Visa & COVID-19 Travel Restriction Guidance for the One Young World Summit 2023

Individuals attending the Summit are responsible for ensuring they have all the information needed pertaining to their circumstances for travel and applicable to their nationality or country of residence, and that the information submitted for the visa application and any transit visas needed is, to the best of their knowledge, accurate and reliable at the time of submission. One Young World provides the below information as a form of guidance only. In addition to reading this guide, it is highly recommended that all delegates take the time to read the UK's official guidance on the Standard Visitor Visa as well as the country’s guidance on COVID-19 entry restrictions.

Please contact [email protected] if you have any questions or need further assistance.

Note: The United Kingdom is not part of the Schengen area. Possession of a visa for the Schengen area does not entitle you to enter the United Kingdom.

Do I need a UK Visa?

If your nationality is listed below then you don’t need a visa to visit the UK to attend the One Young World Summit.

Although you don’t need a visa, you must travel with a passport that is valid for the duration of your stay in the UK and has two blank pages.

It’s also recommended that you travel with your One Young World letter of invitation to prove the purpose of your visit to the UK. You might also need a transit visa based on your flight route. A transit visa is a temporary short period visa that will allow you to travel through the international transit area of an airport in a country that is not your final destination. If you do not have a direct flight to the UK, please make sure to check with the relevant embassies if you are required to apply for a transit visa in the countries in which you are changing to a different flight.

Andorra
Antigua and Barbuda
Argentina
Australia
Austria
Bahamas
Barbados
Belgium
Belize
Botswana
Brazil
Brunei Darussalam
Bulgaria
Canada
Chile
Colombia
Costa Rica
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Dominica
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Grenada
Guatemala
Guyana
Holy See
Honduras
Hong Kong*
Hungary
Iceland
Ireland
Israel**
Italy
Japan
Kiribati
Korea, Republic of
Latvia
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Malaysia
Maldives
Malta
Marshall Islands
Mauritius
Mexico
Micronesia, Federated States of
Monaco
Namibia
Nauru
Netherlands
New Zealand
Nicaragua
Norway
Palau
Panama
Papua New Guinea
Paraguay
Peru
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Lucia
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Samoa
San Marino
Seychelles
Singapore
Slovakia
Slovenia
Solomon Islands
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Timor-Leste
Tonga
Trinidad and Tobago
Tuvalu
United Kingdom
United States
Uruguay
Vanuatu


*If you are in possession of a Hong Kong travel document as opposed to a Hong Kong passport you will require a visa.

** If you are in possession of a provisional Israeli passport you will require a visa.

If your nationality is listed below then you will need to apply for a visa to visit the UK.

You might also need a transit visa based on your flight route. A transit visa is a temporary short period visa that will allow you to travel through the international transit area of an airport in a country that is not your final destination. If you do not have a direct flight to the UK, please make sure to check with the relevant embassies if you are required to apply for a transit visa in the countries in which you are changing to a different flight.

Afghanistan
Albania
Algeria
Angola
Armenia
Azerbaijan
Bahrain***
Bangladesh
Belarus
Benin
Bhutan
Bolivia
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Cambodia
Cameroon
Cape Verde
Central African Republic
Chad
China
Comoros
Congo, Republic of the (Congo-Brazzaville)
Congo, The Democratic Republic of The
Côte d'Ivoire
Cuba
Djibouti
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
Egypt
El Salvador
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
eSwatini
Ethiopia
Fiji
Gabon
Gambia
Georgia
Ghana
Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Haiti
India
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Jamaica
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Korea, The Democratic People's Republic of
Kosovo
Kuwait***
Kyrgyzstan
Lao People's Democratic Republic
Lebanon
Lesotho
Liberia
Libya
Macedonia
Madagascar
Malawi
Mali
Mauritania
Moldova
Mongolia
Montenegro
Morocco
Mozambique
Myanmar
Nepal
Niger
Nigeria
Oman***
Pakistan
Palestine
Philippines
Qatar***
Russian Federation
Rwanda
Sao Tome and Principe
Saudi Arabia***
Senegal
Serbia
Sierra Leone
Somalia
South Africa
South Sudan
Sri Lanka
Sudan
Suriname
Syria
Taiwan****
Tajikistan
Tanzania
Thailand
Togo
Tunisia
Turkey
Turkmenistan
Uganda
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates***
Uzbekistan
Venezuela
Vietnam
Yemen
Zambia
Zimbabwe

*** Nationals of Kuwait, Oman, Qatar or the United Arab Emirates can get an electronic visa waiver (EVW) instead of a visa. Click here for details of the EVW.

**** Unless passport has a personal ID number on the bio data page.

You need to apply for a Standard UK visitor visa.

Nationals of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates can get an electronic visa waiver (EVW) instead of a visa. Click here for details of the EVW.

You should complete the online visa application now and book your visa application appointment for the future.

