Overview
The UK does not issue a separate tourist visa. Visitors who need permission to enter for tourism, holidays, sightseeing, or to visit friends and family apply for a Standard Visitor Visa. It is the single visitor category under the Immigration Rules, and it covers everything from a two-week holiday in the Scottish Highlands to a month touring Glasgow, Edinburgh and the Hebrides.
Not everyone needs to apply in advance. Nationals of many countries can enter the UK without a visa for stays of up to six months. However, since January 2024, most non-visa nationals travelling by air or through the Eurostar are required to hold a valid Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before travelling. An ETA is a simpler, lower-cost electronic check; it is not a visa. Nationals who do need a visa must apply for the Standard Visitor Visa regardless of the purpose of their visit.
ETA or visa? Whether you need an ETA or a full Standard Visitor Visa depends on your nationality. US, Canadian, Australian and most EU nationals need an ETA, not a visa. Nationals of Pakistan, India, Nigeria, Bangladesh and many other countries need a Standard Visitor Visa. We confirm which applies to you at no charge before you commit to anything.
This page explains the Standard Visitor Visa: who needs it, what the Home Office is looking for, and how our Glasgow team prepares a strong application. We act for visitors arriving into Glasgow and travelling throughout Scotland and the rest of the UK.
Key Benefits
ETA or visa confirmed first
The first question is whether you need a Standard Visitor Visa or just an Electronic Travel Authorisation. We confirm this for your nationality before you spend anything, so you are not paying for a full visa application when an ETA would do, or assuming you need nothing when you do.
Funds and ties evidence built
The Home Office wants to see that you can fund your trip and that you have strong reasons to return home. We help you gather the right bank statements, employment letters, property documents and itinerary, and frame them clearly for the caseworker who will decide your application.
Previous refusal addressed
A visitor refusal carries no right of appeal. The remedy is a fresh application with a stronger file. If you have been refused before, we review the refusal letter and rebuild the application around the reasons given, before you pay another Home Office fee.
Scotland itinerary support
Visitors planning to see Glasgow, the Highlands, Loch Lomond, Edinburgh or the Scottish islands often ask whether a detailed itinerary helps. It does. We advise on what supporting travel evidence is useful and what is not, and make sure your application reflects your genuine plans.
Our Service Packages
Advice Package
A one-to-one consultation with a Glasgow immigration adviser. We confirm whether you need a Standard Visitor Visa or an ETA, identify how you meet the funds and ties requirements, and give you a written action plan for your application.
From £100 + VAT
Application Package
Full end-to-end Standard Visitor Visa application. We prepare every document, draft your personal statement and cover letter, complete the online form, and submit on your behalf. Includes one revision after Home Office contact.
From £450 + VAT
Document Check
Already prepared your own application? Our advisers review every document and the completed form before you submit, with a written checklist of any gaps in your funds, ties or supporting evidence.
From £200 + VAT
Refusal Review
If your visitor visa was refused, we review the refusal letter, identify what was missing or weak, and rebuild the application from the ground up. Visitor refusals carry no right of appeal; a well-prepared fresh application is almost always the right route.
From £300 + VAT
What is a UK tourist visa?
There is no visa called a UK tourist visa. The Home Office does not issue a category with that name. Visitors who want to come to the UK for a holiday, sightseeing trip, or a visit to family or friends apply for the Standard Visitor Visa. It is the single visitor category under the Immigration Rules, and it covers all recreational visits of up to six months, including tourism, seeing Glasgow and the Scottish Highlands, attending events, and short recreational study.
The confusion around the name is understandable. Travel agencies, airline booking forms and hotel confirmation emails all use the phrase “tourist visa” informally. On the Home Office application form, on your visa itself, and in the Immigration Rules, the correct term is Standard Visitor Visa.
ETA or Standard Visitor Visa: which do you need?
Not every visitor to the UK needs to apply for a Standard Visitor Visa. The UK divides nationalities into two groups: visa nationals and non-visa nationals.
Visa nationals must apply for a Standard Visitor Visa before travelling. This group includes nationals of Pakistan, India, Nigeria, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Ghana, China and many others. Without a valid visa in your passport, you will not be boarded at departure and will be refused entry at the UK border.
Non-visa nationals do not need a Standard Visitor Visa for stays of up to six months. This group includes nationals of the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and most EU member states. However, most non-visa nationals who travel to the UK by air or through the Eurostar are now required to hold a valid Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before they travel. The ETA is not a visa; it is a digital pre-travel check linked electronically to your passport.
If you are unsure which category applies to your nationality, contact our Glasgow office before you apply for anything. The check takes a few minutes and is free.
