Visitor

The Visitor route

The Visitor (standard) route was introduced into the Immigration Rules with effect from 24 April 2015 via Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules HC 1025. It replaced and consolidated the following previous visit and other categories:

  1. general visitor

  2. business visitor

  3. child visitor

  4. sports visitor

  5. entertainer visitor

  6. PLAB test

  7. clinical attachments

  8. prospective entrepreneur

  9. private medical treatment

For applications made after 24 April 2015 and before 9 am on 1 December 2020, the Immigration Rules for visitors were set out in Appendix: V Visitor Rules. This was intended to be a free-standing appendix to the Immigration Rules with very few cross-references to other Parts or Appendices.

From 9 am on 1 December 2020, the Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules HC 813 removed Appendix V and introduced the following six appendices into the Immigration Rules:

  1. Immigration Rules, Appendix V: Visitor

  2. Immigration Rules, Appendix Visitor: Permitted Activities

  3. Immigration Rules, Appendix Visitor: Visa National list

  4. Immigration Rules, Appendix Visitor: Permit Free Festivals

  5. Immigration Rules, Appendix Visitor: Transit Without Visa Scheme, and

  6. Immigration Rules, Appendix S2 Healthcare

To view the latest version of this document and thousands of others like it, sign-in with LexisNexis or register for a free trial.

Powered by Lexis+®
Latest Immigration News

Home Office clarifies guidance on ETA rules for dual citizens

On 29 May 2025 the Home Office published guidance covering how the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme will apply for persons who are dual citizens of the UK/Ireland and countries whose nationals require an ETA to visit the UK (if they do not otherwise hold a UK visa). The guidance notes that such persons are not eligible for an ETA. Instead, these individuals must prove their right to travel to the UK by presenting a valid British or Irish passport, or another valid passport that contains a certificate of entitlement to the right of abode. However, it goes on to state that ‘currently’, British dual citizens who do not have a valid British passport but hold a valid passport from ETA-required countries will continue to be allowed to enter the UK on their non-British passport without an ETA.  In an email to stakeholders dated 30 June 2025, the Home Office has confirmed that this is a ‘temporary measure’ during the current ‘transition period’. This means that ‘prior to full enforcement’ of the ETA scheme, it does not expect carriers to deny boarding to dual British or Irish citizens who are travelling only on their non-British/Irish document or without a certificate of entitlement. However, such persons will need to ensure that they make the necessary arrangements prior to the end of this transition period. Presumably this refers to the point that the Home Office brings into force section 76 of the Nationality and Borders Act 2022, which extends carriers liability penalties where a person does not have an ETA but requires one.

View Immigration by content type :

Popular documents