Visit
Short stays, tourism, transit, and marriage visits.
Most applied UK visa categories
Based on Home Office immigration system statistics for the year ending September 2025. Grants are a proxy for demand (and work figures are main applicants).
-
1
Visitor visas
2.2 million grants
Short stays for tourism, family visits, and business.
-
2
Study visas
440,000 grants (sponsored students)
Full-time study routes for international students.
-
3
Work visas
175,000 grants (main applicants)
Sponsored roles, global mobility, and temporary work.
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4
Family visas
68,000 grants
Partner, parent, child, and dependent routes.
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5
Transit visas
20,000 grants
Passing through the UK en route to another country.
Non-visit visas totaled 839,000 grants in the same period. ETA permissions are
separate from visas (19.6 million issued since October 2023). These figures are
headline indicators; always check current requirements before applying.
Visa categories
Each category maps to official GOV.UK listings. Use these to narrow your route before opening the detailed visa list.
Study
Student, Child Student, and short-term study options.
Work
Sponsored roles, global mobility routes, and temporary work.
Family
Partners, parents, children, and family permits.
Settlement & status
Indefinite Leave to Remain, EU Settlement Scheme, returning residents.
Special schemes
Ukraine routes and other time-limited schemes.
Visa routes index
Scan every major route in one place, grouped the same way you will see them on GOV.UK. Use this to orient, then open the official page for exact eligibility and evidence requirements.
Jump to
Visit
Short stays, transit, marriage visits, and tours.
Study
Student, child student, and short-term study routes.
Work
Sponsored work, talent, and temporary work routes.
Family
Partner, parent, child, and family permit routes.
Settlement
ILR, status routes, and returning resident paths.
Special schemes
Time-limited and humanitarian schemes.
Visit visas
Short stays, transit, marriage visits, and organised tours.
Core routes
- Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) for visa-free visitors
- Standard Visitor visa
- Visitor in Transit visa
Special visit routes
- Marriage Visitor visa
- Chinese tour group visitor visa
Study visas
Full-time study, child routes, and English language courses.
Student routes
- Student visa
- Child Student visa
- Parent of a Child Student visa
Short-term study
- Short-term study (English language) visa
- Standard Visitor visa for short courses (up to 6 months)
Work visas
Sponsored routes, talent pathways, and temporary work.
Popular work routes
- Health and Care Worker visa
- Skilled Worker visa
Work visas without a job offer
- British National (Overseas) visa
- Graduate visa
- Youth Mobility Scheme visa
- India Young Professionals Scheme visa
- Global Talent visa
- UK Ancestry visa
- High Potential Individual (HPI) visa
Work for an overseas employer (Global Business Mobility)
- Senior or Specialist Worker visa
- Graduate Trainee visa
- Secondment Worker visa
- Service Supplier visa
- UK Expansion Worker visa
- Overseas Domestic Worker visa
- Representative of an Overseas Business visa
Temporary work visas
- Seasonal Worker visa
- Government Authorised Exchange visa
- Creative Worker visa
- Religious Worker visa
- Charity Worker visa
- International Agreement visa
Start a business
- Innovator Founder visa
Other work visas and permits
- International Sportsperson visa
- Minister of Religion visa (T2)
- Scale-up Worker visa
- Frontier Worker permit
- Exempt vignette
Closed to new applicants
- Entrepreneur (Tier 1) visa
- Investor (Tier 1) visa
- Turkish Businessperson visa
- Turkish Worker visa
- Start-up visa
Family visas
Partner, parent, child, and family permit routes.
Core family routes
- Family visas (apply, extend or switch)
- EU Settlement Scheme family permit
- Apply as a child to join or stay with a close relative
Closed to new applications
- Ukraine Family Scheme (closed to new applications)
Settlement and status
Routes to settlement, status, and return to the UK.
Settlement routes
- Indefinite Leave to Remain (settlement)
- EU Settlement Scheme (settled and pre-settled status)
- British National (Overseas) visa (Hong Kong)
Status and return
- Right of abode
- Stay in the UK as a stateless person (checklist)
- Returning Resident visa
Special schemes
Time-limited routes and humanitarian schemes.
Ukraine routes
- Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme
- Ukraine Permission Extension Scheme
Check each scheme for eligibility and current availability.
Latest guidance highlights
These official guidance points help you plan when to apply and what to prepare. Always verify the exact rules for your route.
When to apply
Most visit visas can be applied for 3 months before travel, most work visas 3 months before employment starts, and student visas 6 months before course start. Settlement applications can take up to 6 months.
ETA for visa-free visitors
Some travellers who do not need a visa must apply for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before visiting the UK.
Prepare evidence early
You will need identity, financial, and intent evidence. Each dependant must apply and pay separately.
Official GOV.UK resources
Use these official links to confirm eligibility, fees, and application steps for your chosen route.
Visit the UK
Visitor, transit, and marriage visitor routes
Study in the UK
Student and Child Student visas
Work in the UK
Sponsored, temporary, and business visas
Family in the UK
Family routes and permits
Live permanently in the UK
ILR, EU Settlement Scheme, and status routes
Prepare your application
Official timing and preparation guidance
FAQ
Short answers for common visa planning questions.
Is this list exhaustive?
It covers all visa types shown on the official GOV.UK category pages at the time of writing. Always confirm on GOV.UK for updates.
Does “most applied” mean guaranteed approval?
No. It reflects recent visa grant volumes and is not a measure of your eligibility or approval chances.
Where should I apply?
Most applications are completed online with a biometrics appointment at a visa application centre.