If you are not a British Citizen or a citizen of one the European Economic Area (EEA) countries, you may need an entry clearance before you travel to the UK.
People from certain countries, known as visa nationals, need an entry clearance to enter the UK for any reason; those from other countries need one only for some reasons: for example, to live as the wife or husband of a British Citizen.
Entry clearance is the formal term to describe the application process for visa nationals who wish to travel to the United Kingdom and for non visa nationals who intend a longer stay or to settle in the UK. The entry clearance certificate, more commonly called a visa, is placed in your passport or travel document.
The job of an entry clearance officer at a British mission overseas is to decide if you qualify for entry before you travel to the United Kingdom. Entry clearance officers work to strict rules and procedures. Go to the Immigration Rules and Diplomatic Service Procedures - Entry Clearance for further information.
If you have a valid UK visa, you will not normally be refused entry to the UK on arrival unless your circumstances have changed, you gave false information, or you did not tell the entry clearance officer important facts when you applied for your visa.
The visa tells the immigration officer at a UK port of arrival:
· the purpose of your travel;
· how long you can stay in the UK; and
· the latest date that you can enter the UK.
Normally, you may enter and leave the UK as many times as you like during the validity of your visa.
You will need to fill in a visa application form and give this to the visa section at a UK mission overseas with your valid passport or travel document
A passport-sized (45mm x 35mm), colour photograph of yourself. The photograph should be:
taken against a light coloured background unmounted, clear and of good qualityprinted on normal photographic paper full face without sunglasses, hat or other head covering unless for ethnic or religious reasons
The visa fee (usually payable in local currency) and any supporting documents requested in the guidance note.Please make sure that you have answered clearly all of the required questions on the form signed and dated the form where asked any supporting documents you show are originals or attested copies you make your application in good time, but not normally more than three months before you plan to travel, unless you are applying for a settlement visa, for example as a husband or wife.
The entry clearance process for the United Kingdom is operated by UKvisas, a joint Home Office and Foreign and Commonwealth Office department, through visa sections in some British diplomatic posts around the world.
It is a requirement under the Immigration Rules that the person applying for entry clearance must be outside of the United Kingdom and Islands at the time of application. Generally, you should apply for an entry clearance at the United Kingdom post in the country where you are normally and legally resident. This is particularly important if you are applying to come and stay in the United Kingdom for a long time, or for settlement. If you are staying only temporarily in the country where you apply, the UK visa section there may not accept your application, or there may be a considerable delay before a decision on your application is made.
