Medical Visa UK
Thousands of people travel to the UK each year for medical consultations and treatments. They must apply for a UK medical visa to accomplish this.
For immediate assistance with your medical visa UK, call our UK immigration solicitors at 02033844389.
What is a UK Medical Visa?
A Private Medical Treatment Visa allows foreign nationals to access private healthcare in the UK, as well as donate organs or be evaluated for potential organ donation to a designated recipient.
On this page, we address many frequently asked questions, including when a foreign national can have private medical treatment in the UK, and examine the criteria for a Private Medical Treatment Visa. For what period of time can one obtain a private medical treatment visa? And can someone with a Private Medical Treatment Visa come with them to the UK?
Meanwhile, you can also call our expert solicitors at 02033844389 to discuss your private medical treatment visa UK application.
Who Requires a UK Medical Visa?
People from countries on the UK’s visa nationals list (see “Appendix Visitor: Visa national list” in the Immigration Rules) must apply for a visa before they can come to the UK for medical reasons.
You don’t need a special medical visa to enter the UK. You would instead apply for a UK Standard visitor visa, which lets people with visas come to the UK for medical care. In this case, they might come to the UK to get private medical care at a hospital or another medical facility. It could also mean going to the UK to get medical care at an NHS hospital, as long as your own government pays for the care as part of a mutual healthcare deal. If you have accepted to be an organ donor for a family member or close friend, or if you want to be checked out to see if you could be a donor, you can also come to the UK with this visa.
Non-visa nationals, whose country of origin is not on the list of visa nationals, usually do not require a visa to visit the UK for medical reasons as long as their stay is less than six months and they do not plan to do anything illegal under the UK’s Immigration Rules, such as work. People who don’t need a visa should check to see if they need to apply for an ETA in order to come to the UK.
Non-visa nationals visiting the UK for more than six months must get a medical visa for UK prior to travel.
Our experienced UK immigration Solicitors can help you with your immigration process.
What are UK Medical Treatment Visa Requirements?
You must meet the following eligibility conditions for travellers seeking private medical care in the UK:
- If you have a disease that can be spread, you must have shown the medical inspector that you are not a threat to public health.
- You must have planned your specialised medical care in the UK ahead of time
- You must show a letter from a doctor or expert in the UK explaining the medical problem that needs treatment or consultation, along with an estimate of how much it will cost, how long it will probably last (which must be strict), and where the treatment or consultation will happen.
- If you want to get NHS treatment through a healthcare exchange between the UK and another country, you need to show a form signed by the government of that other country.
If you want to come to the UK for up to 11 months, you must also show proof from a doctor or consultant in the UK that the planned treatment will last longer than 6 months but not more than 11 months;
or if you want to get NHS treatment through a reciprocal healthcare arrangement, you must show an authorisation form that says the planned treatment will last longer than 6 months but not more than 11 months;
finally, you must show a valid medical certificate confirming that you have been screened for TB if needed.
In order to be eligible to come to the UK to give an organ or be evaluated as a possible donor match, you must also meet the following requirements:
- You must want to donate an organ to someone in the UK with whom you have a genetic or close personal link, or you must be evaluated as a possible donor for that person.
- You must give written proof of tests that show you are a donor match for the particular person who has been identified, or that you are currently having more tests to see if you could be their donor.
- Also, you need to show a letter from a UK registered medical practitioner or the lead nurse or supervisor of the Living Donor Kidney Transplant team at the UK NHS Trust, no more than three months before you plan to arrive in the UK.
- who is a doctor for the NHS or is on the Specialist Register of the General Medical Council—this proves that you meet the requirements and lets us know when and where the medical tests or organ transplants will happen in the UK.
- If asked, you must be able to prove that the person you’ve chosen as the receiver is legally in the UK or will be there at the time of the planned transplant.
Our experienced UK immigration Solicitors can help you with your immigration process.
How Can I Apply for a UK Medical Visa?
To apply for a private medical treatment visa UK, the first thing you need to do is
- fill out the online form, which you can find on the official website of the UK Government. There will be questions about your personal information, your medical situation, and the care you will be getting in the UK. Before sending in the form, make sure that all of the information is correct.
- After sending in your application, you will need to go to a visa application centre to give your biometric information, which includes a picture and your fingerprints. This step is necessary and helps to verify your identity.
