Travel to the UK if you have an official invitation from the UK government

Overview

If you have received an official invitation from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), which is part of the UK government, you can get a visit visa to come to the UK for the duration of your visit. You can come for a maximum of 6 months.

Who can apply

You can apply if you:         

• have received an official invitation from FCDO that confirms the cost of the visa will be met by them

You may need to provide more evidence to support your application and show that you can pay for any additional costs during your trip.

What you can do when entering the UK

If you are coming to the UK after receiving an official invitation from FCDO, you:

• can stay in the UK for up to 6 months as part of your visit

You cannot:

• settle in the UK
• study or work
• switch to another visa route

How to apply

You must apply online.

Start now

You need to click on Exempt Vignette and put in the country you are applying from. You can then choose ‘Official invitation from the UK Government’.     

You’ll need to:

• book an appointment at a visa application centre (VAC) to give your biometric information
• submit your passport at a VAC (this must be the original version, not a photocopy)
• submit your letter of invitation from FCDO
• show that you have enough money to pay for your trip, including for your accommodation in the UK

How much it costs 

You do not need to pay a fee to come to the UK if you have an official invitation from FCDO. 

After you apply

We will email you with your decision within 15 working days.

You cannot extend this visa. If it expires, you must apply again.