The UK C Visit Visa—officially known as the Type C Visitor Visa—is the standard entry clearance for tourists, business visitors, and family visitors to the United Kingdom. Whether you're planning a short holiday, attending business meetings, or visiting relatives, understanding the C visit visa rules including the 180 days maximum stay, multiple entry permissions, and application requirements is essential for a successful trip. This comprehensive guide explains everything you need to know about the UK C visit visa for 2026, including what the "C" designation means, how the 180-day rule works, and when single entry visas are issued instead.
Understanding the UK C Visit Visa (Type C Visitor Visa)
The UK C visit visa is the most commonly issued visa category for short-term visitors to the United Kingdom. The "C" in C visit visa stands for the visa category classification used by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI), distinguishing it from other visa types such as work permits or settlement visas. When you receive your visa vignette (the sticker placed in your passport), you'll see "C-VISIT" printed on it, confirming your status as a visitor rather than a migrant.
Under Appendix V of the Immigration Rules, the standard visitor visa covers tourism, visiting family and friends, attending business meetings, receiving private medical treatment, and participating in approved activities. Most applicants receive a multiple entry visa allowing unlimited entries during the validity period, with each stay limited to a maximum of 180 days.
What Is a C Visit Visa UK?
A UK C visit visa is the standard visitor visa that allows entry to the United Kingdom for tourism, business, family visits, or other approved short-term purposes. The "C" designation appears on your visa vignette as "C-VISIT" and indicates visitor status rather than work or settlement permission. Most C visit visas are multiple entry, permitting unlimited entries with stays up to 180 days per visit.
The term "C visit visa" often confuses applicants who see this designation on their visa sticker without understanding what it means. Unlike the Schengen Type C visa (which covers the Schengen Area), the UK C visit visa is specific to United Kingdom immigration and has no connection to European visa classifications. The UK left the European Union and was never part of the Schengen Area, so UK visas follow entirely separate rules.
What Does "MULT" Mean on a UK C Visit Visa?
When examining your visa vignette, you'll notice "NUMBER OF ENTRIES" followed by either "MULT" or a specific number. "MULT" stands for multiple entries, meaning you can enter and leave the UK as many times as you wish during the visa's validity period. Each entry permits a stay of up to 180 days, regardless of how many times you've previously visited.
The visa vignette also displays "DURATION OF STAY" which shows either "180 DAYS" or a shorter period if restrictions apply. This duration refers to the maximum length of each individual visit, not the total time you can spend in the UK over the visa's validity period. Understanding this distinction is crucial for planning multiple trips without violating permitted activities for UK visitors.
UK Multiple Entry Visa 180 Days Rule Explained
The 180 days rule allows UK C visit visa holders to stay for a maximum of 180 days (approximately 6 months) per visit. This is not an annual limit—you can make multiple visits totalling more than 180 days per year, provided each individual visit doesn't exceed 180 days and you're not effectively living in the UK.
One of the most misunderstood aspects of the UK visitor visa is the 180-day rule. Under Section 4 of The Immigration (Leave to Enter and Remain) Order 2000, visitors are granted leave to enter for up to 180 days per visit. This applies whether you hold a 6-month, 2-year, 5-year, or 10-year visa.
Can You Stay More Than 180 Days Per Year in the UK?
Technically yes, but with important caveats. The Immigration Rules don't impose a strict 180-days-per-year limit. However, Appendix V paragraph V 4.2(a) states that visitors must not intend to live in the UK for extended periods through frequent or successive visits. Immigration officers assess whether your visiting pattern suggests you're treating the UK as a primary residence.
What Happens If Your Visa Expires During Your Stay?
If your visa validity ends while you're in the UK, you can generally remain until the end of your 180-day permitted stay. For example, if you enter the UK on 1st July with a visa expiring on 15th August, you're still entitled to stay until late December (180 days from entry). However, you cannot re-enter the UK after leaving once the visa has expired. Some visitors can apply to extend their UK visit visa in exceptional circumstances.