- A visa fee is part of the application process and must be paid online at the same time the application is sent in. The length of your stay determines the cost of a UK medical visit visa. The visa costs £115 and lets you stay for up to 6 months. The visa fee is £200 for stays of more than 6 months but less than 11 months.
- A visa application office may sometimes ask you to come in for an interview. You might be asked about your health problem, the care you will get, and your goals in the UK during the interview.
- Read your application carefully and be ready to give any extra information that may be asked for.
If you want to get a visa, you will have to wait for a decision and finish all the steps. Processing times can be different, but you can check online to see where your application stands. If your application is accepted, you will get a vignette, which is a sticker that you can put on your visa that lets you enter the UK.
Our experienced UK immigration Solicitors can help you with your immigration process.
Documents Required for UK Medical Visa
Along with a passport or other valid travel document, several supporting documents are required when applying for a medical visa to the UK.
Needed Documents | Description of Documents |
Valid Passport | Must have a passport that is both current and valid for the whole time you will be staying in the UK. The visa vignette requires a minimum of one blank page. |
Visa Application Form | A filled-out online application form that can be found on the website for visas and immigration for the UK Government. |
Biometric Information | At a visa application centre, fingerprints and a picture are taken. |
Confirmation of Acceptance for Treatment | A letter from a hospital or clinic in the UK confirming the specifics of your medical care, such as the plan, length, and cost of the care. |
Medical Evidence | Written permission from your doctor or consultant in your home country, outlining your health problem and the reason you need care in the UK. |
Financial Proof | Proof that you can pay for your medical care and stay in the UK. This could be a letter from a sponsor, bank records, or a savings account. |
Accommodation Information | A hotel reservation or a letter from a friend or family member telling you where you will be staying during your treatment. |
Travel Itinerary | Information about your trip plans, such as the flights you’ve booked and any other arrangements you’ve made. |
Receipt of Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) | For any IHS payments, proof of payment is needed. You can use the National Health Service (NHS) in the UK during your stay if you pay this extra fee. |
Certificate Of Tuberculosis (TB) Test | If you come from a place where TB testing is required, you will need a medical certificate saying you do not have TB. The test must be carried out at an accredited clinic. |
Invitation Letter from Sponsor | If someone is paying for your trip, a letter from them explaining how they know you and their commitment to help you financially. |
Evidence of Return Travel | A return flight ticket or other proof that you plan to go back to your home country after your treatment. |
To begin, you will need to show UKVI that you meet all of the normal requirements for the visitor route. Therefore, you will have to show proof that you are a real guest and that you plan to go back home after getting medical care, donating an organ, or being checked out as a possible match. For instance, you may need to provide evidence that you own or rent a house abroad or that you have obligations to return to family while abroad.
Additionally, you need to show that you can pay for your own journey and stay in the UK. To do this, you will need to show proof of your finances, like pay stubs or bank statements, along with information about where you plan to stay. If someone else is paying for your trip to the UK, they should sign and return a letter saying they will pay for all of your hotel and transport costs.
You will also have to show the required documents that are needed by the extra rules for people who want to come to the UK for private medical care, to give an organ, or to be evaluated as a possible donor. This has to include proof from the doctors and nurses who worked on you during your process or treatment.
It’s important to note that the proof needed to support a medical visa UK application can be tricky, so it’s usually best to get help from an immigration law expert. Because time may be of the essence when you are getting medical care or agreeing to be an organ donor, your application must be approved the first time. Having a lawyer help you with the application process and gather the necessary paperwork can greatly improve your chances of a successful outcome.
Our experienced UK immigration Solicitors can help you with your immigration process.
What are the Cost and Processing Fees for a UK Medical Visa?
This type of visa costs £115 and lets you stay for up to 6 months. Visas cost £200 for stays of more than 6 months but less than 11 months.
You can apply for a medical visa UK up to three months before your trip. You should hear back from UKVI within three weeks of your appointment at a foreign visa application centre after submitting your online visa application.
If you are applying from a certain country, you might be able to pay extra for a priority or super priority service that will help your application get processed faster. Please check with the visa application centre in the country where you live at the moment.
Our experienced UK immigration Solicitors can help you with your immigration process.
How to Extend a Medical Visa UK?
If you inform UKVI ahead of time that your medical care will take longer than 6 months and the documents you send with your application make this clear, they should let you stay for up to 11 months at first. Instead, you can apply for a visa that lets you stay for up to six months and then, once you’re in the UK, pay an extra £1000 to extend your stay for another six months.
