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Check your UK Standard Visitor application before you apply

The Entry Clearance Officer decides your application against Appendix V of the Immigration Rules. This page shows you what they are checking, in their words, and lets you see which grounds look thin in your case before you pay the fee.

Entry Clearance Officer UK Visas and Immigration Standard Visitor

Appendix V: Visitor, V 4.2(a)

Genuine visitor: intention to leave at the end of the visit

The applicant must satisfy the decision maker that they are a genuine visitor, which means the applicant will leave the UK at the end of their visit.

What the officer assesses: Whether your circumstances at home give you a reason to return that outweighs any reason to stay. The officer weighs employment, family, property, study and previous travel together, not one by one.

Where this comes from 4 official sources

The applicant must satisfy the decision maker that they are a genuine visitor, which means the applicant: (a) will leave the UK at the end of their visit;
Immigration Rules, Appendix V: Visitor, V 4.2(a)
checked against the page on 18 October 2026
their personal and economic ties to their country of residence
Visit guidance, for Home Office staff, Genuineness and credibility: assessing personal circumstances
Version 18.0 · dated 8 October 2026 · checked against the page on 18 October 2026
the applicant has few or no family and economic ties to their country of residence, and has several family members in the UK
Visit guidance, for Home Office staff, Reasons for doubting whether the applicant is a genuine visitor
Version 18.0 · dated 8 October 2026 · checked against the page on 18 October 2026
An application for a visit visa which, if granted, could result in permission to spend more than 6 of 12 months in the United Kingdom is likely to be scrutinised rigorously but it is wrong to refuse someone entry clearance as a general visitor just because they have spent more than six of the last twelve months in the United Kingdom.
Oppong (visitor - length of stay) Ghana, Headnote
Upper Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber) · [2011] UKUT 00431 (IAC) · decided 4 October 2011 · checked against the page on 18 October 2026
Decided under the former visitor rule (paragraph 41 of HC 395), since replaced by Appendix V. Check that the point still holds before relying on it.

Evidence that addresses it

Employment letter on headed paper stating role, start date, salary and approved leave dates
Payslips covering the same period as the bank statements
Business registration, tax filings and business bank statements where self-employed
Property deeds, a tenancy agreement or a mortgage statement in the applicant's name
Evidence of dependants: birth certificates, school letters, care responsibilities
Previous passports showing visas used and departures made on time
Proof of enrolment and term dates where studying

Appendix V: Visitor, V 4.2(b) to (d), V 4.4 to V 4.6

Genuine visitor: permitted purpose and no prohibited activities

The applicant must be genuinely seeking entry for a purpose that is permitted by the visitor routes, must not undertake any prohibited activities, and must not live in the UK for extended periods through frequent or successive visits, or make the UK their main home.

What the officer assesses: Whether what you have described doing in the UK is something a visitor is allowed to do, and whether your pattern of visits looks like visiting rather than living here.

Where this comes from 2 official sources

(c) is genuinely seeking entry or stay for a purpose that is permitted under the Visitor route as set out in Appendix Visitor: Permitted Activities and at V 13.3; and (d) will not undertake any of the prohibited activities set out in V 4.4. to V 4.6;
Immigration Rules, Appendix V: Visitor, V 4.2(c) and (d)
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V 4.5. Permitted activities must not amount to the Visitor undertaking employment, or doing work which amounts to them filling a role or providing short-term cover for a role within a UK based organisation and where the Visitor is already paid and employed outside of the UK they must remain so.
Immigration Rules, Appendix V: Visitor, V 4.5
checked against the page on 18 October 2026

Evidence that addresses it

An itinerary that matches the stated purpose and the permitted activities
For business visits, a letter from the home employer stating the activity and that salary continues to be paid from home
Previous passport stamps showing the length and spacing of earlier visits
Where a short course is planned, the course letter and its dates

Appendix V: Visitor, V 4.2(e) and (f), V 4.3

Maintenance and accommodation: funds for the visit and the return journey

The applicant must have sufficient funds to cover all reasonable costs in relation to their visit without working or accessing public funds, including the cost of the return or onward journey, any costs relating to dependants, and the cost of planned activities. A third party may provide support where they have a genuine professional or personal relationship with the applicant and are not, or will not be, in breach of UK immigration laws.