The earliest you can attend a visa application appointment is three months before you arrive in the UK, for most delegates this will be 2 July.

Your application is not complete until you attend your visa application appointment. It is very important that you complete the application process at the earliest opportunity.


How do I apply for a UK visitor visa?
 

1. Complete the online application

Complete the online application form found here. Please refer to the Application Form Guidance section of this guide for important instructions on how to respond to certain questions in the application.

At the end of the application, you will need to pay a £100 application fee and book a biometrics appointment at your nearest Visa Application Centre. You can find your nearest Visa Application Centre here.

When booking a biometrics appointment, you should select the earliest available date that is within three months of your entry to the UK, for most delegates this will be 2 July. 

After you have completed this step please revisit your One Young World registration profile and provide your GFW number and visa application appointment date.

2.Prepare for your visa application appointment

After submitting your online application and booking your application appointment you will be redirected to the website of your selected Visa Application Centre. Read the information on this website carefully to ensure you are prepared for your application appointment. At this stage you may want to add additional services available from the Visa Application Centre such as the ability to keep your passport after your appointment. The available services and associated fees may vary depending on the Visa Application Centre.

You should now make sure you have all of the Supporting Documents you need to support your application. See the List of Supporting Documents section of this guide for more information. It is very important that you include supporting documents that demonstrate your personal circumstances and provide evidence for everything you have stated about your circumstances in your visa application. Failure to provide these supporting documents with your application or providing inconsistent evidence will likely result in your application being refused.

3. Attend your visa application appointment

Attend your visa application appointment ensuring you take all required and recommended supporting documents along with copies of these documents. During your visa appointment you will hand in your application form and supporting documents, you will also provide biometric information including your fingerprints and a photograph.

4. Wait for your application to be processed

After attending your appointment your, application should be processed within three weeks. Wait times will vary from country to country however. Once your application is approved you will be able to revisit the Visa Application Centre to collect your documents and passport. The Visa Application Centre may provide you with a specific date and time to collect your documents, others will invite you to visit at any time during their opening hours.

If you are attending the Summit through a scholarship please inform One Young World once your visa has been approved.

 

  • A current passport. You need a blank page in your passport for your visa. Your passport should be valid for the whole of your stay in the UK.
  • Your One Young World letter of invitation.
  • Your City of Belfast letter of invitation.
  • Your letter of invitation from your sponsor (if you are attending the Summit as part of a partner delegation). A template of this letter which should be completed by your delegation coordinator can be downloaded here.
  • The first page of your visa application form showing the GWF number.

It is very important that you also include supporting documents that demonstrate your personal circumstances and provide evidence for everything you have stated about your circumstances in your visa application. Failure to provide these supporting documents with your application or providing inconsistent evidence will likely result in your application being refused. Documents that provide evidence of your personal circumstances include:

  • Confirmation of legal residence, if you are not a national of the country in which you are applying or your right to reside there is not included in your passport.
     
  • Financial documents showing that you have sufficient funds available. These must clearly show that you have access to the funds, such as:
    • Bank statements.
    • Building society book.
    • Proof of earnings such as a letter from your employer confirming your employment.
    • Important: The documents you provide must match the information you provide in your application. For example, if you stated your monthly income is £1,000 in your visa application, you must provide a bank statement which shows the £1,000 being deposited into your account.
       
  • Details of employment or studies where you have stated in your application that you are either employed or in full-time studies. This should include:
    • A letter from your employer on company headed paper, detailing your role, salary and length of employment.
    • A letter from your education provider, on letter headed paper, confirming your enrolment and leave of absence.
    • If self-employed: business registration documents confirming the business owner’s name and the date the business started trading. It is also recommended that you include recent invoices that confirm on-going self-employment.
       
  • Home address (Documents showing where you live, such as: Property deed / mortgage statements / tenancy agreements / accountant's letters / land registration documents).
  • Evidence of assets: Documents showing that you own property or land, such as: (Property deed / mortgage statements / accountant's letters / land registration documents).
  • Evidence of family members remaining in your home country whilst you travel.
  • Previous travel documents/passports, which show previous travel.

Further guidance on supporting documents can be found here.

 

You must ensure all information provided as part of your visa application is true and correct to the best of your knowledge. Most questions are based on your personal situation (names, birth date, passport number, current occupation) meaning we cannot offer assistance with these, please find some guidance on other questions that relate to the purpose of your trip/the One Young World Summit below:

About the cost of your visit

During your visa application, you will be asked to provide an estimate of the amount of money you will spend during your visit to the United Kingdom.

Unless you are attending the Summit as an Independent Delegate (paying your own delegate fee) you need only provide an estimate of the incidental expenses you will incur whilst attending the Summit. One Young World advises that you budget between £250 and £400 for your stay in Belfast.

If you are attending the Summit as an Independent Delegate (paying your own delegate fee), provide an estimate of the total amount you are spending on your participation in the Summit, including your delegate fee, airfare and incidental expenses.

