UK Visa Validity Periods
When planning a journey to the United Kingdom, understanding the duration of your visa is crucial for a seamless and stress-free experience. In this article, we explore the varying validity periods of different types of UK visas, providing valuable insights for travelers seeking to navigate the complexities of entry requirements.
Section 1: Short-term Visas
UK Transit Visa:
● Validity: 24 hours to 48 hours
Permitted Paid Engagement Visa:
● Validity: Up to a month
Standard Visitor Visa:
● Validity: Up to six months
● 11 months for medical treatment
● Two, five, or ten years for the Long-term Standard Visitor Visa
Parent of a Tier 4 Child Visa:
● Validity: Six months to one year
Marriage Visitor Visa:
● Validity: Up to six months
Section 2: Short-term Work Visas
Short-term Work Visa:
● Validity: Up to six months (Seasonal Worker Visa)
● Two years (International Agreement Visa)
● Validity: Up to one year (Charity Worker Visa, Creative and Sporting Visa)
● Validity: Up to two years (Youth Mobility Scheme Visa, Religious Worker Visa)
● Validity: Up to one or two years (Government Authorized Exchange Visa)
Section 3: Long-term Work Visas
● Validity: One year (Graduate Trainee)
● Validity: Up to five years (General Work Visa)
● Up to three years (Sportsperson Visa and Minister of Religion Visa)
● Five and nine years (Long-term staff)
Section 4: Investor, Business Development, and Talent Visas
Investor, Business Development, and Talent Visa:
● Validity: Five years (Start-up Visa)
● Validity: Three years (Innovator Visa)
● Up to three years (Investor Visa)
● Up to five years (Exceptional Talent Visa)
Section 5: Other Work Visas
● Validity: Five years (Ancestry Visa)
● Up to six months (Domestic Workers in a Private Household Visa)
● Up to five years (Representative of an Overseas Business Visa)
Section 6: Study Visas
Study Visa:
● Validity: Course duration plus one to four months
● Up to six years (Full-time study)
Section 7: Family Visas
Family Visa:
● Validity: 2.5 years, extendable by 2.5 years
● Indefinite Leave to Remain (after five years on a family visa)