If your friends and family members are visiting the UK as a tourist or to attend your Graduation and are a visa national, they will need to apply for and obtain a visa before travelling to the UK.

EU/EEA nationals and other non-visa nationals can choose between applying for Standard Visitor entry clearance (a visa) before travelling to the UK or applying at the port of entry at the UK border. In either case, they need to meet the visitor requirements. The latter option is free and does not involve having to complete an online visa application form. The choice is entirely the visitor’s, but the last option is the one most often used by EU/EEA or other non-visa nationals visiting the UK for six months or less.

eGates: If the visitor is one of the nationalities that can use the eGate and they have a passport containing a biometric chip, they may be able to enter as a visitor for up to 6 months via the eGate without having to see a Border Force Officer. However, they should carry the relevant supporting documents with them in case they are unable to use the eGate. If they cannot enter the UK via an eGate, for example because it is out of order or one is not available, they may need to demonstrate to the Border Force Officer that they meet the visitor requirements. Those who do not hold one of the nationalities listed in the link above must always see a Border Force Officer.

For the avoidance of doubt, just because they do not need to apply for and obtain a visitor visa before travelling to the UK it does not mean they are exempt from the visitor requirements. They will be considered to be a Standard Visitor whilst in the UK and they must comply with all the visitor Immigration Rules.

Applicants should provide:

Evidence that they can maintain and accommodate themselves during their stay. This can be hotel bookings or by a letter from you confirming that you will accommodate them during the stay. If you are renting accommodation, it is also a good idea to include something from the landlord confirming he/she is happy for them to stay with you for the relevant period. Adequate funds will have to be shown to cover food and living costs during the visiting period applied for, this can be the visitor’s or the sponsor’s funds. 

Return or onward ticket or evidence to show sufficient funds to cover the cost of the return (or onward) flight. If it is an onward ticket to a third country then there will also need to be some evidence, such as a visa, to show the applicant will be acceptable there.

Intention to leave the UK after the visit. 

The following section has some suggested means to consider for doing this but it is not exhaustive. If there is some other matter which clearly makes it more likely the visitor will leave, then include it. The key to issue of a visit visa is often seeing a clear enough picture to show departure from the UK is likely.
 
Employment at home. If the visitor is working in their own country they should include a letter from the employer confirming the job, salary, how long they have worked for the employer and that the employer has authorised leave to make the trip. If the applicant is married and the spouse is also working, include employment evidence for them too. Salary slips are also useful, as is a bank account showing regular salary receipts that will usually be on current accounts, so include a suitably long period to show regular payments being made to the account.

Savings. Evidence of a savings account is very useful, especially if it shows savings building up over a period. Do not be tempted to inflate artificially the amount held, as recent large deposits in an otherwise modest account will be regarded with great suspicion unless the source is clearly shown. Investment evidence, if held, is also helpful.

Property ownership documents.

Car ownership documents.

Evidence of studies if the applicant is a student. A confirmation of student enrolment letter showing the course name, the start date, the end date and the date the student is expected to return. It is a fact of life that a student is going to find it harder to show reasons for return than someone employed for a long period, so make sure whatever proof is available is included.

Reasons for the trip. If it is for a Graduation ceremony, then include the Graduation invitation letter. If it is because the person in the UK is expecting a child then include evidence of the pregnancy and expected date or, if already born, of the birth. Make it clear in the invitation letter what the arrangements will be for childcare in the longer term after the visitor returns home e.g. spouse taking care, child minder, nursery. This will help to avoid any suspicion arising that the visitor will seek to stay on longer than the period applied for to help with childcare. Whatever the reason, give it clearly. Missing each other is a perfectly understandable reason, so say so if that is the case.

Include ANYTHING that makes return more likely, mention it and provide documented evidence. Examples being that there are elderly or disabled relatives normally to be cared for at home, impending visits to the home country by other relatives that are living abroad. There can be no exhaustive list so, if in doubt, include it. No applications are likely to be refused because of too much evidence. Many are refused for lack of enough evidence to show intention of returning to home country.

Think of the future. If the application is made successfully on the basis of a two week stay do not, just because the visa is valid for six months, allow the visitor to stay for longer than the period applied for. This would not in itself be illegal but would be a good reason for doubt the next time an application is made by the same visitor for a short visit. A short variation in the period is not likely to be a problem but a substantial variation could well be. The question the visa officer is bound to ask themselves is how they can believe only two weeks is intended when the last such request led to a stay of some months. The visa officer has to be satisfied that the visitor is genuinely seeking entry for the period and purpose specified and such a scenario might well lead to a visa refusal the next time because, given the history, they cannot be satisfied the visitor will not stay longer than applied for.

