Obtain Visa for UK

EU citizens can visit the UK without a visa, but since 2 April 2025 they need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA, £20). Most of the regulations related to visa applications were available until the end of 2020 when the post-BREXIT accommodation period closed. As for the rules regarding how you can obtain a visa for UK starting with 2021, you are invited to talk to one of our immigration solicitors in London. Meanwhile, you can discover in this article how you can obtain different types of visas.

Who needs a visa for UK?

Non-EU/EEA and Swiss citizens who want to enter and visit UK for different purposes must first obtain a visa if they are visa nationals; other nationalities (including EU/EEA and Swiss citizens) need an ETA to visit and a visa to work, study or settle. There are different types of visas for UK, for persons who want to join the family in this country, who want to study, work or simply visit UK. Foreign citizens are advised to verify in the first place the type of visa they need and then prepare the required documents for the application. If you get in touch with our London immigration lawyer, you can receive in-depth support, legal advice, and guidance, in order to ease the visa application process for UK and skip any possible error or problem that might arise during the process.

What types of work visas are available in UK?

The Skilled Worker visa, the International Sportsperson visa, the Minister of Religion visa, and the Global Business Mobility – Senior or Specialist Worker visa (formerly Intra-company Transfer) are long-term work visas for UK (formerly called Tier 2). There are other important types of work visas that can be issued for foreigners interested in working in UK:

• Investor, business development, and talent visas – the Innovator Founder visa (which replaced the Start-up and Innovator visas in April 2023), the Global Talent visa and the High Potential Individual visa (the Entrepreneur and Graduate Entrepreneur visas are closed).
• Short-term visas – Charity Worker visas, Government Authorized Exchange visa, Creative Worker visa, International Agreement visa, Youth Mobility Scheme visa, Seasonal Worker visa, and Religious Worker visa.
• Domestic Workers in a Private Household visa.
• UK Ancestry visa.

Representative of an Overseas Business visa (closed to new applicants in April 2023)

These are a few work visas available for foreigners who want to work in this country. In terms of eligibility, the requirements are quite simple. Persons must obtain a certificate of sponsorship, must be over 18 years of age, and must have a clean criminal record. It is good to know that work visas are available for 5 years, with the possibility of applying for an extension. Our London immigration lawyer can offer complete support for foreigners wanting to obtain a work visa for UK.

Student visa for UK

A student visa for UK will be issued depending on the course length, the place, and the type of studies. Here are the main student visas you can solicit:

• The general student visa – it is required for longer courses, mentioning that you must prove details about the sponsor. This can be the chosen college or university.
• The short-term student visa – this visa is only for English language courses of more than 6 and up to 11 months (applicants aged 16 or over). Shorter courses of up to 6 months can be taken as a Standard Visitor.
• The child student visa – this is normally issued for minors up to 17 years old who will study at independent schools in UK.

How can I join the family in UK?

Spouses or family members of a British citizen or of a person who has UK citizenship must apply for a family visa to enter this country. In this case, one must prove the family relationship, have proper English language knowledge, and have sufficient funds to support the living in UK. The family visa for UK is valid for 6 months for fiancé(e)s or proposed civil partners and 2.5 years for other family members. Talk to our UK immigration lawyer for legal assistance in this matter.

How can I obtain an Innovator Founder visa for UK?

The Innovator Founder visa (which replaced the start-up visa in April 2023) is necessary for foreign entrepreneurs who want to open a business in this country, mentioning that they need to be endorsed by an endorsing body approved by the Home Office, i.e. an organisation that sustains young entrepreneurs. Among the eligibility criteria, it is important to present a business plan with an original and innovative business idea, plus information about the development potential. The new visa regulations for UK must be fully understood before application, a matter where our advisors can help. We have gathered some facts and data, offered by the Office for National Statistics, that you might find interesting:

• around 813,000 people immigrated to the UK in 2025 (provisional ONS estimate), according to statistics;
• most of the persons who moved to UK in 2019 declared they want to live in this country for more than just 12 months;
• around 642,000 people emigrated from the UK in 2025, giving net migration of about 171,000;
• approximately 228,000 students came to UK in 2019 to attend courses of chosen universities and colleges.

Foreign citizens who want to obtain a visa for UK are invited to contact our team of immigration solicitors in London for legal guidance and support. You can rely on the experience of our UK immigration lawyer.