How to Apply for a Type C Visa UK
Apply online through the GOV.UK website, pay the visa fee (£127 for 6 months), book a biometric appointment at a visa application centre, submit your supporting documents, and wait approximately 3 weeks for a decision. You'll need a valid passport, proof of funds, travel itinerary, and evidence of ties to your home country.
The application process for a UK C visit visa is entirely online through the UK Government visa portal. After completing your UK visa application form, you'll attend a visa application centre to provide biometrics (fingerprints and photograph) and submit your passport.
- Valid passport with at least one blank page
- Completed online application and fee payment
- Bank statements showing sufficient funds (last 6 months)
- Employment letter or business registration documents
- Travel itinerary and accommodation bookings
- Evidence of ties to home country (property, family, employment)
- Invitation letter if visiting family or attending business meetings
- Previous travel history evidence (old passports, visa stamps)
UK C Visit Visa Fees 2026
The UK visitor visa fees vary based on the validity period you select. All options provide multiple entry access with the same 180-day maximum stay per visit—the only difference is how long you can use the visa before needing to reapply.
For detailed requirements on what documents to provide, see our comprehensive UK visa supporting documents checklist. If someone in the UK is sponsoring your visit, they should review the UK visitor visa sponsor requirements.
Processing Time for UK C Visit Visa
Standard UK visa processing time is approximately 3 weeks (15 working days) from the biometric appointment. During peak seasons (summer holidays, Christmas, Eid), processing may take longer. Priority and super-priority services are available in some countries for faster decisions—see our guide on UK priority visa services.
Single Entry vs Multiple Entry C Visit Visa
Most UK visitor visas are multiple entry by default, allowing unlimited entries during the validity period. Single entry visas are issued only in specific circumstances—such as attending a one-off event, court appearances, or when the Entry Clearance Officer has residual doubts about the applicant's intentions.
While the standard UK visitor visa is multiple entry, Entry Clearance Officers (ECOs) have discretion to issue single entry visas in certain situations. A single entry visa permits only one entry to the UK—once you leave, the visa becomes invalid regardless of remaining validity or unused days from your 180-day allowance.
When Are Single Entry Visas Issued?
- Court appearances: Witnesses required for criminal, family, or civil proceedings
- Police enquiries: Assisting with investigations at official request
- Family emergencies: Funerals or visiting seriously ill relatives
- One-off events: Specific business conferences, religious conventions, or professional events
- Charity-sponsored visits: Typically involving children on specific organised trips
- Residual doubts: When ECO grants visa but has concerns about future compliance
- BRP replacement: Re-entry to replace lost Biometric Residence Permit (£154 fee)
If you receive a single entry visa when expecting multiple entry, this often indicates the ECO had concerns about your application. While the visa was granted, the restriction suggests doubts about whether you would comply with visitor conditions on future visits. For your next application, address any weaknesses and provide stronger evidence of ties to your home country.
Duration Limits by Visitor Category
Most visitors can stay up to 180 days per visit. However, specific categories have different limits: ADS tour groups (30 days), Permitted Paid Engagement visitors (30 days), transit visitors (48 hours), medical treatment visitors (11 months), and academic visitors (12 months).
While the standard 180-day rule applies to most C visit visa holders, certain visitor categories under Appendix V have different maximum stay durations. Understanding these limits helps ensure compliance with your specific visa conditions.
Consequences of Overstaying Your C Visit Visa
Overstaying a UK visitor visa carries serious consequences that can affect your immigration history for years. Even a short overstay becomes part of your permanent record and must be disclosed on future visa applications worldwide.
- Up to 30 days overstay: No automatic ban, but future applications scrutinised
- 30 days to 12 months: 12-month re-entry ban from date of departure
- Over 12 months: 10-year re-entry ban from date of departure
- Removed/deported: 10-year ban plus potential criminal record
If you're at risk of overstaying due to circumstances beyond your control, seek immigration advice immediately. In genuine emergencies, it may be possible to apply for an exceptional circumstances extension. For more on how overstaying affects future applications, see UK visa refusal reasons.
