choose the UK as their new home. According to the Office for National Statistics, 145,000 individuals left the UK and 313,000 moved there in 2020. Thus, there were around 168,000 net immigrants to the UK. In 2022, 2,836,490 visas were issued.

Common Types of UK Visas:

Standard Visitor Visa: This visa allows individuals to visit the UK for tourism, business meetings, or medical treatment. It is usually granted for up to six months and cannot be extended from within the UK.
Student Visa: This visa is for individuals who wish to study at a UK educational institution. Applicants must have an offer from a licensed education provider and demonstrate sufficient funds to cover tuition fees and living expenses.
Skilled Worker Visa: This category is for individuals offered skilled employment in the UK. It requires sponsorship from a UK employer and meets specific job and salary requirements.
Investor Visa: This visa is designed for high net worth individuals looking to invest in the UK. It requires a significant investment amount and provides a path to settlement or citizenship after a certain period.
Temporary Worker Visa: This category covers various temporary work opportunities in the UK, such as government-authorized exchange programs, charity work, and creative or sporting events.
Spouse Visa: Intended for individuals married to or in a civil partnership with a UK citizen or settled person, this visa allows them to join their partner in the UK. It grants permission to work and provides a pathway to settlement.
Ancestry Visa: Available to individuals who can prove their ancestral ties to a UK-born grandparent, this visa allows them to live, work, and study in the UK for up to five years. It can lead to settlement and citizenship.
Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR): ILR, also known as settlement, grants individuals the right to live and work in the UK indefinitely. It is typically available after a certain period of lawful residence, depending on the visa category.

In addition to the common types of UK visas mentioned earlier, there are a few special types of visas available for specific circumstances. Here are some special types of UK visas:

Global Talent Visa: Formerly known as the Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) Visa, the Global Talent Visa is for individuals who show exceptional promise or have demonstrated achievement in the fields of science, engineering, humanities, medicine, digital technology, or arts and culture. It provides a pathway to settlement in the UK.
Sole Representative Visa: This visa is for individuals who are being sent to the UK by an overseas company as their sole representative. It enables them to establish and run a branch or wholly-owned subsidiary of the overseas company in the UK.
Start-up Visa: Introduced in 2019, the Start-up Visa is for individuals who want to establish an innovative, scalable business in the UK for the first time. Applicants must have an endorsement from an approved endorsing body.
Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) Visa: This visa is designed for individuals who demonstrate exceptional talent or promise in the fields of science, humanities, engineering, the arts, or digital technology. It requires endorsement from a designated endorsing body in the relevant field.