Visiting the UK: ETA and visitor visas
Last verified 10 September 2026 against GOV.UK sources·Page updated 10 September 2026
| Visa-free nationalities | ETA required — £20, valid 2 years, multiple entries |
|---|---|
| Visa nationalities | Standard Visitor visa — £135, up to 6 months |
| Maximum stay | 6 months per visit |
| Work | Not permitted (limited business activities allowed) |
| Study | Up to 6 months, including short English courses |
How you enter the UK as a visitor depends on your nationality.
Visa-free nationalities: the ETA
Nationals of visa-free countries — including the EU, the US, Japan, South Korea, Australia and Canada — do not need a visa for visits of up to six months, but since 2025 they must hold an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before travelling. It works like the US ESTA: apply online or through the app, pay £20, and approval is normally quick. The ETA lasts two years (or until your passport expires) and covers unlimited visits.
Visa nationalities: Standard Visitor visa
Nationals of countries on the visa list — including China, India, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines and Vietnam — need a Standard Visitor visa (£135) before travelling, applied for with biometrics at a visa application centre. It is normally issued for six months; long-validity versions (2, 5 or 10 years) cost more but each visit is still capped at six months.
What visitors can do
Tourism, visiting family and friends, short recreational courses, and study of up to six months — including English-language courses. Business visitors can attend meetings, conferences and interviews, negotiate contracts and carry out limited work-adjacent activities, but visitors cannot take employment, work for a UK company or be paid from the UK. From 8 October 2026 the permitted list widens slightly under Statement of Changes HC 584: workshops, debates and skills competitions are allowed for all visitors, performers may attend rehearsals, and training no longer has to be unavailable at home. If you intend to work or study longer, you need the right visa before you travel.
Planning a longer stay
There is no way to “switch” from a visit into work or study from inside the UK in most cases — you normally have to leave and apply from abroad. If your real plan is a course longer than six months or a job, start from the Student visa or the work routes instead.