- The UK C visit visa is the standard visitor visa—"C" indicates visitor category, not a specific type
- Most visas are multiple entry, allowing unlimited entries with 180 days maximum per visit
- No mandatory waiting period between visits, but frequent long stays raise immigration concerns
- Single entry visas are issued for specific one-off purposes or when ECO has doubts
- Overstaying even briefly affects your immigration record and future applications
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions About UK C Visit Visa
What does C visit visa mean on a UK visa?
The "C" in C visit visa stands for the visitor category classification used by UK Visas and Immigration. It appears on your visa vignette as "C-VISIT" to distinguish visitor status from other visa types like work permits (PBS categories) or settlement visas. The C designation simply means you're entering as a visitor for tourism, business, family visits, or other short-term approved purposes—it has no connection to Schengen Type C visas.
Can I stay more than 180 days in the UK per year on a visitor visa?
Technically yes—there's no strict annual limit of 180 days. The rule limits each individual visit to 180 days maximum, not your total time per calendar year. However, spending more time in the UK than your home country raises serious concerns under Appendix V 4.2(a), which prohibits using visitor status to effectively live in the UK. Immigration officers may refuse entry if your visiting pattern suggests you're treating the UK as your primary residence.
What does MULT mean on my UK visitor visa?
MULT stands for multiple entries, meaning you can enter and leave the UK as many times as you wish during your visa's validity period. Each entry allows a stay of up to 180 days. If your visa shows a number instead of MULT (such as "1" or "2"), you're limited to that many entries—most commonly seen with single entry visas issued for specific one-off purposes.
Is there a waiting period before I can return to the UK after a visit?
No mandatory waiting period exists in UK immigration law. You can legally leave and re-enter the next day on a multiple entry visa. However, immigration officers will assess whether your travel pattern indicates genuine visiting or an attempt to live in the UK through successive visits. Returning immediately after a long stay (especially near the 180-day maximum) will likely trigger questioning at the border and potential entry refusal.
Why did I receive a single entry visa instead of multiple entry?
Single entry visas are issued when your trip has a specific one-off purpose (court appearances, funerals, specific conferences) or when the Entry Clearance Officer has "residual doubts" about your intentions but still grants the visa. This restriction signals the ECO wanted to limit your travel flexibility. For future applications, strengthen evidence of ties to your home country and clearly explain why you need multiple entry access.
Can I work on a UK C visit visa?
No—visitor visa holders cannot undertake paid or unpaid employment in the UK. You can attend business meetings, conferences, and negotiations, but cannot fill a position, provide services to UK customers, or receive payment from a UK source. The only exception is the Permitted Paid Engagement (PPE) visa for invited experts, which allows specific paid activities for up to 30 days. Working illegally on a visitor visa can result in visa cancellation, removal, and future entry bans.
What happens if I overstay my UK visitor visa?
Overstaying carries escalating consequences. Up to 30 days: no automatic ban, but noted on your record. 30 days to 12 months: 12-month re-entry ban from departure date. Over 12 months: 10-year re-entry ban. Being removed or deported adds a 10-year ban plus potential criminal record. Any overstay, regardless of length, must be disclosed on future visa applications worldwide and will affect your credibility with immigration authorities.
Can I switch from a visitor visa to another visa type while in the UK?
Generally no—most switching routes are prohibited from visitor status. You typically must return home and apply for the new visa from abroad. Limited exceptions exist: you can switch to a spouse or partner visa if you entered as a fiancé(e) visitor or married during your visit (with specific conditions), and some other narrow circumstances apply. For detailed switching rules, consult the Immigration Rules or seek professional advice, as incorrect switching attempts can jeopardise future applications.