What is the Electronic Travel Authorisation?
The Electronic Travel Authorisation is a pre-travel permission introduced by the UK government. It is required for most non-visa nationals travelling to the UK by air or through the Eurostar, starting from January 2024 for most nationalities.
To obtain an ETA you apply online through the UK ETA app or the gov.uk website. You do not attend a visa application centre. You do not provide biometrics. The fee is around £16. Most decisions arrive within a few hours, though the Home Office advises applying before you book travel. The ETA is linked to your passport and checked electronically when you board.
An ETA permits multiple trips to the UK. It does not in itself determine the length of any stay; that is decided by the Border Force officer at entry, up to a maximum of six months per visit. An ETA is not a visa and does not grant the same permission as a Standard Visitor Visa; it is a lighter pre-clearance mechanism for nationalities the UK treats as lower risk.
Who needs a Standard Visitor Visa?
You need a Standard Visitor Visa if your nationality appears on the Home Office visa national list. Common nationalities that require a Standard Visitor Visa include citizens of Pakistan, India, Nigeria, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Ghana, South Africa, Iran, China, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and most of Africa, Asia, the Middle East and South America.
You also need a Standard Visitor Visa if you have previously been refused entry to the UK, if you have a criminal record that may affect your suitability, or if the Border Force or a visa officer has reason to doubt your intentions. In those cases, even a non-visa national may be directed to apply in advance.
If in doubt, the gov.uk “Check if you need a UK visa” tool gives the official answer for your nationality and purpose of travel.
What you can and cannot do on a Standard Visitor Visa
The Standard Visitor Visa permits you to:
- Take a holiday or tourist trip anywhere in the UK, including Glasgow, the Scottish Highlands, Loch Lomond, Edinburgh, the Hebrides and the rest of Scotland.
- Visit family or friends who are settled or living lawfully in the UK.
- Attend a wedding, graduation, festival, sporting event or cultural occasion.
- Carry out short permitted business activities, such as attending meetings, conferences, or a training course.
- Study a recreational or leisure course for up to 30 days, as long as it is not a formal academic qualification.
- Receive private medical treatment.
The Standard Visitor Visa strictly prohibits:
- Taking up paid employment or working for a UK employer.
- Doing self-employed work in the UK.
- Accessing public funds or the NHS for reasons beyond urgent treatment.
- Extending your stay beyond six months without applying for a different visa category.
- Using the visitor route as a back door to living in the UK long term.
Working in breach of visitor conditions is a serious immigration offence and can lead to removal and a future ban.
What the Home Office looks for
The Home Office decision on a Standard Visitor Visa rests on two core questions. First: is your visit genuine? Second: will you leave at the end of it? Every piece of evidence in the application needs to answer one or both of those questions.
Caseworkers look at:
- Funds: can you pay for your accommodation, travel and living costs while in the UK without working here or relying on public funds? Bank statements are the primary evidence.
- Ties to your home country: what brings you back? Employment, a business, a family, property ownership, or an ongoing course of study all count as ties. The stronger and more documented these are, the more confident a caseworker can be that you will leave.
- Purpose of visit: is the reason for your trip consistent with the visitor route? A clear, realistic itinerary supports this. Vague or inconsistent answers are a common reason for refusal.
- Immigration history: have you complied with previous UK or overseas visa conditions? A previous refusal, overstay, or ban increases scrutiny on a new application.
There is no minimum income figure, no English language test, and no salary requirement for the Standard Visitor Visa. The Home Office does not set a number; it makes a judgment on whether the evidence as a whole is convincing.
Documents for a Standard Visitor Visa
A well-prepared Standard Visitor Visa application typically includes:
- A current passport valid for the duration of the visit, plus any previous passports.
- Bank statements for the last three to six months showing available funds.
- Proof of employment, such as a letter from your employer confirming your role, salary and approved leave dates.
- If self-employed or a business owner, company registration documents, tax returns, or business bank statements.
- If a student, a letter from your institution confirming enrolment and the expected return date.
- Proof of property ownership or a rental agreement in your home country.
- Evidence of family ties, such as a marriage certificate or children’s birth certificates where these are in your home country.
- A clear itinerary covering where you will stay in the UK, with hotel or accommodation bookings or, if staying with family, an invitation letter from your host in Glasgow or elsewhere.
- Proof of onward or return travel.
The exact list depends on your nationality, circumstances and purpose of visit. We issue every client a tailored checklist rather than a generic one.
