UK Holiday Visa for Thai Girlfriend | Visit From Thailand

Planning a UK holiday with your Thai girlfriend? She will normally need to apply for a UK Standard Visitor visa before travelling. The application should explain the holiday, how it will be paid for and why she will leave the UK when the visit ends.

There is no separate visa category called a “UK holiday visa”. This guide explains the practical questions couples should settle before making a visitor application from Thailand.

What visa does a Thai girlfriend need for a UK holiday?

For tourism or a temporary visit with her partner, the Standard Visitor visa is usually the appropriate route. It can normally permit a stay of up to six months, but the applicant must be a genuine visitor. A visitor visa cannot be used to live in the UK through frequent or successive visits.

If you plan to marry or give notice of marriage in the UK, check the correct visa before applying. Read our Marriage Visitor visa guide. If you intend to settle in the UK after marriage, our fiancé(e) visa guide explains a different route.

Plan a realistic visit

Decide when she will travel, how long she will stay, where she will live during the holiday and what you plan to do together. A first visit does not need an elaborate day-by-day itinerary, but the length and cost of the trip should make sense in light of her work, finances and other commitments.

If she has a job or business in Thailand, consider how much leave she can genuinely take. If you are paying for the flights or accommodation, explain that openly and provide evidence of your ability to support the visit.

What should the application show?

• Purpose: why she wants to visit the UK and whom she will see.
• Funding: how travel and living costs will be covered, including any help from you.
• Accommodation: where she will stay during the visit.
• Relationship: relevant evidence that you know one another and have spent time together.
• Her circumstances: employment, business, family, studies or other relevant commitments in Thailand.
• Travel history: previous trips and any earlier visa refusals, declared accurately.

Owning property is not a requirement. The evidence should show her genuine circumstances rather than a checklist of assets. See our step-by-step UK visitor visa guide for Thai citizens for the application process.

Can I sponsor my Thai girlfriend’s holiday?

Yes, you may offer to pay for some or all of the trip. Explain what you will cover and provide suitable evidence. Your support does not mean her own circumstances can be left out: UKVI will still consider whether she is genuinely visiting and will leave at the end of the trip.

When should we apply?

Check the current GOV.UK rules on how early you can apply and the published processing time before booking non-refundable travel. She will apply online and may need to attend an appointment to provide biometrics. Appointment locations and optional service fees can vary.

What if she was refused before?

Declare the previous refusal and read its reasons carefully. A new application should address those concerns rather than repeat the same information. Our guide on reapplying after a UK visa refusal explains what to check first.

UK immigration advice is provided through Thai Visa Express UK. Managing Director Paul Aslett is registered with the Immigration Advice Authority (IAA), registration number F200700163.

Official guidance: GOV.UK Standard Visitor visa. Check current rules, fees and processing times before applying.