Guide to supporting documents: visiting the UK - GOV.
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1. UK Visas and Immigration (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-visas-and-immigration)
Guidance
Guide to supporting documents: visiting the UK
Updated 6 June 2019
Contents
1. Documents you must provide – all visitors
2. Other documents you may want to provide – all visitors
3. Additional documents for specific types of visitors
4. Documents you should not send unless specifically requested
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/visitor-visa-guide-to-
supporting-documents/guide-to-supporting-documents-visiting-the-uk
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This guidance explains the documents you may need to provide in support of your application to visit the
UK.
All documents must be originals and not photocopies. Submission of these documents does not
guarantee that your application will be successful and you should bear this in mind when making any
bookings.
If you submit a document that is not in English or Welsh, it must be accompanied by a full translation that
can be independently verified by the Home Office. Each translated document must contain:
confirmation from the translator that it is an accurate translation of the original document
the date of the translation
the translator’s full name and signature
the translator’s contact details
1. Documents you must provide – all visitors
Valid travel document (national passport or other document that allows the holder to travel
internationally).
2. Other documents you may want to provide – all visitors
This section provides guidance on the types of documents that you may want to provide to help us
consider your application against the Immigration Rules.
previous travel documents/passports, which show previous travel.
financial documents showing that you have sufficient funds available. These must clearly show that
you have access to the funds, such as:
bank statements
building society book
proof of earnings such as a letter from employer confirming employment details (start date of
employment, salary, role, company contact details)
where a third party (who is either in the UK or who will be legally in the UK at the time of your
visit) is providing financial support to you e.g. a business, a friend or a relative, documents to
show they have sufficient resources to support you in addition to themselves and any
dependant family should be provided
confirmation of legal residence, if you are not a national of the country in which you are applying or
your right to reside there is not included in your passport
details of employment or studies where you have stated in your application that you are either
employed or in full-time studies. This could include:
a letter from your employer on company headed paper, detailing your role, salary and length of
employment
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a letter from your education provider, on headed paper, confirming your enrolment and leave
of absence
if self employed: business registration documents confirming the business owner’s name and the
date the business started trading
business activities – where you are coming to the UK in order to undertake activities relating to your
occupation/employment outside the UK you should submit documents showing what you will be
doing in the UK, including any letters from inviting organisations. For example:
any business activities, e.g. letter from your employer outlining the reason for your visit, who
you will be meeting and details of any payment/expenses
for performances and entertainment visitors, whether you work in this area as a professional or
amateur , and what and where you will be performing
under 18s – we strongly recommend you submit the following information otherwise it may delay
consideration of your application
a Birth Certificate or legal document (such as adoption papers) showing the relationship
between you and your parent or guardian
if travelling unaccompanied or with someone other than your parent or guardian you should
provide:
a signed letter from your parent(s) confirming details of anyone accompanying you, and
details of care and accommodation arranged in the UK
a copy of your parent(s) or legal guardian’s biographical page of their passport, which
includes their signature and passport number if your parent(s) do not have a passport
then you must provide another official document which bears their signature
3. Additional documents for specific types of visitors
This section sets out additional types of documents that you must submit if you are visiting for one of the
following reasons.
3.1 Academics coming to undertake research (12 month visa)
a letter from your current employer on official headed paper, detailing the period of your sabbatical,
exchange or outlining the research to be undertaken
letter from UK host organisation confirming the arrangements for your research or exchange
If you are from a country listed in Paragraph 39 of part 1 of the Immigration Rules
(https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-part-1-leave-to-enter-or-stay-in-the-uk), you must
provide a valid medical certificate issued by a medical practitioner listed in Appendix T of the Immigration
Rules (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-appendix-t-tuberculosis-screening).
3.2 Family accompanying academics coming to undertake research (12 month visa)
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If you are from a country listed in Paragraph 39 of part 1 of the Immigration Rules
(https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-part-1-leave-to-enter-or-stay-in-the-uk), you must
provide a valid medical certificate issued by a medical practitioner listed in Appendix T of the Immigration
Rules (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-appendix-t-tuberculosis-screening).
3.3 Private Medical Treatment (6 and 11 month visa)
You must provide a letter from your doctor or consultant in the UK, which includes:
details of the condition requiring treatment or consultation
estimated cost and duration of treatment
details of where treatment or consultation will take place
If you are applying for an 11 month visa and are from a country listed in Paragraph 39 of part 1 of the
Immigration Rules (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-part-1-leave-to-enter-or-stay-in-
the-uk), you must provide a valid medical certificate issued by a medical practitioner listed in Appendix T
of the Immigration Rules (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-appendix-t-tuberculosis-
screening).