There are no rules stating what documents the sponsor should provide when sponsoring a visitor to the UK.

However, the sponsor may want to provide the information listed below:

• Evidence of their own immigration status in the UK for example, a photocopy of your passport and UK visa, BRP card or digital status.
• Evidence of their student status, for example, a letter of enrolment from the university (can be obtain from the RISIS portal or the Doctoral Research Office if a PhD student)
• If the visit is for a special family occasion (for example, celebrating a wedding, a birth or an important anniversary), consider including an invitation giving details of the event, when and where it is to take place. If the applicant you are sponsoring is not a close relative or is one of several people invited to the occasion, it would be helpful to explain why the applicant was chosen to attend.
• If the visit is so the applicant can attend the sponsor’s graduation ceremony, the sponsor should also send a letter confirming details of the event.  You can obtain this letter from the University Graduation Office by emailing graduation@reading.ac.uk
• If the sponsor is providing financial support to the applicant, the sponsor will also need to provide evidence of their ability to cover these costs, such as copies of their last six months' bank or building society statements.
• An applicant can provide evidence of their finances if the sponsor is unable to give these.
• If the sponsor is arranging accommodation for the applicant, the sponsor will also need to provide evidence of this in the form of a letter from the landlord/agent (plus a copy of the tenancy agreement) or confirmation of a bed and breakfast/hotel booking.

For more information on supporting evidence, please see the UK Government Visitor: Supporting documents guide.

There is not a specific format to a letter of sponsorship. However, a sponsor should consider including the following information in their letter:

• Sponsor’s full name and UK address.
• Details of sponsor’s immigration status in the UK (for example, what type of visa you currently have).
• Details of sponsor’s course (for example, the course title, start and end dates).
• Explanation of sponsor’s relationship to the applicant, for example, daughter or son.
• If the applicant’s visit is for a holiday and you are a relative or a friend, you should state why the visit is taking place at this particular time, for example, because they want to attend your graduation ceremony or perhaps the visit is taking place out of term time because you have free time.

Note that it is not compulsory for the sponsor to provide financial support and/or accommodation for the applicant. However, if the sponsor is providing financial support and/or accommodation; the sponsor should also include the following information in their letter: 

• Details of sponsor’s occupation and income. 
• Details of exactly how much financial support the sponsor will give the applicant and/or how the sponsor will provide accommodation for the applicant.

There is no need to have this letter certified (in other words, signed) before a solicitor, notary public or commissioner for oaths to confirm it is genuine.

Example sponsor invite letter

Some activities are specifically prohibited for those holding visit visas. Whilst someone is a visitor they are not permitted to work in the UK. Work includes:

• Working for an organisation or business in the UK;
• Conducting business activities in the UK. This includes running or setting up a business as a self-employed person;
• Doing a work placement or internship (including as part of a course of study);
• Providing goods and services;
• Direct selling to the public.

They also cannot claim public funds, extend, or switch from their visit permission, and any receipt of payment for any activity carried out in the UK is also prohibited as a visitor.

The above list covers most relevant prohibited activities for students but the full list of prohibitions if needed can be found in paragraph V 4.4 of Appendix V: Visitor of the Immigration Rules.

If the applicant is a visa national or they have chosen to apply for a Standard Visitor visa before travelling to the UK, they must:

• pay to submit a Standard Visitor visa application online; and
• attend an appointment at a Visa Application Centre to provide their biometrics (fingerprints and photograph) and documents. They should upload their documents online before attending the Visa Application Centre to avoid added fees. 

The earliest they can apply is 3 months before their intended date of travel.

Standard applications take 15 working days (3 weeks) from when they attend their appointment at a Visa Application Centre. They should also allow an extra week for their passport to be endorsed with an entry clearance vignette (visa sticker). 

They may be able to pay extra to upgrade their application to the priority service (5 working days) or super priority service (end of the next working day). Please check what services are available directly with the Visa Application Centre they apply through.

A six-month visitor visa application costs £115 or equivalent in the local currency. 

Those here as visitors are not covered for NHS treatment during their stay, so it is vital that any visitors’ research and arrange suitable travel/medical insurance before they arrive. This is not normally expensive and will help to avoid large medical bills if significant treatment is needed during their stay. 

Please note that we are unable to provide any recommendations on insurance providers.

Most visit applications are granted, but if the application is refused there is no right of appeal against a refusal of a visit visa.

It is possible to make a fresh application following a refusal but, if that is done, it is vital that the reasons for refusal are properly addressed in the second application.

The reasons for refusal will be given in the refusal notice.

If clarification is needed on any aspect of the Rules or you have questions further questions, please contact the International Student Advisory Team.