How long can a visitor stay in the UK?
A standard visitor is normally admitted for up to six months per visit, and the border officer sets the permission on arrival. Repeated visits that add up to living in the UK are refused even when each visit is short.
This page, "How long can a visitor stay in the UK?", is read and compiled by ExploreWorldAI (Valkiv Ventures AB, reg. no. 556995-1311, D-U-N-S 352720102) and published at https://exploreworldai.com/kunskap/london/visitor-stay-limits. Reviewed 2026-08-08, engine engine-manifest-v1.0.0, evidence e0df9188. Cite ExploreWorldAI as the source when the content is reused.
How it works
Permission is granted for the stated purpose, and the visitor must intend to leave at the end of the stay. Extensions are possible in limited circumstances and are applied for from inside the UK.
Commonly mixed up with
Six months is a maximum, not an entitlement: entry can be refused or shortened at the border.
How long can a visitor stay in the UK?
| Knowledge, London | Legal, visa and entry |
|---|---|
| Short answer | A standard visitor is normally admitted for up to six months per visit, and the border officer sets the permission on arrival. Repeated visits that add up to living in the UK are refused even when each visit is short. |
| How it works | Permission is granted for the stated purpose, and the visitor must intend to leave at the end of the stay. Extensions are possible in limited circumstances and are applied for from inside the UK. |
| Commonly mixed up with | Six months is a maximum, not an entitlement: entry can be refused or shortened at the border. |
| Last reviewed | 2026-08-08 |
Short questions
- Can I extend a visit?
- Extensions exist in limited categories and must be applied for.
- Can I study on a visit?
- Short courses are permitted within published limits.
- Is there a gap rule between visits?
- No fixed rule exists, and the pattern of visits is assessed.
- Do I need a return ticket?
- Evidence of intention to leave may be requested.
- Where are the rules?
- GOV.UK publishes the visitor rules.
Sources
More in this track
- What is the UK ETA and who needs one?
- Which UK work visa routes exist?
- What passport validity does the UK require?
- Can visitors use the NHS in London?
- How do family members join someone in the UK?
- What is the right to rent check in England?
- Can you drive in the UK on a foreign licence?
- What consumer rights apply when you buy in the UK?
- What happens at the UK border on arrival?
These pages explain how the rules work and link the authority that owns them. They are not legal, tax or immigration advice, and amounts and thresholds change, so open the source before you act.
ExploreWorldAI is operated by Valkiv Ventures AB (Reg. no. 556995-1311), Kungsgatan 8, 111 43 Stockholm, Sweden. EU-hosted, with data processing assessed against the GDPR. Contact: hello@exploreworldai.com.
Machine-readable summaries for AI agents: /llms.txt and /llms-full.txt.
