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UK Standard Visitor Visa: Supporting Documents and Certified Translations

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Key Supporting Documents for a UK Standard Visitor Visa

  1. Valid Passport
    Your passport should be valid for the entire duration of your stay, with at least one blank page for the visa stamp.

  2. Proof of Financial Means
    You’ll need to demonstrate that you can support yourself during your visit. This can be done by providing recent bank statements or payslips. If these documents are not in English or Welsh, Certling can help with certified translations, ensuring compliance with UK Visa and Immigration (UKVI) standards.

  3. Accommodation Details
    You must provide information about where you’ll stay during your visit, whether it’s hotel bookings or staying with family or friends. Non-English documents, such as foreign rental agreements, will require certified translations.

  4. Travel Itinerary
    Provide details of your planned travel, including flight bookings and intended activities. This is especially important for ensuring compliance with the UK visitor visa 180 days rule, which limits stays to six months within a year.

  5. Invitation Letter (if applicable)
    If you're visiting family or friends, you may need an invitation letter from your host. If the letter is written in a language other than English, a certified translation is required.

  6. Proof of Employment or Study
    A letter from your employer or educational institution can help confirm your ties to your home country. If it’s in another language, you’ll need a certified translation to include in your application.

  7. Medical or Academic Reasons
    If you’re visiting for medical treatment or as an academic or senior professional, additional documentation may be required, including certified translations of medical records or employment contracts.

UK Visitor Visa Fees

The cost of a UK Standard Visitor Visa at the time of writing was £115, which allows you to stay in the UK for up to six months. If you’re a frequent traveller, you can apply for a long-term Standard Visitor Visa UK, which is valid for 2, 5, or 10 years. Keep in mind that with a long-term visa, each individual visit is still limited to six months.

Additionally, if you’re only passing through the UK to another destination, you can apply for a Visitor in Transit Visa UK at a cost of £64.

Other Visitor Visa Types

Marriage Visitor Visa UK: If you’re visiting to marry or register a civil partnership, you will need this visa, which requires specific documentation such as proof of your relationship. Certified translations may be needed for foreign marriage documents.

Family Visitor Visa UK: Similar to a standard visitor visa, but tailored to those visiting close family members in the UK. Additional proof of your relationship, such as birth or marriage certificates, may require certified translations.

UK Visitor Visa: What You Can and Cannot Do

Under the UK Standard Visitor Visa, you’re allowed to:

  • Visit for tourism or to see family
  • Attend business meetings or events
  • Participate in permitted paid engagements
  • Study for up to 30 days, provided it’s not the main purpose of your visit

However, you cannot:

  • Take up paid or unpaid work for a UK company
  • Claim public benefits
  • Marry or register a civil partnership without a Marriage Visitor Visa

For a full list of activities you can and cannot do, and additional eligibility requirements, check the official government guidelines here.

Certified Translations: A Must for Non-English Documents

Any documents not in English or Welsh that are part of your visa application must be accompanied by a certified translation. This includes financial statements, travel documents, and any personal or legal paperwork. At Certling, we specialise in providing fast and reliable certified translations that meet UKVI requirements, ensuring that your application is processed without delays.

For more information on UK visitor visa types and detailed statistics on visa lengths, you can visit the official government site here.

Frequently Asked Questions – UK Visas

Answers to common visa enquiries to help you better understand the process. Always refer to official sources or speak to your visa sponsor for tailored support.

This message is often sent during busy periods. It does not necessarily mean there is a problem. It typically indicates that UKVI cannot meet its usual processing timeframe. Your application might still be decided quickly, or it may take a few extra weeks. No action is needed.

This means your application has been processed and sent to the Visa Application Centre (VAC). You will need to wait for the VAC to return your passport and documents. You will not be told the outcome until then. It usually takes up to ten days.

If you applied from outside the UK, this usually indicates that your application has been successful. Your passport is required so that the visa vignette can be added.

Delays are common and vary by visa type. From outside the UK, three months is considered normal. From within the UK, expect up to eight weeks. Some routes have no set timeframe and can take a year or more. Comparing with others is rarely helpful. Apply as early as possible.

Generally not. The hotline is managed by a private contractor and has limited access to application details. They can only confirm whether your visa is being processed or has been decided. Use it only if your case is severely delayed or exceptional.

If you applied from outside the UK, you will usually only learn the result once you receive your passport. A vignette indicates approval. A letter outlines refusal reasons.

Not after submission. If you need a faster decision, apply using priority services from the start. Priority does not guarantee speed, only queue placement. In emergencies, contact your Member of Parliament if you are in the UK.

Cancel or change your travel plans. You should never book a non-refundable flight before receiving your visa.

If the refusal contains factual errors or clear misunderstandings, you can submit a formal complaint. Attach supporting evidence. This can result in a reversal, but is not guaranteed.

A PAP is a legal warning of intended action. It may help in rare cases, but it is often more practical to file a complaint unless you are ready to pursue legal action and have strong evidence.

From outside the UK, you may travel using the “keep my passport” option or an alternative passport. From within the UK, you must remain until a decision is made, or your application will be withdrawn.

No. There is no appeal right for visit visa refusals. You can complain if the caseworker mishandled the case. Otherwise, a new application is required.

Administrative reviews are for correcting errors in how the caseworker handled your original application. You cannot add new evidence. Appeals, on the other hand, are based on legal rights and can include new information. They are handled by a tribunal and usually take longer.