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Visitors for private medical treatment

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Can you extend your stay as a visitor for private medical treatment?

This page explains whether and how you can extend your stay in the UK as a visitor for private medical treatment.

When you come to the UK as a visitor for private medical treatment, we will give you permission to remain here for a maximum of 6 months. When you enter the UK, we will stamp the duration of your permission to stay in your passport.

If you need to stay here for more than 6 months to complete your treatment, you can apply to extend your stay.

You must be able to produce evidence, from an NHS consultant or a medical practitioner who appears in the Specialist Register of the General Medical Council, of:

  • satisfactory arrangements for your private medical consultation or treatment;
  • the likely duration of your treatment; and
  • the progress of your treatment, if it has already started.

You must also show that you:

When your permission to stay as a visitor expires, we expect you to return home.

How to apply for an extension

You must apply using application form FLR(O).

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.

You can download the application form and guidance notes from the right side of this page.

Section 8 of 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 or by courier, you must send your application to the address given on the cover of the 'paper version' of 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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