Planning a trip to the UK? Here’s what you need to know about the Visitor visa
The UK Standard Visitor visa opens the door to holidays, family visits, and short-term stays. Here’s a simple guide to help you get it right before your journey begins.
For many Australians and New Zealanders, the UK isn’t just another travel destination. It’s a place of history, family connections, and endless adventures. Whether you’re planning to sip tea in a London café, hike through the rolling hills of Wales, or catch up with cousins in Manchester, there’s something magical about visiting the UK.
But before you start packing your bags, there’s one important thing to tick off your list: your visa.
Do you need a visa to visit the UK?
If you’re an Aussie or a Kiwi, you may have heard about the UK’s new Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA). While some travellers can use that, not everyone qualifies. If you fall into the group that doesn’t, you’ll need to apply for the UK Standard Visitor Visa.
It’s your ticket to stay in the UK for up to six months — plenty of time to explore castles, meet family, or even join a short course at a British university.
What can you do on a Standard Visitor visa?
Think of this visa as your all-access pass for short stays. With it, you can:
- Be a tourist — wander through the British Museum, shop on Oxford Street, or exploring the Scottish Highlands.
- Visit family — perfect if your grandparents, cousins or siblings live in the UK.
- Attend business events — like conferences, meetings or seminars.
- Take a short course — anything up to six months.
- Get medical treatment — if you’re heading to the UK for private healthcare.
What makes you eligible?
Here’s what the UK wants to see from applicants:
- You’ll head home after your visit (no long-term living on back-to-back visas).
- You can afford your stay — including flights, accommodation and day-to-day expenses.
- You’re applying from your current home country (Australia or New Zealand in this case).
- You meet any extra conditions if you’re travelling for things like study or medical treatment.
A common mistake people make is forgetting to show strong ties to their life back home. That’s where many applications fail. Don’t worry — our expert immigration advisers know exactly how to highlight your personal circumstances to avoid refusals.
The paperwork you’ll need
Here’s the checklist to get you started:
- A valid passport
- Financial evidence — six months of bank statements or payslips or a sponsor’s proof if someone else is supporting you.
- A travel itinerary — flight bookings, hotel reservations or even an invitation letter from family or friends in the UK.
- Proof of your ties to Australia or New Zealand — like an employment letter, property documents or evidence of family commitments.
Planning to visit often?
If you see yourself popping over to the UK regularly — maybe you’ve got business interests there, or your partner lives in London — you might want to consider a long-term Standard Visitor visa. These come in two, five, or even 10-year options, though each individual stay is still capped at six months.
The paperwork can feel overwhelming, but that’s where we come in. We’ll help you put together a strong application so you can focus on the fun part — planning your adventure.