The 6-month rule
As a Standard Visitor, you can usually stay in the UK for up to 6 months each time you visit. You can visit for tourism, to see family, for certain business activities, or for short courses. You can't work for a UK employer, live in the UK through frequent visits, or access public funds.
Do you need an ETA?
If you don't need a visa to visit the UK, you'll usually need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) before you travel. This applies to nationals of the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, most of Europe and many other countries.
- Cost: £20.
- Validity: multiple visits for 2 years, or until your passport expires if that's sooner.
- Each visit: up to 6 months.
- Not needed by: British and Irish citizens, and people who already have permission to live, work or study in the UK.
The ETA also covers Northern Ireland, so non-Irish visitors travelling from Dublin to Belfast need one too.
Is there a limit per year?
The Immigration Rules don't set a fixed number of days per year. But Border Force officers check that you're genuinely visiting. If your pattern of visits suggests you're really living in the UK, for example spending most of the year there across back-to-back trips, you can be refused entry even if each visit is under 6 months. Keep a record of your time in the UK with our rolling days calculator (try 183 days in any 365).
When UK tax rules kick in
Long or frequent stays can also make you UK tax resident under the statutory residence test. That can happen with as few as 16 days in a tax year if you have strong UK ties. Check with our UK statutory residence test calculator.