Visit Visa Solicitors UK

Specialist solicitors advising on UK visitor visas and electronic travel authorisation

Travel to the UK now operates under a dual entry system, and understanding which route applies to you is essential. Some nationalities must apply for a Standard Visitor visa before travelling, covering purposes such as tourism, visiting family or friends, business activities, short‑term study, and private medical treatment. However, many travellers no longer require a standard visitor visa and must instead obtain an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA)—a digital pre‑travel permission applied for online before departure. The ETA serves as a security and identity pre‑screening measure and is required even for short stays or transit by nationals of eligible countries. This change forms part of the UK’s wider border modernisation programme. Whether you need a Standard Visitor visa or an ETA depends on your nationality, purpose of travel, and immigration history.

Main Areas Of Practice


Visit visas allows individuals to come to the UK for short stays for tourism, family visits, medical treatment, or certain permitted business activities. It does not allow work or long term residence and requires applicants to show genuine intentions, sufficient funds, and plans to leave the UK after their visit.

Standard Visitor Visa

The Standard Visitor visa or ETA allows individuals to come to the UK temporarily for tourism, family visits, short study, medical treatment or certain business activities. Applicants must show genuine intentions, sufficient funds, and clear plans to leave the UK, as the route does not permit work or long term residence.

A Marriage Visitor Visa

This visa allows individuals to come to the UK to marry or enter a civil partnership without intending to settle afterwards. It is a short term visit route requiring applicants to show genuine plans, sufficient funds, and that they will leave the UK after the ceremony, with no right to work or remain.

Medical visitor visa

A UK Visit Visa for medical treatment allows individuals to travel to the UK for private healthcare, specialist consultations or planned medical procedures. Applicants must show they can fund their treatment and stay, have genuine medical need, and intend to leave the UK once treatment is completed.

Our Clients


Our immigration team supports individuals applying for UK visit visas, offering discreet, tailored guidance through complex circumstances and providing clear, practical solutions to help clients navigate the UK’s evolving immigration system with confidence.

Highlights


Assisting a multinational company, registered Tier 2 Sponsor, whose licence had become invalidated following the company acquisition – our immigration lawyers advised regarding the compliance issues and the position of the existing sponsored employees. The assistance covered managing risks involving the breach of the sponsor duties due to failure to report as well as advising and managing the application for the new sponsor licence simultaneously.


Assisting an EU national with a permanent residence card application (going forward falling within the scope of the EU Settlement Scheme) – this included advising on the break in residence continuity. The application was successful as the issue was fully addressed in the application submitted to the Home Office.


Advising an EU National who had been resident in the UK with Indefinite Leave to Remain status for over 30 years on a successful application for naturalisation as a British citizen to include advice on evidencing UK residence.


Frequently asked questions


Standard Visit Visa

A Standard Visitor visa is usually issued as multiple‑entry unless specifically endorsed otherwise. This means you can enter and leave the UK multiple times during the visa’s validity (6 months, or 2, 5 or 10 years for long‑term visas). Each visit is normally limited to a maximum of 6 months.

ETA

An ETA also allows multiple entries while it remains valid. An ETA is normally valid for 2 years (or until your passport expires), and you may travel to the UK as many times as you wish, with each stay limited to up to 6 months. An ETA does not guarantee entry; final permission is decided at the border.

You can normally stay for up to six months. In limited cases, people undergoing long‑term treatment may apply for a stay of up to 11 months.

Yes. A companion may apply as a Standard Visitor to accompany you, but they must meet the visitor requirements in their own right.

Our Experts


Lisa
Parsons
Senior Associate

London

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Yasmeen
Hamza
Legal Director

London

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Nisha
Patel
Legal Director

London

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Inderpal
Singh Kallah
Associate

London

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David Maximilian
Barra
Solicitor

London

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Tatiana
Young
Immigration Caseworker

London

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Kawther
Al-Aaraji
Senior Associate

London

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