Jump to content

Special visitors

This page explains how you come to the United Kingdom as a special visitor.

Who can apply as a special visitor?

You can come to the United Kingdom as a special visitor if you are coming:

  • as child visitor;
  • for private medical treatment;
  • for marriage;
  • as a parent of a child at school;
  • as a student visitor;
  • as a prospective student;
  • as a visitor in transit.

Special visitors can come to the United Kingdom for up to six months unless:

  • you are a parent of a child at school, you you can stay for up to 12 months; or
  • if you are a visitor in transit, you can stay for 48 hours.

All visitors for marriage and prospective students need permission to come to the United Kingdom and parents of children at school need permission to come if they are visiting for more than six months. You will only need permission to come as a child visitor, for private medical treatment, as a student visitor or as a visitor in transit if you are a visa naitonal.

If you a non-visa national, permission to come as a special visitor for six months is not needed unless you are coming for marriage or as a prospective student.

Multiple entry visas are available for special visitors for six months, and one, two, five and 10 years.  See the visa services website, which you can find on the right if this page, for more information.

back to top

How to come to the United Kingdom as a special visitor

There are specific requirements for each of the groups included under the special visitor route, but in all cases you will need to meet the requirements for general visitors relating to supporting yourself without relying on public funds or working, your intention to leave at the end of the visit and that you can meet the cost of your return and onward journey.

Choose which category of the special visitor route you want to come under.

back to top

Can I extend my stay as a special visitor?

The maximum time that you can spend in the United Kingdom at any one time as an special visitor is six months, unless you are the parent of a child at school for which the maximum is 12 months or a visitor in transit, for which the maximum is 48 hours. 

back to top

Can I switch into another category while I am in the UK as a special visitor?

You are not allowed to change into any other category other than that for which your permission to stay was given.

back to top

Can my dependants come to the United Kingdom?

If you are coming to the United Kingdom as a special visitor, your dependants can also come for up to six months.  Your dependants are a wife, husband, civil partner, same sex partner, unmarried partner and child under the age of 18 years old.

Your dependants may need permission to enter before they come. See the visa services website, which you can find on the right side of this page, for more information on how they should apply to come.

back to top

Can I appeal if I am refused leave to enter as a special visitor?

If we refuse your application, the entry clearance officer or the immigration officer will tell you in writing why you have been refused .

If you travel to the United Kingdom without permission to enter and are refused permission to enter, we recommend that you apply for permission to come before attempting to travel to the United Kingdom again.

back to top