The Private Medical Treatment and Organ Donation Visit Visa is intended for those seeking private medical care, those interested in donating organs, or those being evaluated as potential organ donors for a specific recipient in the UK.

The Visit Visa for Private Medical Treatment and Organ Donation falls under the Standard Visitor route, designed for individuals seeking temporary entry to the UK. Those visiting for private medical treatment can obtain entry clearance for either 6 or 11 months.

The Private Medical Treatment and Organ Donation Visit Visa route does not result in settlement in the UK, and each visitor must submit an individual application, even if they are part of a group.

Private Medical Treatment and Organ Donation Visit Visa Requirements

To be eligible for a Private Medical Treatment and Organ Donation Visit Visa, you must demonstrate to UK Visas & Immigration that:

• You have a visa and are looking to gain entry to the UK as a Visitor when you arrive at the border.
• Your reason for coming to the UK is in line with the approved visitor pathways.
• You commit to not engaging in any prohibited activities during your stay.
• You possess adequate funds to cover all expenses related to your visit, including travel, accommodation, and maintenance, without relying on work or public funds.
• You plan to leave the United Kingdom once your visit is over.
• You have no intention of staying in the UK for long periods by making frequent visits or establishing it as your main place of residence.
• Your application does not meet the criteria for refusal under the general grounds for refusal;
• You have secured an Electronic Travel Authorisation, if necessary.

Requirement for Visa Nationals

A visa national is an individual who, due to their nationality, needs a Visit Visa to enter the UK as a Visitor. Visa nationals are generally required to apply for a Visit Visa before traveling to the UK.

The Home Office has released a list of nationalities that must apply for a Visit Visa before traveling to the UK as a Private Medical Treatment Visitor. This list contains some exceptions, allowing specific visa nationals to apply for entry as a Private Medical Treatment Visitor upon arrival in the UK.

Non-visa nationals can typically apply for entry as a Visitor upon arrival in the UK. However, non-visa nationals still need to meet the Visitor entry requirements. Therefore, upon arrival, they should be ready to explain the purpose of their visit, how they will be supported and accommodated in the UK, and their return travel plans.

EU citizens are considered non-visa nationals and can enter the UK as Visitors upon arrival without needing to obtain a Visit Visa.

In addition to assisting visa nationals with Private Medical Treatment Visa applications, our barristers regularly help non-visa nationals meet the Visitor entry requirements upon arrival in the UK.

Private Medical Treatment in the UK Visit Visa

To be eligible for a UK Private Medical Treatment Visa, it is necessary to have already organized your private medical treatment prior to your journey to the UK.

To support your application for a Private Medical Treatment Visa, you must submit a letter from a UK doctor or consultant outlining your medical condition necessitating consultation or treatment, the expected expenses, the anticipated duration of treatment (which must be limited), and the location of the consultation or treatment.

If you plan to undergo NHS treatment through a reciprocal healthcare agreement between the UK and another country, you must present an authorization form issued by that country's government.

Along with your application for a UK Private Medical Treatment Visa, you must also demonstrate to the Home Office that you have adequate funds to cover all reasonable expenses related to your visit and treatment.

Patients Seeking to Visit the UK for Private Medical Treatment for More Than 6 Months

If you plan to apply for an 11-month Private Medical Treatment Visa for the purpose of obtaining private medical treatment, you will need to submit evidence from your doctor or consultant in the UK indicating that the proposed treatment is expected to last for more than 6 months, but not longer than 11 months.

If you are seeking NHS treatment under a reciprocal healthcare agreement between the UK and another country, you must also present an authorization form issued by the government of that country, clearly stating that the proposed treatment is likely to exceed 6 months, but not extend beyond 11 months.

The Home Office will require clear justification for your need to be in the UK for treatment lasting more than 6 months, as well as evidence that you have sufficient funds to cover all expenses.

You may also be required to provide a valid TB test certificate, if applicable.

UK Visitor Visa for the Purpose of Organ Donation

You must demonstrate to the Home Office your genuine intention to donate an organ to, or be evaluated as a potential organ donor for, a specific recipient in the UK with whom you share a genetic or close personal bond.

A genetic connection refers to the donor being a blood relative of the identified recipient in the UK. A close personal relationship typically includes the visitor's spouse, partner, or close friends.

You are required to present documented proof of medical examinations indicating that you are a suitable donor match for the identified recipient, or that you are undergoing additional assessments to determine your eligibility as a potential donor for the recipient.

