Travel to the UK if you have an official invitation from the UK government
Information on travelling 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.
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.