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Introduction To UK Visa Categories
UK is one of the best countries in the world to live, work, study, do business, and simply travel. UK gives international people an opportunity to enter and do these activities through various UK visa categories.
The various visa categories include UK Visitor Visa, UK Work Visa, UK Family Visa, UK Student Visa, UK Business Visa, and others. Now, the natural question arises which visa is the right visa for you? The simplest answer to the question is that depending on your purpose of coming to the UK will decide which visa you should apply for.
However, you should apply for a visa depending on various factors such as:
- Which country do you come from
- Your purpose to come to the UK
- How long do you want to stay for
- Your personal circumstances and skills
- Whether you meet visa-specific requirements or not
- Whether you want to come to the UK alone or with family members
Let us understand various visa categories their subcategories, and how to choose which one is right for you.
1. UK Visitor Visa
UK is one of the best countries in the world to live, work, study, do business, and simply travel. UK gives international people an opportunity to enter and do these activities through various UK visa categories.
The various visa categories include UK Visitor Visa, UK Work Visa, UK Family Visa, UK Student Visa, UK Business Visa, and others. Now, the natural question arises which visa is the right visa for you? The simplest answer to the question is that depending on your purpose of coming to the UK will decide which visa you should apply for.
However, you should apply for a visa depending on various factors such as:
- Which country do you come from
- Your purpose to come to the UK
- How long do you want to stay for
- Your personal circumstances and skills
- Whether you meet visa-specific requirements or not
- Whether you want to come to the UK alone or with family members
Let us understand various visa categories their subcategories, and how to choose which one is right for you.
- UK Visitor Visa
Visa nationals require a visa to enter the UK. UK Visitor visa is for these nationals who want to visit the UK for a short period of time. Depending on the purpose of your visit you should apply for an appropriate visitor visa. UK visitor visa allows in most cases a short-term stay of up to 6 months in the UK.
Sub Categories
- UK Standard Visitor Visa – This is a type of visa for visa nationals who mostly want to come to the UK for a short term up to 6 months as a tourist, business person, for medical treatment, short-term study or other permitted paid engagement activities.
Is this the right visa for you?
So, if your purpose of visiting the UK is any of the ones mentioned here you should apply for a UK standard visitor visa provided you meet the eligibility conditions.
- UK Marriage Visitor Visa- As the name suggests UK marriage visitor is for those individuals who want to come to the UK to get married or register a civil partnership within 6 months of their arrival into the UK. You must leave the UK after the ceremony or when your visa expires whichever is earlier.
Is this the right visa for you?
So, if your intention to enter the UK is just to get married or register a civil partnership and you don’t intend to settle in the UK this visa can be the right choice for you. Needless to say, you need to meet the eligibility conditions attached to the visa.
- Visit Visa for Paid Engagements– This category allows you to come to the UK if you are invited to the UK by a UK-based organization or client as one of the following for pre-arranged permitted paid engagements. As a professional artist, entertainer, or musician
- As a professional sportsperson
- As a qualified lawyer – to represent a client.
- To give a lecture or series of lectures
- To speak at a conference
- As an academic – to be a student examiner or assessor
- As an air pilot examiner
Is this the right visa category for you?
If you are a professional and have expertise in any of the fields mentioned here you can apply for a UK Visit Visa for paid engagements provided you have a written invitation.
2. UK Work Visas
- This is one of the most sough UK visa categories for skilled people, talented individuals, and entrepreneurs wanting to work in the UK due to the big opportunities available in the country. Also, the visa allows UK companies to bring in the best talents from across the globe.
Sub Categories
- Skilled Worker Visa – The Skilled Worker visa allows foreign skilled workers to join a UK-based company that sponsors the applicant of this visa as an employee in a role in which the applicant has expertise and experience.
Is this visa right for you?
This visa is right for you if you are a working professional looking to join the UK workforce and you have been sponsored by a UK-based employer. This visa also leads to settlement so if your purpose is to live in the UK indefinitely you should apply for it.
- UK Global Talent Visa – This visa is for international graduates who are in the early stages of their careers. They can come to the UK because they are considered a leader or potential leaders in the field of academia or research, arts and culture, or digital technology and are endorsed by an approved endorsing body.
Is this visa right for you?
If you are looking to work in the UK without a job offer or sponsorship from a UK-based employer you should apply for this visa. This UK visa category also allows you to apply for settlement after 3 years only.