Visiting Glasgow and Scotland
Glasgow is one of the UK’s most visited cities, drawing visitors from across South Asia, Africa, the Middle East and the Americas for its art, architecture, culture, food, and as a gateway to the Scottish Highlands and Loch Lomond. Many of our clients in Glasgow are sponsoring or supporting visitors who want to explore the city, attend the Edinburgh Festival, travel the NC500, or visit family settled in the west of Scotland.
A detailed itinerary is not a requirement, but it is useful evidence. A visitor who can show a realistic plan, including where they are staying in Glasgow, planned day trips to Loch Lomond or the Highlands, and return travel, gives the caseworker a clearer picture of a genuine holiday. Our Glasgow advisers help clients put together itinerary support that works alongside the core funds and ties evidence.
We act for visitors arriving into Glasgow Airport and travelling throughout Scotland, as well as those landing at London airports and making their way north. The Standard Visitor Visa covers the whole of the UK, so there is no need for a separate Scotland or Glasgow permit.
Long-term visitor visas
The Standard Visitor Visa comes in several validity options beyond the standard six months. If you plan to visit the UK regularly over several years, a long-term visa may be more cost-effective than reapplying each time.
- 2-year visitor visa: £506, multiple visits, each up to six months.
- 5-year visitor visa: £903, multiple visits over five years.
- 10-year visitor visa: £1,128, multiple visits over ten years.
The longer-term visas do not allow you to stay for longer than six months on any single visit. The Home Office may require a stronger demonstration of ties and financial stability for a long-term grant, since it represents a longer-term commitment. We advise whether a long-term visa is the right choice for your travel pattern.
Visitors do not pay the Immigration Health Surcharge on any Standard Visitor Visa, short or long term.
Standard Visitor Visa fees and costs in 2026
The Home Office fees for a Standard Visitor Visa are:
- Up to 6 months: £135
- 2 years: £506
- 5 years: £903
- 10 years: £1,128
On top of the Home Office fee you pay the visa application centre service charge for processing your biometrics and documents. This varies by country and centre. You do not pay the Immigration Health Surcharge. Budget also for any document translation costs. We give a full written cost breakdown at the assessment so there are no surprises.
ETA applicants pay around £16, with no visa application centre visit required.
How long a Standard Visitor Visa takes
Standard processing is around three weeks from your biometrics appointment. This can vary significantly by country and time of year. Priority and super-priority services are available at many visa application centres, reducing the decision time to a few working days or 24 hours for a higher fee.
We advise on the priority options available at the visa application centre serving your location, and whether paying for faster processing is worth it for your travel dates. If you have a fixed event in Glasgow or Scotland, such as a family wedding or festival, building in adequate processing time is essential.
If your visitor visa is refused
A Standard Visitor Visa refusal carries no right of appeal to a tribunal. This is different from most other visa categories. The practical remedy for almost all refused visitor visa applications is a fresh application, built around the specific reasons given in the refusal letter.
The refusal letter will state the reasons for the decision. Common reasons are insufficient funds evidence, weak ties to the home country, an unclear purpose of visit, or doubts about the applicant’s intentions to leave. A well-prepared fresh application that directly addresses each reason has a reasonable prospect of success.
In very limited circumstances, where a refusal involves an arguable breach of fundamental rights, judicial review of the decision may be available. This is a court process, not an immigration tribunal appeal. We advise honestly on whether the facts of your case reach that threshold, and refer to a specialist solicitor where they do.
We review every refusal letter and rebuild applications from the ground up. Paying a second Home Office fee without fixing the underlying weakness is money wasted.
Applying after a previous refusal
A previous refusal does not make a fresh application impossible, but it does make full disclosure and a stronger file essential. The Home Office will see the previous refusal when you apply again. Any inconsistency between the old and new applications raises further concerns.
We work through the original refusal letter, identify every reason given, and build the fresh file around each one. Where the previous application had a genuine weakness, such as incomplete bank statements or a vague itinerary, we make sure it is comprehensively addressed. Where the refusal was unreasonable on the facts, we make that argument clearly in the covering letter.
The visitor route does not lead to settlement
The Standard Visitor Visa is a temporary permission only. It does not lead to Indefinite Leave to Remain and it does not count toward the qualifying residence period for settlement. You cannot switch from a Standard Visitor Visa to most other visa categories from inside the UK.
If you want to live in the UK long term, work here, join a family member, or study for a formal qualification, a visitor visa is not the right route. We can advise on the correct visa category for your circumstances and whether you meet the requirements.
2024 to 2026: key changes for visitors
The biggest change for visitors in recent years has been the phased introduction of the ETA. Most non-visa nationals travelling to the UK by air or through the Eurostar now need to obtain an ETA before departure. The rollout began in early 2024 and has been extended to most nationalities.
