UK Standard Visitor Visa Requirements and Application
As a Ghanaian, you can apply for UK visit visa and stay for 6 months in the UK as a Standard Visitor if you meet the requirements. The UK tourist visa from Ghana permits you to study, conduct business or tour the UK.
For more information about a Standard Visitor visa UK, including details about eligibility, documents required and the application process, contact our team at Total Law by calling +44 (0)333 305 9375 or messaging us online.
Do Ghanaians Need a UK Visa to Visit Friends, Study, or Conduct Business?
Ghanaians need to get a visit visa before they can visit the UK. With the UK Visitor visa, you can visit a friend or family member who lives in the UK. This is also the visa to apply for if you are going to a business or religious meeting in the UK. You are also permitted to take up short courses in the UK during your time on this visa.
The short course you intend to do in the UK must not take more than 180 days. You can apply for this visa if you’re going to get medical treatment in the UK.
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UK Visitor Visa Requirements and Eligibility for Ghanaians
To apply for the tourist visa UK, you need to meet the eligibility requirements below:
Valid Passport
One of the documents you are required to present is the ECOWAS passport for Ghanaians. This passport should be valid throughout your stay in the UK.
Ties to Home Country
You must show evidence that you want to return to Ghana once your visa expires. You can do this by showing you have family or work to return to in Ghana. You must also present evidence of having booked a flight ticket to and from the UK.
Means of Subsistence
To apply for the Visitor Visa UK, you’ll need to prove that you have enough money to support yourself and any other person accompanying you on your trip. You must show that you can pay for your trip, accommodation and living expenses during your stay. This is typically done by presenting a bank statement. If you have a family member in the UK, they can support you. You can also show proof that an organisation or government is funding your trip.
Successive Visit Requirement
You must also prove that you do not intend to make the UK your primary home by visiting successively. If you have visited the UK recently, the Home Office may deny your visa application on this basis.
Genuine Reason for Visiting the UK
You will need to convince the Home Office that the reason for your visit is genuine. What you will present as evidence may vary according to your reason for visiting the UK.
- If you are going for medical treatment, you may need to submit a letter from your Ghanaian doctor stating why you need medical treatment in the UK. You’ll also need a letter from a UK doctor or hospital to show they have accepted treating you.
- If you’re going for studies, exams or placement, you must submit your admission letter, exam or placement letter and schedule.
- If you’re going to visit a friend or family member, you can get an invitation letter from them. While this is not a mandatory requirement, it does strengthen your application and makes a case for your genuineness.
Medical Fitness
If you want to travel to the UK from Ghana, you’ll need to prove that you are free from Tuberculosis by submitting a result from any of the Home Office-approved clinics in Accra or Kumasi. This is required if you intend to spend up to 6 months in the UK.
How Ghanaians Can Apply for a UK Standard Visitor Visa from Ghana
If you want to apply for the Visit Visa UK, take the following steps:
Step 1: Confirm Your Eligibility
Check if you meet the requirements for a UK Visitor visa to avoid your visa application being denied.
Step 2: Prepare Your Documents
Get your documents ready. You’ll need to attach them to the application portal.
Step 3: Pay the Visa Fee
Next is to pay the visa fee. Remember to add the receipt of payment, as the omission would mean that your visa application won’t be processed.
Step 4: Apply Online
Head to the Home Office website and choose the visa you want to apply for. Fill out the form to apply for a Standard Visitor visa as accurately as possible. Ensure the information on the application form is the same as on your documents. You’ll attach those supporting documents.
Step 5: Schedule and Attend a Biometric Collection Appointment
You must schedule an appointment with the TLScontact visa application centre in Accra at Movenpick Ambassador Hotel, Emporium Building, 1st floor, Accra, Ghana. The officers there will collect your passport, photo and fingerprints and then transmit them to the UKVI.
Step 6: Get Your Visa
After your biometric collection, you’ll have to wait for the Home Office to decide on your visa application. It is advisable not to make any travel plans from Ghana to the UK if you have not gotten a visa approval.
UK Visitor Visa: What Ghanaians Can and Cannot Do While in the UK?
As a Ghanaian visiting the UK, you are permitted to:
- Meet with your friends and family in the UK.
- Volunteer for a role you are passionate about in a registered charity organisation.
- Attend a business meeting or job interview.
- Tour the country.
- Perform as a guest or present a lecture at a conference or academic gathering.
- Be part of a school exchange programme.
- Get medical treatment.
- Take exams, study or do placement in a UK company.
- Do research, clinical practice or teach temporarily in a UK school.
- Study a recreational course.
You are not permitted to:
- Take up employment.
- Lay claim to public benefits.
- Get married.
- Visit the UK successively.
UK Visitor Visa Fees and Processing Time for Ghanaians
Fees
Here’s a summary of uk visitor visa fees:
| Visa Type | Duration | Fee (GBP) |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Visitor Visa | Up to 6 months | £127 |
| Visiting Academic Visa | More than 6 months, up to 12 months | £220 |
| Private Medical Treatment Visa | More than 6 months, up to 11 months | £220 |
| Long-term Visitor Visa | Up to 2 years | £475 |
| Long-term Visitor Visa | Up to 5 years | £848 |
| Long-term Visitor Visa | Up to 10 years | £1059 |
| Visitor Extension | Main applicant and dependants | £1,100 |
Processing Time
It takes the Home Office 3 weeks to decide on your application.
How to Extend a UK Visitor Visa for Ghanaians: Criteria and Fees
It is possible to extend the UK Visitor visa. However, it must be due to specific circumstances. Here are the circumstances below:
Your Current Visa Permits You to Stay Less than 6 Months
If, for example, the Home Office approved you to stay in the UK for 4 months, but you need to stay longer, you can get an extension and stay for an extra 2 months. This brings your total stay to 6 months.
Medical Reasons
If you are taking treatment in the UK but still need time for more treatment and recuperation, you can extend your stay. You need to prove that:
- You have paid for all the treatment you have received so far.
- You still have enough money to pay for more treatments.
You can keep extending the Visitor visa on this premise every 6 months until you can return to Ghana.
An Academic
If you were initially permitted to stay in the UK for less than 12 months, say 6 months. You can extend a standard visitor visa for up to 12 months. This is only possible if you have at least a PhD and are not taking up permanent employment.
PLAB Test
If you need to retake the Professional and Linguistic Assessment Board (PLAB) test, you can extend your visa for up to 180 days. You must provide proof from the General Medical Council that you are resitting the test.
Dental Observer or Clinical Attachment
If you eventually pass the PLAB test, you can extend your visa to 18 months to be a dental observer or do clinical attachment. You’ll need to prove you have an attachment offer and are not required to treat patients. You’ll also need to prove that you have never done dental observation or attachment in the UK.
Note that for whatever reason you wish to extend your stay, you’ll pay an extension fee of £1,100.
How Total Law Can Assist with Your UK Visitor Visa Applications
Applying for a UK tourist visa can be tedious due to the documentation needed. This is often what puts many people off from visa applications. But with our help at Total Law, we can make the whole process stress-free. We have a team of immigration experts who are experienced in UK immigration law. They are on hand to advise you on your application, help you gather supporting documents, and even apply for the visa on your behalf.
It is usually best to leave the tedious application process to us as that guarantees an error-free application and a high success rate. We handled UK visa applications for many Ghanaians, and we can handle yours too. If you need help with your UK visa application or want to learn more about what we do, kindly contact us today by calling +44 (0)333 305 9375 or message us online.
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