What the officer assesses: Whether the money that will pay for this trip exists, is yours or a genuine sponsor's, and got there in a way the statements explain.

Where this comes from 3 official sources

(e) must have sufficient funds to cover all reasonable costs in relation to their visit without working or accessing public funds, including the cost of the return or onward journey
Immigration Rules, Appendix V: Visitor, V 4.2(e)
checked against the page on 18 October 2026
V 4.3. In assessing whether an applicant has sufficient funds under V 4.2.(e), the applicant’s travel, maintenance and accommodation may be provided by a third party only if that third party:
Immigration Rules, Appendix V: Visitor, V 4.3
checked against the page on 18 October 2026
financial documents provided by any applicant should confirm the declared income / source of support and show sufficient funds available, such as bank statements which detail the origin of the funds held.
Visit guidance, for Home Office staff, Evidence: other documents
Version 18.0 · dated 8 October 2026 · checked against the page on 18 October 2026

Evidence that addresses it

Six months of personal bank statements, stamped or downloaded from the bank with the bank's name on every page
Payslips matching the salary credits in the statements
A written explanation and evidence of the source of any large or unusual credit
Where a sponsor pays: their letter of invitation and undertaking, their bank statements, payslips, and proof of their UK immigration status
Proof of accommodation: hotel booking, or the sponsor's address with proof they live there

Appendix V: Visitor, V 4.2(c)

Purpose of visit: consistency between the purpose, the invitation, the itinerary and the money

The applicant must be genuinely seeking entry or leave to remain for a purpose that is permitted by the visitor routes.

What the officer assesses: Whether the story the documents tell is one story. The stated purpose, the dates, the invitation, the booking and the spending must all describe the same trip.

Where this comes from 3 official sources

(c) is genuinely seeking entry or stay for a purpose that is permitted under the Visitor route as set out in Appendix Visitor: Permitted Activities and at V 13.3;
Immigration Rules, Appendix V: Visitor, V 4.2(c)
checked against the page on 18 October 2026
the applicant should be able to explain what their main reason for coming to the UK is at the visa application stage, on entry and when applying to extend their stay.
Visit guidance, for Home Office staff, Standard and burden of proof and evidence
Version 18.0 · dated 8 October 2026 · checked against the page on 18 October 2026
there are discrepancies between the statements made by the applicant and the statements made by the sponsor, particularly on points where the sponsor could reasonably be expected to know the facts but does not
Visit guidance, for Home Office staff, Reasons for doubting whether the applicant is a genuine visitor
Version 18.0 · dated 8 October 2026 · checked against the page on 18 October 2026

Evidence that addresses it

A day-by-day or week-by-week itinerary with dates
The invitation letter, where someone is inviting you, with their address and status
Flight reservations or bookings matching the itinerary dates
Accommodation bookings for the whole stay
Evidence of any event you are attending: tickets, a conference registration, a wedding invitation

Part Suitability, SUI 11.1 to SUI 11.4 (previous breach of immigration law), and Appendix V: Visitor V 4.2

Previous immigration history and travel history

An application may be refused where the applicant has previously breached immigration laws, and the decision maker will take the applicant's immigration history into account when assessing whether they are a genuine visitor.

What the officer assesses: What your record shows about whether you keep the terms of a visa: previous refusals and their reasons, overstays, removals, and visas used properly.