Where you are applying for an extension of stay as a visitor for private medical treatment you must
provide the following documents:
a letter from a registered medical practitioner (https://www.gmc-uk.org/registration-and-licensing/the-
medical-register/a-guide-to-the-medical-register) at a private practice or NHS hospital, who holds an NHS
consultant post or who appears in the Specialist Register of the General Medical Council, detailing
the medical condition requiring further treatment documents to show that you have met the costs of
any treatment already receive
Organ donors
In addition, organ donors must provide a letter confirming:
that you genuinely intend on donating an organ to a named individual who you have a genetic or
personal relationship with, and that you are either a confirmed match to the identified recipient or
are undergoing further tests to establish this
details of when and where the planned transplant or tests will take place
The letter must be from one of the following:
the lead nurse or co-ordinator of an NHS Trust’s living donor kidney transplant team
a registered medical practitioner who holds an NHS consultant post, or who appears in the
specialist register of the General Medical Council
Organ donors also need a document showing that the intended recipient is legally resident in the UK,
such as a copy of their British passport or residence permit. If they are applying for a visa at the same
time, you must provide their details (name, nationality, date of birth).
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3.4 Prospective Entrepreneur
Letter of support from:
one or more registered venture capitalist firms regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority
(https://www.fca.org.uk)
one or more UK entrepreneurial seed funding competitions, listed here as endorsed
(https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/entrepreneurs-setting-up-in-the-uk/entrepreneurs-setting-up-in-the-uk)
one or more UK government departments (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations)
Failure to provide these documents will prevent subsequent switching into Tier 1 (Entrepreneur)
(https://www.gov.uk/tier-1-entrepreneur).
3.5 Work-related training
Professional and Linguistic Assessment Board or Objective Structured Clinical Examination Tests –
a letter from the General Medical Council & Nursing and Midwifery Council confirming
arrangements for the test
unpaid clinical attachments or dental observer posts –confirmation of your offer to take up this post
and that you have not previously undertaken this activity in the UK
3.6 Performers at one or more permit-free festivals
Letter of invitation from the organisers of each event, setting out dates required and details of any
payments you will receive for taking part.
3.7 Approved Destination Scheme (ADS)
You should consult the specific guidance for ADS visitors (https://www.gov.uk/ads-visa).
3.8 Permitted Paid Engagements
Invitation letter from a relevant UK-based organisation, such as:
a Higher Education institution
an organisation in the creative arts or entertainment industries
a sports organisation
a research organisation
an aviation training organisation regulated by the United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority
(https://www.caa.co.uk/home)
You must also provide evidence of professional status in your home country, depending on the
engagement you are doing.
Lecturers/examiners:
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publications in a particular field of expertise
evidence of previous lectures given in that field
a letter from your employer confirming where you work and your area of expertise
Entertainers/artists/sports people:
publicity material for performances, screenings concerts, talks, readings and exhibitions
evidence of awards
media coverage and reviews
proof of recent performances
Air pilot examiners:
a document to show membership of your country of residence’s national aviation authority, e.g. the
Federal Aviation Authority in the USA
Lawyers:
a practicing certificate or certificate of good standing or equivalent document
3.9 Visitor (Marriage/Civil Partnership)
If you have been married or in a civil partnership before, you must provide documents to show that you
are free to marry or form a civil partnership.
Evidence that arrangements have been/are being made to marry or form a civil partnership or give notice
of your intention to this during your visit, such as a letter from a registry office.
3.10 Transit Visitor
Evidence that your onward journey from the UK has been booked/confirmed, and that it is either within
24 hours of arrival in the UK for Direct Airside Transit or 48 hours of arrival in the UK for Visitor in Transit
such as:
travel booking confirmation (can be email or copy of tickets)
travel agent confirmation
Evidence that you are assured entry into the onward country that you are travelling to, such as:
residence permit
‘green card’
valid visa
If you are not a national or resident of the country of destination, you may wish to provide evidence of
reason for travel, such as:
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holiday booking confirmation
4. Documents you should not send unless specifically requested
This section provides guidance on the types of documents that are not required to consider your
application.
if you are applying as a family/group you do not need to provide multiple copies of the same
documents
bank statements or letters issued more than 1 year before the date of application
credit card statements
driving licence
photographs (passport photographs required in section 1)
notarial certificates
business cards
hotel bookings
flight bookings
photocopies of bank cards
certificates relating to leisure activities
evidence of car ownership
travel insurance
sponsor’s utility bills
sponsor’s council tax bills
educational certificates (unless specifically listed in section 3)
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