You are allowed to extend your stay in the UK as many times as you want, as long as you meet the following conditions:
- There is no longer any debt from medical care you got in the UK
- You can and will pay for the extra medical care that you need
- You still meet the conditions for a medical visa UK.
Regardless of your country, it will cost you £1000 each time you try to extend your stay for medical reasons. Additionally, you must ask for an extension while you are still in the UK and before your current visa expires. If you want to apply for an extension on your medical visa for the UK, you will need to show:
- Written proof from a UK-licensed doctor or NHS consultant that your situation needs more treatment
- If you are getting ongoing treatment at an NHS hospital as part of a reciprocal healthcare arrangement, you will need to show an extra form from your country’s government saying that they will pay for your ongoing treatment.
If you want to extend your visa, you will need to make an appointment at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) service point to give your supporting documents and biometric details. To keep your visa application from being thrown out, you must not leave the UK before you hear back.
Our experienced UK immigration Solicitors can help you with your immigration process.
How Can UK Immigration Solicitors Help?
Travelling to UK for medical treatment is just one example of how our committed team of legal advisors can help with all parts of the visitor visa application process, including eligibility qualifications. Contact us at 02033844389 for specialist guidance on Home Office applications.
Table Of Contents
- What is a UK Medical Visa?
- Who Requires a UK Medical Visa?
- What are UK Medical Treatment Visa Requirements?
- How Can I Apply for a UK Medical Visa?
- Documents Required for UK Medical Visa
- What are the Cost and Processing Fees for a UK Medical Visa?
- How to Extend a Medical Visa UK?
- How Can UK Immigration Solicitors Help?
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Our experienced UK immigration Solicitors can help you with your immigration process.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Most of the time, a child needs a visa in order to live in the UK. For instance, if their parent is a foreign national working or studying in the country, the child may need a Child Dependant Visa.
Foreign nationals seeking private medical care in the UK can do so with the help of a Medical Visit Visa. Individuals who need medical care that isn’t available in their home country or who need to get expert care in the UK are eligible for this visa.
A person applying for a visa must be seeking private medical treatment in the UK, have already made plans for their treatment, be able to pay for the treatment and any costs that come with it and plan to leave the UK after the treatment is over. The candidate must also show that they will not cost the UK healthcare system a lot of money.
You need to submit an online application form on the visa and immigration website of the UK Government in order to request a medical visit visa. After sending in the form, you need to show proof of your identity, go to a fingerprint appointment, and pay the visa fee. You might also have to go to an interview sometimes.
Please ensure that you have all the necessary documents ready before your medical treatment begins. These include a valid passport, a letter from your home country’s doctor or consultant outlining your medical condition, a letter from a UK hospital or clinic confirming your treatment plan and costs, evidence of sufficient funds to cover it all, and details of your accommodation in the UK.
The amount of applications and other factors can change how long it takes to process a Medical Visit Visa. It is best to apply a long time before the date you want to travel. Many times, it takes a few weeks to get a decision.
Please check the UK Government’s website for the most up-to-date information on the Medical Visit Visa fee before you apply. This fee is paid online when you fill out the application.
Yes, you have to give unique information, which includes a picture and your fingerprints. This must be done at a visa application centre as part of the application process.
You can ask for a visa for a companion if you need help while you are getting medical care. The companion must also meet the standards for a visa and apply on their own. They should show proof of their connection to you and how they will help you during your treatment.
If your application is denied, you will receive a letter detailing the reasons. Depending on the situation, you might be able to ask for an official review or file an appeal. When you reapply, you should talk about the reasons why you were turned down the first time.
You can stay in the UK for up to six months, and sometimes up to eleven months, with a Medical Visit Visa. If your treatment needs a longer stay, you may need to ask for an extension, as long as you meet the requirements and can explain why you need the extra time.
You will need to pay a fee and fill out an online application from outside the UK in order to get a medical visa UK. You may also need to make an appointment and bring the necessary paperwork to an overseas visa application centre.
In order to get a medical visa for the UK, you will need detailed and official proof from the doctors who are treating you or doing the process of organ donation. It is recommended that you talk to an immigration expert first.
Getting a medical visa for the UK to stay for up to six months costs £100. There is a £200 application fee for a private medical care visa that lasts more than 6 months but not more than 11 months.
When someone from outside of the UK applies for a medical visa, it usually doesn’t take more than three weeks for UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) to make a decision. Another option is to pay more to get an answer faster.
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