Where this comes from 4 official sources

SUI 11.3. An application for entry clearance or permission may be refused where the applicant is, or has been, in breach of immigration laws as defined in SUI 11.4.
Immigration Rules, Part Suitability, SUI 11.3
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(b) will not live in the UK for extended periods through frequent or successive visits, or make the UK their main home;
Immigration Rules, Appendix V: Visitor, V 4.2(b)
checked against the page on 18 October 2026
A pattern of travel that shows the applicant has previously complied with UK immigration law may indicate the applicant is likely to be a genuine visitor, as might travel to other countries, especially the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, Schengen countries or Switzerland.
Visit guidance, for Home Office staff, Travel / immigration history
Version 18.0 · dated 8 October 2026 · checked against the page on 18 October 2026
Where the applicant is a first-time traveller, you will need to rely on other evidence to satisfy you they are a genuine visitor.
Visit guidance, for Home Office staff, Travel / immigration history
Version 18.0 · dated 8 October 2026 · checked against the page on 18 October 2026

Evidence that addresses it

All previous passports, including expired ones, showing visas and entry and exit stamps
The previous refusal notice, with a short written explanation of what has changed
Evidence of compliance with earlier visas: departure stamps, boarding passes

Part Suitability, SUI 9.1 (deception) and SUI 10.1 (false representations)

False representations, false documents or non-disclosure

An application must be refused where the decision maker is satisfied that the applicant used deception, by making false representations, providing false documents or false information, or not disclosing relevant facts (SUI 9.1). An application may be refused where false representations were made, false documents or false information were provided, or relevant facts were not disclosed, whether or not the applicant knew (SUI 10.1).

What the officer assesses: Whether anything submitted was untrue or fabricated, or whether a material fact was withheld, and, if so, whether the applicant used deception or made a mistake.

Where this comes from 6 official sources

SUI 9.1. An application for entry clearance or permission must be refused where the decision maker is satisfied that the applicant used deception by:
Immigration Rules, Part Suitability, SUI 9.1
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SUI 10.1. An application for entry clearance or permission may be refused where the applicant or a third party, in relation to the application, or to obtain documents from the Secretary of State or a third party: (a) made false representations or provided false documents or false information in relation to the application (whether or not relevant to the application, and whether or not to the applicant’s knowledge); or
Immigration Rules, Part Suitability, SUI 10.1
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(d) used deception in relation to a previous application (whether or not successfully); or
Immigration Rules, Part Suitability, SUI 11.4(d)
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(f) 10 years Used deception in an application (for visits this applies to applications for entry clearance only)
Immigration Rules, Part Suitability, SUI 12.1, row (f)
checked against the page on 18 October 2026
It seems to me therefore that there is an open choice as to the meaning to be given to “false” in the relevant rules. In that situation, I would prefer the meaning of “dishonest”, for the following reasons.
AA (Nigeria) v Secretary of State for the Home Department, Rix LJ, paragraph 66
Court of Appeal (Civil Division) · [2010] EWCA Civ 773 · decided 6 July 2010 · checked against the page on 18 October 2026
Decided on the former general grounds for refusal (paragraphs 320(7A) and 322(1A)). Part Suitability now draws the same line in the rules themselves: mandatory refusal for deception (SUI 9.1), and a discretionary refusal for false information whether or not the applicant knew (SUI 10.1). Read it for what deception means, not as a defence to SUI 10.1.
Secondly, however, a false representation stated in all innocence may be simply a matter of mistake, or an error short of dishonesty. It does not necessarily tell a lie about itself.
AA (Nigeria) v Secretary of State for the Home Department, Rix LJ, paragraph 68
Court of Appeal (Civil Division) · [2010] EWCA Civ 773 · decided 6 July 2010 · checked against the page on 18 October 2026
Decided on the former general grounds for refusal (paragraphs 320(7A) and 322(1A)). Part Suitability now draws the same line in the rules themselves: mandatory refusal for deception (SUI 9.1), and a discretionary refusal for false information whether or not the applicant knew (SUI 10.1). Read it for what deception means, not as a defence to SUI 10.1.

The requirements are in Appendix V: Visitor of the Immigration Rules. Part Suitability holds the grounds for refusal that apply to every route, including deception, false information and previous breaches of immigration law. The paragraph numbers printed on your refusal notice govern.

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