Entry Clearance Guidance - Visit & Transit (VAT)
This is internal guidance for use by entry clearance staff on the handling of applications made outside the United Kingdom (UK) for visit and transit visas. It is a live document under constant review and is for information only.
Entry Clearance Guidance - Recent updates
A Statement of Changes to Immigration Rules has been laid before Parliament on 4 November 2008. Changes to Immigration Rules mentioned in this guidance will come into force on 27 November 2008.
Visit & Transit (VAT)
VAT1 Visitors: General
VAT2 Visitors: Visiting family; friends; as a tourist
VAT3 Special Visitor: Child visitors
VAT3A Special Visitor: Student exchanges
VAT4 Special Visitor: Child vistors sponsored by charities
VAT5 Special Visitor: Parents with children under 12 at school in UK
VAT6 Special Visitor: Marriage / Civil partnership visits (not settlement)
VAT7 Special Visitor: Private medical treatment
VAT8 Special Visitor: Visitor in transit
VAT9 Special Visitor: Student visitor
VAT10 Special Visitor: Prospective student
VAT11 Business Visitors
VAT12 Business Visitors: Academic Visitor
VAT13 Business Visitors: Visiting Professors
VAT14 Business Visitors: Religious Workers
VAT15 Business Visitors: Doctors coming for PLAB Tests
VAT16 Business Visitors: Doctors undertaking clinical attachments
Dentists undertaking clinical observation posts
VAT19 Visitors under the Approved Destination Status MoU with China
VAT20 Foreign Armed Forces (not NATO / Commonwealth)
VAT21 Archaeological excavations
VAT22 Appellants seeking admission
VAT23 Parents with access rights to children in the UK
VAT24 Child minders for relatives
VAT25 Visitors seeking visas or settlement visas for other countries
VAT26 Persons coming for job interviews
VAT27 Court reporters
VAT28 Witnesses attending trials in the UK
See Also
Related links
Recent updates
New guidance on applications from Turkish nationals in accordance with ECAA
New content, VAT3A Student exchanges - temporary concession
Guidance on deportees - see ECB4.3 and EUN1.3
Content of Chapter 24 has been replaced by the new Medical Issues section
SET12 (HM Forces) updated to link to latest IDI guidance
Content of Chapters 13, 14, 15, 19, 20 and 29 has been replaced by the new Settlement section