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General visitors

Can you extend your stay as a general visitor?

This page explains whether and how you can extend your stay in the UK as a general visitor.

If you come to the UK as a general visitor, you are allowed to remain here for a maximum of 6 months (or 12 months if you are accompanying an academic visitor). When you enter the UK, we will stamp the duration of your permission to stay in your passport.

If we give you permission to enter for 3 months, and you later want to extend your stay to the maximum of 6 (or 12) months in total, you must apply for an extension - see below.

If we give you permission to enter the UK for 3 months as a child visitor, and your 18th birthday is during this period, you can apply to extend your stay as a general visitor. The maximum total time that you can stay in the UK will be 6 months (or 12 months if you are accompanying an academic visitor).

If we allow you to extend your stay, you must continue to meet the requirements for general visitors.

When your permission to stay as a visitor expires, we expect you to return home. You cannot 'switch' into a different immigration category.

You must apply using application form FLR(O). You can complete and submit this application form online, or you can print out the form, complete it by hand and submit it by post, by courier or in person.

You should read the FLR(O) guidance notes before you complete the application form. You will need to pay a fee when you apply, and we will not refund your fee if we refuse your application or if you withdraw it.

Follow the link on the left side of this page to make your application online, and to download the application form (if you are not applying online) and the guidance notes.

The application form gives details of the documents you must send with the form. You should send the original documents, not copies. In exceptional circumstances, we may accept a photocopy that is certified as an accurate copy by the body or authority that issued the original, or by a notary. You must include a letter explaining why you are providing a certified copy rather than the original document.

You must be in the UK to apply, and you must apply at least 4 weeks before your permission to stay in the UK ends.

If you apply by post, you must send your application to the address given on the form. If your application is straightforward, you can apply in person using our same-day service at one of our public enquiry offices for a premium fee. For more information, see the Applying in person section.

More information

  • Application fees for extending your stay using form FLR(O)

     

    Fee if you are applying by post Fee if you are applying in person
    Main applicant £578 £953
    Partner or child aged under 18 (if they are applying at the same time as the main applicant in a category that allows dependants to be included) £433 for each family member included on the main applicant's application form £808 for each family member included on the main applicant's application form
     Partner or child aged under 18 (if they apply later) in a category that allows dependants to be included)  £578  £953


Application forms

Application for an extension of stay in the UK (other categories)

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