TL;DR
The UK runs around 30 distinct visa routes. Most applicants only fit one or two. Use the four-step finder below to narrow down which visa fits based on the reason for coming, whether a UK sponsor is involved, the country of origin and the intended length of stay. Each result links to the detailed cost and process guide for that route.
Last reviewed: 31 May 2026
UK visa finder
Four questions, one recommendation. The finder does not store any information and does not transmit answers anywhere - all logic runs locally in the browser.
Step 1 of 4. What is the main reason for coming to the UK?
Step 2 of 4.
Step 3 of 4.
Step 4 of 4. How long is the intended stay?
How the finder works
The finder walks through four decision points that the UK immigration system uses to route applicants: the purpose of the visit, whether a UK-based sponsor is involved, the applicant's nationality bucket for visitor-route purposes, and the intended length of stay. Those four answers together narrow the field from around 30 named routes to one or two strong matches in most cases. The result panel names the recommended route, explains why, and links to the cost and process guide.
What the finder does not do is replace a regulated immigration adviser. For applicants with complicated circumstances such as prior refusals, criminal history, dependant children from a previous relationship, healthcare conditions, or where eligibility turns on a specific salary threshold or endorsement, the finder result is a starting point rather than a final answer. Read the route guide it recommends, then if anything is unclear consult an Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC) regulated adviser or a Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) regulated immigration solicitor.
Why most applicants fit one of seven routes
The Home Office publishes around 30 named visa categories, but seven of those account for the bulk of grants in any given year. Skilled Worker, Health and Care Worker, Student, Graduate, Standard Visitor, Family (spouse and partner), and Global Talent between them processed about 87 percent of all visa decisions in the year to March 2024 according to Home Office migration statistics. The finder is weighted toward those high-volume routes because most applicants land in them.
The remaining routes are either narrow (Innovator Founder, Scale-Up, Senior or Specialist Worker, Minister of Religion, Sportsperson, Domestic Worker in a Private Household) or transitional (UK Ancestry, Returning Resident, Hong Kong British National Overseas). The finder surfaces those where the branching logic identifies them as a stronger fit than the default route for that reason-for-coming bucket.
What the finder cannot decide for the applicant
Three things sit outside the finder's logic and need to be checked separately before applying:
- Salary thresholds. Skilled Worker eligibility currently requires an offer at or above £38,700 in most occupations, with reduced thresholds for new entrants, health and care occupations, and roles on the Immigration Salary List. The finder recommends the route but does not verify the salary offer.
- English language requirements. Most work and family routes require either a degree taught in English, a Secure English Language Test result at the level specified for that route, or being a national of a majority English-speaking country. The finder does not assess language status.
- Maintenance funds. Most routes require the applicant to hold a minimum balance for 28 days before applying. The amount varies by route and family size. Check the route guide that the finder recommends.
What changes in 2026
Three policy shifts active in 2026 affect which route fits which applicant. First, the Health and Care Worker visa no longer permits dependants for new applications from March 2024 onwards, narrowing the route for applicants with families. Second, the Indefinite Leave to Remain pathway for Skilled Worker holders is under review with proposals to extend the qualifying period from 5 to 10 years, which affects long-term planning even though the finder still recommends the route for its primary purpose. Third, the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) is now mandatory for non-visa nationals visiting the UK for short stays, replacing the previous arrival-on-the-day approach for several country lists. The finder routes visitor applicants to either ETA or Standard Visitor based on country of origin.
Comparing the finder to the gov.uk visa wizard
The gov.uk site runs its own visa-finder questionnaire at gov.uk/check-uk-visa. It is the authoritative source and is updated whenever a new route opens or eligibility changes. The finder on this page covers the same decision logic with two differences. First, the result page links directly to detailed cost and process guides for each route rather than to the application portal, which is more useful for applicants still researching whether to apply at all. Second, the result panel calls out the specific issues that often catch people out on each route - dependant restrictions, salary thresholds, switching restrictions - rather than treating each route as a flat menu option. For the actual application, gov.uk remains the only legitimate channel.
Frequently asked questions
Can an applicant submit more than one visa application at the same time?
No. The Home Office processes one application per applicant at a time. If a first application is refused, a second application can be submitted to a different route, but submitting two simultaneously is not permitted and would result in one being refused on procedural grounds.
What if the finder result does not match the expected route?
The most common reason is that the expected route has eligibility conditions the finder identified as not met based on the four answers. Read the recommended route guide first, then if the expected route still seems a better fit, compare the two guides side by side. The finder's recommendation is a starting point.
Does the finder know about the new ETA scheme?
Yes. For visitor-route applicants from non-visa-national countries (most of Europe, the US, Canada, Australia, Japan and others), the finder routes to the Electronic Travel Authorisation. For visa-national countries, it routes to the Standard Visitor Visa. The boundary between the two lists is set by the Home Office and changes occasionally. The route guide linked from the result panel carries the current list.
Why does the finder ask about sponsorship?
Several work routes require a sponsor licence held by the UK employer. Without sponsorship, the applicant cannot use the Skilled Worker or Health and Care Worker routes regardless of salary or job offer. The finder uses the sponsorship answer to route between sponsored and unsponsored work routes, which include Global Talent (endorsement-based, no employer sponsor needed), High Potential Individual (university qualification-based), and the new Self-Sponsorship pathway through the Innovator Founder route.
Does the finder cover dependant applications?
The finder is built for main applicants. Dependant applications follow the main applicant's route. If a Skilled Worker visa holder brings a spouse and two children, all three dependants apply on the Skilled Worker (Dependant) route, not on a separate finder result. For Family visa applications (joining a British citizen or settled person), choose Family in step 1.
Sources
- Check if you need a UK visa (gov.uk)
- Immigration system statistics, year ending March 2024 (gov.uk)
- Skilled Worker visa route guidance (gov.uk)
- Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) (gov.uk)
- Immigration Rules - statement of changes (legislation.gov.uk)
Disclaimer: The finder is an informational tool and does not constitute immigration advice. Kael Tripton Ltd is not authorised by the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner or the Solicitors Regulation Authority. For application-specific advice consult a regulated immigration adviser. Use gov.uk as the authoritative source for current eligibility, fees and procedures.
