Eligibility & genuine visitor
Long-term visitor visas: validity is not permission to live here
A visa valid for several years allows repeat visits, subject to the conditions of each stay.
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Visa validity and stay length differ
Long-term Standard Visitor visas may be issued for two, five or ten years. Each visit is normally limited to six months; the visa’s expiry date does not authorise one continuous stay for its full validity.
Continue to meet visitor requirements
Your circumstances and the purpose of each visit must remain consistent with the visitor route. Border checks still apply, and frequent or successive visits must not make the UK your main home.
Changes in plans
If your plans change from visiting to living in the UK, a long-term visitor visa is not a substitute for the appropriate immigration permission. Check any specialist visitor provisions separately before relying on a different stay length.
Common mistakes
- Confusing a five-year visa with a five-year permitted stay.
- Assuming permission for every future visit is unconditional.
Evidence to consider
These are examples to consider where relevant, not a mandatory checklist or a guarantee that requirements are met.
- The visa and the permission recorded for the particular entry.
- Your previous travel pattern and the reason for future visits.
Official rules and guidance
Rules and guidance can change. Check the current official sources before relying on this information.
This is general legal information, not advice or an assessment of your eligibility. Your individual circumstances and the rules in force when you apply require consideration by a solicitor. No outcome is guaranteed.
Related guidance
Advice on your own circumstances
Discuss your proposed visit or refusal with an immigration solicitor. Scope and fees are agreed in writing before substantive work begins.