Visitor Visa for Tourism, Medical Treatment, and Business in the United Kingdom

In this blog, we will explain everything related to the Visitor Visa for tourism, medical treatment, and business that you can apply for to travel to the United Kingdom.

Visitor Visa

The United Kingdom, with an area of 243,610 square kilometers, is full of wonderful places to visit, such as Edinburgh and Manchester. It is home to numerous architectural treasures, including Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, and Buckingham Palace. It also has one of the largest collections of art and history housed in its museums.

For Colombians who wish to experience the UK, a tourist visa allows them to explore Wales, England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.

The visa can be valid for up to 10 years, although it is commonly issued for 6 months, and holders are not permitted to stay in the country for more than 180 days. The visa fee varies depending on its duration.

Standard Visitor Visa Fees:

• 6 months: £100 or $120 USD
• 2 years: £376 or $453 USD
• 5 years: £670 or $808 USD
• 10 years: £837 or $1010 USD

Requirements #1:

• Submit the application 3 months before the intended travel date.
• A valid passport with at least two blank pages and sufficient validity for the stay in the UK.
• Arrival and return dates.
• Purpose of the stay, including the city where you will stay and hotel details.
• Personal identification documents. If traveling with or visiting family members, their details must also be provided.
• Proof of annual income, along with an estimate of the travel expenses, such as accommodation and living costs. The current reference is approximately £1,334 per month if staying in London or £1,043 for other cities. #2
• Criminal record certificate.

Important Considerations:

• All documents must be apostilled or legalized.
• Documents must be translated into English.
• The application will not be processed without biometric information.

Additional Documents that May Be Requested:

• Travel history for the past 10 years.
• Employer’s address and phone number (to ensure the tourist returns to their home country).
• Partner’s information, including:
  • Passport number
  • Address
  • Name
• Information on the person financing the trip.
• Information about family members in the UK, including:
  • Name
  • Address
  • Passport number.

Application Process

Start the process by applying online and scheduling an appointment at a visa application center. #4 In Colombia, centers are located in Bogotá, Barranquilla, and Medellín.

• For the appointment:
  • Arrive 15 minutes before the scheduled time.
  • The appointment must be attended personally; no one can attend on behalf of the applicant.
  • Bring a passport with at least one blank page on both sides.
  • At the Visa Application Center, biometric data (fingerprints and photographs) will be taken. Children under 5 years old do not need to provide fingerprints, and minors under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
  • Document scanning services are available at the center for a fee.

The purpose of the appointment is to verify identity through the passport and biometric data. The Visa Application Center may retain your documents or passport. #3

The decision on the visa will typically be made within three to seven weeks, and you will receive an email with the result of the application.

If you wish to cancel or change the visa application, you can contact UKVI. #6

Minors can also travel unaccompanied to the UK and do not need to present a criminal record certificate, though they must provide the other required documents. Additionally, they must submit:

• Written consent from parents or guardians if they are not traveling with the child.
• If the minor is traveling alone:
  • The name and birthdate of the person receiving the child in the UK.
  • An explanation of the relationship between the child and the person receiving them.
  • Written consent from the person receiving the child to care for them in the UK.

If the minor is not staying with a close relative, additional requirements apply:

• The parent, guardian, or school must notify the local authority if:
  • The child is under 16 years old.
  • The child will be staying for more than 28 days with someone who is not a close relative.
• If the stay is less than 28 days, the above applies only if:
  • The child is part of a group, such as a school group or tour group.
  • The child is accompanied by an adult, such as a teacher.

In all cases, the responsible adult’s details must be provided during the application.

Medical Treatment or Organ Donation Visitor Visa

The UK’s healthcare system is one of the most respected in the world, offering foreign nationals access to private healthcare through the Medical Treatment Visitor Visa. Foreigners can also access public healthcare, provided their home government agrees to cover the costs.

Foreign nationals may also travel to the UK to donate an organ to a family member or close friend, subject to compatibility assessments.

This visa allows a maximum stay of 6 months. For treatments longer than 6 months, a standard visitor visa should be applied for, and if necessary, extended for a fee of £1,000. Extensions are unlimited but always cost £1,000. #8

Requirements for Private Medical Treatment #8:

• Meet the basic requirements for a tourist visa (see Tourist Visa section).
• Have a medical condition requiring treatment in the UK.
• Have made arrangements for the treatment.
• Have sufficient funds to cover the treatment and stay.
• Commit to leaving the UK after the treatment or when the visa expires.
• The condition must not pose a public health risk in the UK (i.e., it must not be contagious).

Required Documentation:

• A letter from a doctor or consultant detailing:
  • The condition requiring treatment in the UK.
  • The estimated duration and cost of treatment.
  • The location of the treatment.
• Tuberculosis test results. #10

If the treatment is provided by the NHS, authorization from the foreign government confirming payment for the treatment must be provided.

For organ donations, the recipient must be a close relative or have a personal connection, and they must demonstrate legal residence in the UK.

Required Documents for Organ Donation:

• A letter from the lead transplant surgeon or a registered consultant confirming:
  • Compatibility between the donor and recipient.
  • The genetic or personal relationship between the donor and recipient.
  • The time and place of the transplant or tests.

This letter must be dated within three months of the donor’s arrival in the UK.

Business Visitor Visa

The UK is an excellent place for conducting business and is known for being welcoming to foreign businesspeople. Therefore, a special visa is available for business activities.

This Visa Allows You to #11:

1. Attend interviews, meetings, conferences, and seminars.
2. Engage in business activities, sign agreements, and contracts.
3. Attend trade fairs to promote a business.
4. Conduct market research or recruitment activities.
5. Give unpaid lectures.
6. Inspect goods or services provided by a UK company.
7. Train UK employees for projects.
8. Serve as a software or hardware advisor, provided the business is under contract with a UK company.

Foreign professionals from certain fields may also carry out temporary work in the UK. #11

Important Considerations:

• The migration center may request additional documents.
• Documents not in English or Welsh must be translated.

References:

#1 Visa Information
#2 UK Visa Info
#3 UK Gov Application
#4 Visa Application Centers
#5 VFS Global
#6 Contact UKVI
#7 Traveling Under 18
#8 Medical Treatment Visa
#9 GMC UK
#10 TB Test
#11 Business Visitor Visa