Visitor visas for the UK explained
Family and friends of South Africans living in the UK are often unsure whether they need to apply for a visa when they want to visit the UK, and what type of visitor visa they should apply for.
The most important thing for South Africans wanting to visit the UK to keep in mind is that since July 2009, all South Africans planning to visit the UK are required to apply for a visitor visa in South Africa before travelling to the UK.
Visitor in Transit Visa
In order to come to the UK as a visitor in transit you will have to arrive in the UK, pass through immigration control and then leave the UK again within 48 hours, to a final destination outside the Common Travel area (Ireland, the UK, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands).
Visitor Visa
If you are visiting for longer than 48 hours, you will have to apply for a visitor visa. The visitor visa allows one to visit the UK for a maximum period of six months, after which the holder of the visa must leave the UK.
The short-term visitor visa is valid for six months, but it is also possible to apply for a multiple entry visitor visa in the UK. The 2-,5- and 10-year multiple entry visitor visa are available for persons planning to visit the UK on a regular basis.
The multiple entry visitor visas allow one to travel to the United Kingdom for a maximum of 6 months in total in any 12 month period. The six months can be made up of several short trips or one trip of six months.
When leaving the UK the permit holder does not need to return to his/her home country, and is allowed to travel to any other country as long as they are outside the UK.
The visitor visa is multiple entry, which means one do not need to travel and stay for the full 6 months in the UK. For example one can travel for 2 months to the UK and leave for 2 months, travel again for 2 months and leave for 2 month etc., as long as the permit holder does not stay in the UK for more than 6 months per 12 months.
It is also important for South Africans to keep in mind that there are very strict rules about conducting business whilst on a visitor visa, and persons planning to conduct business are advised to contact BIC regarding business visitor visas to the UK.
Travelling with children
Persons travelling from South Africa to the UK, with children should also take note of a very important amendment to the South African Immigration Act, regulation 6. This regulation requires anyone travelling to or from South Africa with children under the age of 18 years old to be in possession of a valid passport and an unabridged birth certificate for every child. The amendment was introduced amid concerns about child trafficking and will take effect on 1 October 2014.
Please feel free to contact us for more information, or contact our South African affiliate offices to apply for your visitor visa from South Africa. Please see www.bic-immigration.com for more information.
JP Breytenbach
Director of BIC, Breytenbachs Immigration Consultants Limited.
