As a visitor, you can apply for a visa which is valid for 6 months; 1 year; 2 years; 5 years; or 10 years.

This is the length of time that you can use the visa. As a visitor, the longest that you can stay in the UK on any one trip is six months.

What duration of visa should I apply for?
Anyone can apply for a six-month visa. But a six-month visa is likely to be the right one for you to apply for if:

* You have never travelled to the UK before; or
* On a previous trip to the UK, you did not comply with UK immigration regulations;

Even if you pay the higher fee for a visa that lasts longer than six months, we may only issue you a six-month visa. If this happens, we will not refund the difference in the fee.

Who can apply for a visa that lasts longer than six months?

Anyone can apply. But longer term visas are aimed at people who:

* Travel regularly; and
* Have established a history of complying with immigration regulations.

What validity visa can I expect to be given?

It is the Entry Clearance Officer's decision how long your visa will be valid but the following guide should give you an indication of the likely validity:

You will need to show that your financial circumstances are likely to remain very similar for the full time that the visa is valid for (for example that you are likely to stay in full-time employment, if that was what you were doing when the visa was issued). You also need to satisfy the Entry Clearance Officer that you won't be basing yourself in the UK, but will be making short trips there, and will leave at the end of each visit.

Longer validity visas are aimed at people who travel frequently to the UK. If you are a regular visitor, you will find it more convenient to apply for the appropriate longer duration visa, and we encourage you to do so.

What if my visa is valid for a shorter time than I asked for?

There is no right to appeal. You can apply again when your visa has run out. Remember that we do not refund
visa application fees.

How long does it take to process longer validity visas?

Many longer validity visas take us longer to process. If you are applying for a 2, 5 or 10 year visa, please allow up to 1 month for us to process it.