Paying for your visit

During your application you will be asked ‘Will anyone be paying towards the cost of your visit?’

If you are attending the Summit as part of a partner delegation or as a recipient of a scholarship please answer ‘Yes’ in response to this question.

You will then be asked to provide details about who is paying for the cost of your visit.

If you are attending as part of a Partner Delegation, please respond to this question as follows:

Who is paying towards the cost of your visit?
My employer or company.

How much money will they be paying towards your visit?
£4,210 (GBP)

Why are they helping to pay for your visit?

[Name of Organisation] has selected me to join its delegation to the One Young World Summit in Belfast from 2 to 5 October. The Summit is staged by the UK charity One Young World (reg nr 1147298). As a [Name of Organisation] delegate, [Name of organisation] will sponsor my participation in the One Young World Summit including the costs of my delegate fee, airfare, hotel accommodation, and catering. Please refer to the One Young World Invitation Letter in my supporting documents for further details.

If you are attending as a recipient of a scholarship please respond to this section as follows:

Who is paying towards the cost of your visit?
Another company or organisation

Name: One Young World

Address: 14 Irving Street

Town/City: London

Province/State: London

Postal Code: WC2H 7AF

How much money will they be paying towards your visit?
£4,210 (GBP)

Why are they helping to pay for your visit?

One Young World has awarded me a scholarship to participate in the One Young World Summit in Belfast from 2 – 5 October. The Summit is staged by the UK charity One Young World (reg nr 1147298). As a scholarship recipient, One Young World will sponsor my participation in the One Young World Summit including the costs of my delegate fee, airfare, hotel accommodation and catering. Please refer to the One Young World Invitation Letter included with my supporting documents for further details.

Date you plan to arrive in and leave the UK

Most delegates will arrive in the UK on 1 or 2 October 2023 and leave on 6 October 2023, however your sponsor or scholarship provider may have arranged for you to arrive earlier and leave later than this. If you are unsure of your planned arrival and departure dates please check with your delegation coordinator or contact [email protected].

Main reason for your visit

During your application you will be asked ‘What is the main reason for your visit to the UK?’ Select ‘Other’ in response.

You will then be asked to provide more details regarding the main purpose of your visit. Respond as follows:

I will be attending the One Young World Summit 2023 held in Belfast from 2 to 5 October. The One Young World Summit is the global forum for young leaders, staged annually by the UK charity One Young World (registration number 1147298). Please refer to the One Young World Letter of Invitation included with my supporting documents for further details.

Travelling as part of an organised group

During your application you will be asked if you are travelling to the UK as part of an organised group. Respond ‘No’.

Accommodation in the UK

During your application you will be asked ‘Do you have an address for where you are going to stay in the UK?’. Select ‘No’ in response.

On the next page of the application you will then be asked ‘Where do you plan to stay in the UK?’ Enter the following in response:

One Young World is arranging my hotel accommodation. They have contracted hotel accommodation in the following hotels; Radisson Blue Hotel Belfast, Mimision Belfast, Ramada by Wyndham Belfast, Jurys Inn Belfast, AC Hotel Belfast, Titanic Hotel Belfast. One Young World will assign my stay in one of these hotels closer to the Summit.

If you experience any difficulties with your visa application such as a rejection or a delayed decision please contact [email protected] immediately. Please state your GWF reference number and the location of your Visa Application Centre when contacting us.


Travelling to or from the Republic of Ireland
 

One Young World recommends that all delegates travel directly to Belfast rather than via the Republic of Ireland.

All delegates who need a UK visa to attend the Summit must obtain one regardless of the country they enter the UK from.

The Republic of Ireland has separate immigration and visa requirements to that of the UK so if you plan to travel into the Republic of Ireland at any point (e.g on arrival or for tourism before or after the Summit) then you must also check if you will need a visa for the Republic of Ireland and apply for this separately. One Young World cannot support visa applications for the Republic of Ireland.

Except for Indian and Chinese nationals, visas for The Republic of Ireland do not permit entry to the United Kingdom. Indian and Chinese nationals can apply for a dual visa under the British Irish Visa Scheme.


Transit Visas
 

You might also need a transit visa based on your flight route. A transit visa is a temporary short period visa that will allow you to travel through the international transit area of an airport in a country that is not your final destination. If you do not have a direct flight to the UK, please make sure to check with the relevant embassies if you are required to apply for a transit visa in the countries in which you are changing to a different flight.

Information on transit visas for the Schengen area can be found here.


COVID-19 Travel Restrictions
 

The current COVID-19 entry rules for the UK can be found here.

Depending on where you are travelling from and the countries you are travelling through, other COVID-19 travel regulations may apply to you. It is your responsibility to check and comply with the COVID-19 travel regulations of the country you are travelling from and any third countries you may be travelling through.


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