Immigration in Great Britain

Tourist visa
Tourist visa is the cheapest and the easiest to obtain. For a tourist visa you must have confirmed accommodations or transit information for every night of your stay in Britain. Tourism visa is non-extendable, so in order to prolong your stay in UK you have to leave the country and obtain a new visa.

Purpose:  Tourism or short business visits

Number of Entries and Validity Period:  Single or doubly entry during a validity period of 30 days

Please note! Tourist visa is non-extendable. Therefore, if you wish to prolong your stay in Britain, you must leave the country and obtain a new visa.

Visa Invitation:  It consists of 2 parts: a tourist Confirmation issued by any authorized hotel or travel agency in Britain that have a tourist reference number at the Department for Immigration and Visas and a tourist voucher issued by the same travel agency or hotel, showing that your tourist services have been paid or booked using a credit card.

Please note! Hotels issue invitations only for the pre-booked period. If you are planning to stay for several nights in a hotel in one city and then some nights in a hotel in other city, you will need invitations from both in order to apply for your visa. Tourist visa is not issued on the basis of a confirmation of hotel reservation, unless the hotel has its own reference number.

Required Documents:

– Basic documents: passport, completed visa application, two photos, visa fee. See the detailed information in the  Basic Documents  section.

– Tourist Confirmation and Voucher

Business visa
Business visa is intended for those who come to UK for business purposes (to meet business partners, sign a contract, take part in negotiations, visit an exhibition, etc). However, since Business visa allows multiple entries, longer stays, and other benefits, it can also be used by ordinary travelers, who need more flexibility, because applicant do not need to prepare hotel reservation or an itinerary to get a business visa. So this type of visa is ideal for tourist, who are traveling in UK for longer than 1 month or (and) need multiple entry. Besides that, a business visa might be used for cultural relationships, accompanying family members, etc.

Please note! Be careful to specify information consistent with the type of your invitation when you apply for a business visa (you can’t say that you’re going for sightseeing if you’re getting a business visa).

Purpose:  Business visits or travel for prolonged times

Number of Entries and Validity Period: Business invitations are issued through the Department of Immigration and Visas or its divisions, or its regional representatives.
 * Single entry visa valid for 90 days
 * Double entry visa valid for 90 days
 * Multiple entry visa valid for 12 months

The Department of Immigration and Visas issues telexes instead of paper invitation letters. The visa supports can be obtained on the basis of request from officially accredited British company to the above mentioned government authorities.

Required Documents:

– Basic documents: passport, completed visa application, two photos, visa fee. See the detailed information in the  Basic Documents  section.

– An invitation issued at Department of Immigration and Visas or its divisions.

Please note! that business visa does not imply a work authorization. You need to seek Work visa to get employment permit.

Private visa (Homestay visa)
Private visa is required in case you wish to visit friends or relatives in Britain and you are planning to stay at their place. This visa might take you several months to obtain (3 months for the invitation only). So you need plenty of time in advance to get all the documents together before you can apply for a private visa. Despite the lengthy process of obtaining, this kind of visa is cheaper than any other. Given the difficulties involved, it is easier to visit your friends and relatives using a tourist visa.

Purpose:  A personal visit

Number of Entries and Validity Period:  Single or doubly entry during a validity period of 90 days.

Private visa might be extended. If you want to extend it you should apply to the local Office of the Federal Migration Service in the area of your residence in Britain.

Visa Invitation:  you need to get a personal invitation certificate issued by the Department of Immigration and Visas. British citizen inviting you to visit the country must come in person to the Local Office of the Department of Immigration and Visas to apply for the invitation. The process of obtaining personal invitation is complicated, and takes plenty of time. However, price of visa Invitation is not high in comparison with a business visa.

Required Documents:

– Basic documents: passport, completed visa application, two photos, visa fee. See the detailed information in  Basic Documents  section.

– Original copy of the invitation issued at a division of the Home Office.

Please note! Foreign citizen can receive a private visa due to the necessity of entering Britain for urgent medical treatment, the serious illness or death of a close relative. An applicant should present a certificate issued by a medical organization or a death certificate and a document proving the kindred between the applicant and the ill or deceased relative. In this case the passport validity period shall not expire before the end of the visa validity term.

Transit visa
Transit visa is required if you are travelling via Britain to another destination. And you are going to spend in the UK less than 24 hours and aren’t going to leave the airport transit area.

Purpose:  Travelling through Britain to an onward destination.