You are required to acquire a letter from the lead nurse or coordinator of the UK NHS Trust's Living Donor Kidney Transplant team, or a UK registered medical practitioner holding an NHS consultant position or listed in the Specialist Register of the General Medical Council. This letter needs to validate that you satisfy the mentioned criteria and outline the date and location of the scheduled organ transplant or medical assessments. The letter should be dated within 3 months of your planned arrival in the UK.

The recipient who has been identified must possess legal status in the UK during the scheduled organ transplant and meet the criteria for receiving treatment either through the NHS or at a private hospital.

UK Visa Application for Private Medical Treatment and Organ Donation Visit

Besides proving to the Home Office your genuine intention to enter the UK for an authorized reason and meeting the extra eligibility criteria, you must also demonstrate, in your application for a Private Medical Treatment Visa, that you will depart the UK after your visit and will not reside in the country for prolonged periods by frequently visiting or making it your primary residence.

When evaluating your UK Private Medical Treatment Visa application, the Home Office will take into account various factors.

• Your history of immigration, including previous trips to the United Kingdom and other countries.
• Your financial situation, along with your family, social, and economic history
• Your connections to your current country of residence, both personal and economic

The Home Office reserves the right to investigate the legitimacy of your visit if you do not have substantial ties to your home country, possess a large number of relatives in the UK, have a track record of attempting to deceive the Home Office in immigration affairs, or if there are disparities between your statements and those of your sponsor.

Financial Requirement for Visit Visa for Private Medical Treatment and Organ Donation

In order to apply for a Private Medical Treatment Visa, it is essential to have the necessary funds to cover all expenses related to your visit, such as travel, maintenance, and accommodation costs, without relying on work or public funds.

The funds must be kept in an authorized financial institution.

If a third party with a genuine professional or personal connection to you is willing to cover your travel, maintenance, and accommodation costs, they must comply with immigration laws and be able to provide support for the entirety of your stay as a Visitor.

English Language Requirement for Visit Visa for Private Medical Treatment and Organ Donation

Visit Visa applicants seeking Private Medical Treatment and Organ Donation are not required to meet an English language proficiency requirement.

Duration of Visit Visa for Private Medical Treatment and Organ Donation

If you desire to visit the UK for the purpose of receiving private medical treatment or donating organs, you can apply for a Visit Visa that could be valid for 6-months, 2-years, 5-years, or 10-years.

You are allowed to travel in and out of the UK multiple times within the duration of your Visit Visa, unless it is specifically indicated for a single or dual entry.

Each visit to the UK should not exceed 6 months.

A Visitor seeking private medical treatment in the UK may also be eligible for entry clearance for a maximum of 11 months, as long as they meet the additional criteria mentioned earlier.

Visa for Visiting the UK for Private Medical Treatment and Organ Donation, as well as the Right to Work.

Private Medical Treatment Visit Visa holders are not allowed to engage in any work activities in the UK, except for a few specific cases, or to receive payment from a UK source for any activities carried out in the UK.

This means that individuals holding a Private Medical Treatment and Organ Donation Visit Visa are prohibited from taking on employment, establishing or running a business as a self-employed individual, working for an organization or business in the UK, participating in a work placement or internship in the UK, or providing or selling goods or services in the UK.

As the Private Medical Treatment and Organ Donation Visit Visa falls under the Standard Visitor route, holders of this visa may engage in other activities permitted under the Standard Visitor route. Engaging in authorised paid activities is allowed, provided that the activity is scheduled prior to entering the UK and is finished within 30 days of arrival in the UK.

Private Medical Treatment and Organ Donation Visitors are allowed to work remotely while in the UK, but remote working should not be the primary purpose of the visit. The main purpose of the visit to the UK should be to engage in a permitted activity, rather than specifically to work remotely from the UK.

Additionally, Private Medical Treatment and Organ Donation Visitors are permitted to come to the UK to seek employment and attend job interviews. However, if successful in obtaining employment, they are expected to leave the UK and apply for the appropriate entry clearance before starting work.

Application Fees for Visit Visa for Private Medical Treatment and Organ Donation

The cost for a Short-term Private Medical Treatment and Organ Donation Visit Visa, allowing a stay of up to 6 months, is currently £115.

The application fee for a Private Medical Treatment and Organ Donation Visit Visa for a stay of more than 6 months but not more than 11 months is £200.

If you wish to apply for a Private Medical Treatment and Organ Donation Visit Visa that is valid for either 2 years, 5 years or 10 years then the application fee will be £400, £771 or £963 respectively.