- High Potential Individual Visa- This visa allows fresh graduate degree holders from top international universities to come to the UK to work to search for work. Their degree should be equivalent to a UK graduate degree, postgraduate degree, PhD, or Doctorate.
Is this visa right for you?
If you have passed out recently from one of the top universities in the world and want to work in the UK without a job offer in hand this visa option is right for you. However, you should note that this visa does not lead to settlement directly but you can switch to a UK worker visa which leads to settlement.
- Scale Up Visa – This visa allows high-growth UK-based companies to hire international talents with greater ease compared to other work visas. Sponsored employees can enter with a sponsorship initially and after 6 months of working, they don’t need further sponsorship making it easy for them to switch to another company if they want.
Is this visa right for you?
If you want to work for a high-growth UK-based company you should apply for this visa. You also have the flexibility to switch to another company in the UK after 6 months as the visa requires you to have sponsorship for an initial 6 months only. However, meeting qualification and experience criteria for this visa may be a challenge for you. Consider this before applying.
- Global Business Mobility Visa – This visa allows an individual working for an overseas company that has a branch in the UK to come and do an eligible job at their employer’s UK branch. There are 5 visas under this category:
- Senior or Specialist Worker – This is for an employee in a specialist position in an overseas company being transferred to its UK branch
- Graduate Trainee – This is for graduates on specialized training programs in a UK branch.
- UK Expansion Worker – For employees of overseas companies coming to the UK to set up a branch here
- Service Supplier – For individuals coming to deliver service to their UK client under a contract between the two
- Secondment Worker – For employees of overseas companies to work temporarily in its UK branch
Is this visa right for you?
If you are any of the mentioned above you should apply for this visa.
- Innovator Founder Visa – This visa is for international entrepreneurs to establish an innovative business in the UK.
Is this visa right for you?
If you have a unique business idea and you think that the UK is the best place to execute your idea you should apply for this visa. Your ideas must be endorsed by an approved endorsing body in the UK as being a new and original business idea. You must be ready to invest £50,000 in a business in the UK. This visa also leads to settlement.
3. Family Visa
- Among various UK visa categories Family visa is for uniting family members so that can live together in the UK. This means non-British individuals can join their family members who are either British citizens or are settled in the UK.
Sub Categories
- Spouse Visa – This visa allows spouse of a British citizen or one with a settled status to join and live with them in the UK. Spouse applicants must be in a genuine and subsisting relationship and they must intend to live with their partner in the UK.
Is this visa right for you?
If you are a married partner of a British citizen or a settled person in the UK and you want to live with him/her in the UK you should apply for this visa. Your UK partner needs to sponsor you and you should be able to meet the financial requirements for this visa.
- Fiance Visa – This visa allows the fiancé of British citizens or settled persons in the UK to come to the UK and get married to them. If you don’t marry your partner within 6 months of your arrival in the UK you must leave the UK.
Is this visa right for you?
If you have a partner in the UK and you want to marry him/her in the UK this visa is for you. You can live with your partner once you get married by applying for a UK spouse visa which can lead to settlement in the UK.
4. Study Visa
- The UK has some great universities and students from across the world want to study here. A study visa is best suited for them.
Sub Categories
- Student Visa- This visa allows international students to come and study on a full-time degree course in the UK. You should have sponsorship from a qualifying educational institution.
Is this visa right for you?
If you are an overseas student and you have got a seat in a course in a UK institution you should apply for this visa.
- Child Student Visa – This allows children aged between 4 and 17 to study in a UK school. The children must have consent from their parents along with other requirements.
Is this visa right for you? If you want to take advantage of studying in a UK school right from an early age you should apply for this visa. You will understand UK life, and culture and get the best opportunities in pursuing your career if you study in the UK right from an early age
5. Indefinite Leave To Remain Visa
This visa allows you to live and work in the UK without any time restrictions. You also enjoy several benefits that an ordinary citizen of the UK gets.
Is this visa right for you? This is one of the UK visa categories that are on the minds of all those who have entered the UK on a valid UK visa and now want to live here permanently. If you also want to enjoy living in the UK forever you should apply for this visa
There is various other visa categories in each category mentioned above and beyond also that allow you to enter and live in the UK for a certain period of time. Some visas allow you to bring your dependent family members and some don’t. You need to check this also before you apply.
Meeting Eligibility Requirements
It is one thing to want to come to the UK but this is not possible for everyone. You have to meet various eligibility requirements, documentation, and application steps specific to each UK visa category. If you fail to meet them you will not be able to come to the UK or you will have to leave the UK if you are already in the UK.