Number of Entries and Validity Period: Visa Invitation:  Not required
 * Up to 3 days if you travel by air
 * Up to 10 days if you use other means of transportation
 * If you travel by car, the exact validity of visa is defined of the shortest possible transit distance and mileage of 500 km/day.
 * Single or doubly entry

Required Documents:

– Basic documents: passport, completed visa application, two photos, visa fee. See the detailed information in the  Basic Documents  section.

– Travel tickets valid for departure from the UK.

– Visa for entry into the respective country bordering the UK, or visa of the country of destination, or passport of such country.

Please note! Check with your airline whether you will be staying in the same terminal/transit area in order to catch a connecting flight before you decide whether transit visa is required or not.

Please note! If you have difficulties obtaining a transit visa then you can to apply for a tourist visa.

Study visa
If you are planning to study in UK longer than one month, you need a student visa. Usually, the issuance of student visas is done with the help of the institute/school authorities.

It’s the most flexible British visa.

Purpose:  Study in Britain

Number of Entries and Validity Period:  Single entry visa is for a period of 3 months to 1 year.

Visa can be extended depending on the period of study. After 3 months of the student’s arrival in the UK it may be converted into a multiple-entry visa.

Visa Invitation:  You need a letter of Invitation issued from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or its Regional Office. It will be issued after getting admission to a British educational institution.

Required Documents: Please note! When applying for a study visa, the passport shall be valid for no less than 18 months!
 * Basic documents: passport, completed visa application, 2 photos, visa fee. See the detailed information in the  Basic Documents  section.
 * Original copy of the invitation issued from the Department for Immigration and Visas or its Regional Office;
 * Medical Certificate, if you are going to stay more than 3 months in Britain.

Work visa
If you would like to travel to UK with the purpose of employment you should apply for a work visa. The employer company must have the right to employ foreigners. After signing of your official employment contract you can start your British work visa application.

Purpose:  Work in Britain

Please note! You'll be subject to the points-based system (see below) if you are working for more than 3 months.

Visa Invitation:  You need a letter of Invitation issued from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or its Regional Office. This type of invitation can be obtained by your British employer.

Required Documents: Please note! When applying for a work visa, the passport shall be valid for no less than eighteen months!
 * Basic documents: passport, completed visa application, two photos, visa fee. See the detailed information in the  Basic Documents  section.
 * Original copy of the invitation issued from Department of Immigration and Visas or its Regional Office;
 * Medical Certificate

Reasons for visa refusal

 * has committed fraud, deception, or misrepresentation in his or her current application as well as in a previous application
 * has obtained a criminal record, has been arrested, or has criminal charges pending
 * is a threat to national security
 * has previous visa/immigration violations (even if the violations didn't happen in the country the applicant is seeking a visa for)
 * had their previous visa application(s) or application for immigration benefits refused and cannot prove that the reasons for the previous refusals no longer exist or are not applicable any more (even if the refusals didn't previously happen in the country the applicant is seeking a visa for)
 * cannot prove to have strong ties to their current country of nationality or residence (for those who are applying for temporary or non-immigrant visas)
 * intends to reside or work permanently in the country she/he will visit if not applying for an immigrant or work visa respectively
 * fails to provide sufficient evidence/documents to prove eligibility for the visa sought after
 * does not have a legitimate reason for the journey
 * does not have adequate means of financial support for themselves or family
 * does not have travel arrangements (i.e. transport and lodging) in the destination country
 * does not have health/travel insurance valid for the destination and the duration of stay, especially if engaging in high risk activities (e.g. rock climbing, skiing, etc.)
 * is a citizen of a country to which the destination country is hostile or at war with
 * has a communicable disease, such as tuberculosis or ebola, or a sexually transmitted disease
 * has a passport that expires too soon

28-year rule
The 28-year rule is a rule in British immigration law. It states a number of requirements to a married couple, if they want permanent residence in Britain. It is meant to cut down forced marriages and family reunification immigration.

The rule has four requirements
 * 1) Age – Non-resident spouses can be united and thus cohabit with their spouse living in Britain only when both parties have reached the age of 28 years.
 * 2) Ties – The couple’s aggregate ties to Britain must be stronger than those to the country of origin. However, the demands of aggregate ties are not applicable to people born in Britain or people who acquired British citizenship as young children and have lived in Britain for more than 28 years.
 * 3) Economy – The British spouse must prove to be able to financially support the new couple (there is a minimum income requirement of twice the welfare benefit rate), post a £100,000 guaranty (the sum is adjusted for inflation annually), and not have received welfare benefits for a year and not owe money to the authorities.
 * 4) Residence – The couple must show that they own or rent a residence of at most 2 people per room and at least 20 m² (217 ft²) per person.