Home Office application fees have increased. Visitors should check current rates on gov.uk before applying, as fees change periodically and this page’s figures carry verification tags.
The core eligibility rules for the Standard Visitor Visa, including the six-month maximum stay, the prohibition on working, and the funds and ties assessment, remain unchanged.
How UK Visa Assistance helps
UK Visa Assistance is a Glasgow immigration practice. We prepare Standard Visitor Visa applications end to end: confirming whether you need a visa or an ETA, assessing your funds and ties evidence, drafting your personal statement and cover letter, completing the online form, and submitting on your behalf. We also review refused applications and rebuild them for resubmission. We work on fixed fees agreed in advance.
Our Glasgow office acts for visitors planning to holiday in Scotland, tour the Highlands, visit family in Glasgow, or travel anywhere in the UK. Call 0141 496 0321 or request a callback for a free initial assessment of your Standard Visitor Visa.
Frequently asked questions
No. There is no separate UK tourist visa. Visitors who need permission to enter for tourism, holidays, sightseeing, or visiting friends and family all apply for the Standard Visitor Visa. It is the single visitor category under the Immigration Rules and covers recreational trips of up to six months per visit.
It depends on your nationality. Nationals of many countries, including the US, Canada, Australia and most EU member states, do not need a Standard Visitor Visa but do need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before travelling by air or through the Eurostar. Nationals of countries such as Pakistan, India, Nigeria and Bangladesh need a Standard Visitor Visa. We confirm which applies to you before you apply for anything.
The ETA is a digital pre-travel permission introduced by the UK government for non-visa nationals travelling to the UK by air or through the Eurostar. It is linked to your passport electronically. You do not need to attend a visa application centre or provide biometrics. The fee is around £16, and most applications are decided within hours. It is not a visa and does not replace the Standard Visitor Visa for nationalities that require one.
The Standard Visitor Visa allows stays of up to six months per visit. The visa itself can be valid for six months, two years, five years or ten years, but each individual visit is still capped at six months. The length of any single stay is decided by the Border Force officer at entry, not solely by the visa's validity period.
The Home Office fee for a Standard Visitor Visa is £135 for a six-month visa. Long-term visitor visas cost more: £506 for two years, £903 for five years, and £1,128 for ten years. Visitors do not pay the Immigration Health Surcharge. There may be additional costs for the visa application centre service and any document translation.
Standard processing is around three weeks from your biometrics appointment. Priority and super-priority services are available at some visa application centres for a higher fee, which can reduce decision time to a few working days. We advise whether the faster services are available for your location and worth the cost.
The Home Office wants to see that you can fund your stay without working in the UK and that you have strong reasons to return home after your visit. Typical evidence includes bank statements for the last three to six months, proof of employment or business in your home country, property ownership or rental agreement, family ties, and a clear itinerary. The exact list depends on your circumstances. We issue a tailored checklist at the first consultation.
No. The Standard Visitor Visa strictly prohibits paid work, employment, and self-employment in the UK. You cannot take up a job, work for a UK employer, or receive payment from a UK source for your labour. You can attend meetings, conferences, and short permitted business activities, and you can study for up to 30 days as part of a recreation or leisure course. Working in breach of the conditions is a serious immigration offence.
Yes. Visiting family or friends in the UK is a permitted activity under the Standard Visitor route. The Home Office still needs to see that your visit is genuine, that you can fund your stay, and that you intend to leave at the end of it. If you are staying with family in Glasgow, a letter of invitation and confirmation of their UK status can support the application, alongside your own funds evidence.
Refusal rates vary by nationality and individual circumstances. The most common reasons for refusal are insufficient funds evidence, weak ties to the home country, an unclear purpose of visit, or previous immigration history. A well-prepared application with clear, consistent evidence significantly reduces the risk of refusal. We review every application before submission to identify and address these gaps.
A Standard Visitor Visa refusal carries no right of appeal. The only practical remedy for most applicants is a fresh application with a stronger, more complete file. We review the refusal letter carefully, identify the specific reasons given, and rebuild the application around them. In very rare cases where a refusal involves a fundamental rights issue, judicial review may be a route; we advise on merits and refer to a specialist where that applies.
Yes. Many of our clients are visitors planning to see Glasgow, the Scottish Highlands, Loch Lomond, Edinburgh, or the Scottish islands. We prepare Standard Visitor Visa applications for people arriving into Glasgow and travelling throughout Scotland and the rest of the UK. Our Glasgow office handles applications from clients around the world whose travel plans include Scotland.