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ARTICLE · 20 AUGUST 2012

Visiting The UK – Immigration Law & Practicalities

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This note provides guidance on the scope of the visitor category under the UK Immigration Rules.

United KingdomImmigration
Edward Reed
Edward Reed
Helen Darling
Helen Darling

This note provides guidance on the scope of the visitor category under the UK Immigration Rules and when visitors will be required to obtain prior entry clearance, i.e. a visa.

ENTRY CLEARANCE

Holders of certain passports, known as "visa nationals" always need a visa to enter the UK; "direct airside transit visa nationals" require a visa even to transit through the UK. The current list of countries whose citizens are classed as visa nationals can be found on the UK Border Agency's UK visas website at http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk.

Those who visit the UK frequently (either on business, for leisure or for family purposes), even if they are not visa nationals, may want to obtain from a British Embassy Visa Section or British Consulate a long term multiple entry visit visa in advance of travel. This allows unlimited entries to the UK for up to 6 months at any one time during the validity of the visa.

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