Apparently, the UK multiple entry Type-C visa for 180 days is commonly known as standard visitor visa. Indeed, an applicant after getting the short term 6-month visa at least once or twice can subsequently apply for long term 2, 5 and 10 years visitor visa for meeting family, tourism and business. However, the UK multiple entry visa rules are the same for the short term 6 months visitor visa and its long term 2, 5 and 10-year versions.

Immigration Rules

In terms of Section 4 of Immigration (Leave to Enter and Remain) Order 2000, a 6-month, 2, 5 and 10-year UK Type-C multiple entry visitor visa is usually issued with a duration of stay for 180 days per visit. For instance, if an applicant has a 5-year multiple entry Type-C visa then can visit the UK on more than one occasion with a duration of stay up to 180 days per visit. Moreover, the conditions relating to the frequency of visits and duration of the visit are stated:

Paragraph V1.6 of the Appendix V for visitors

Paragraph 9 of the Appendix V for visitors

Section 4 of Immigration (Leave to Enter and Remain) Order 2000.

Is the UK 180 day rule per visit or per year?

Some websites state that a visitor on C Type multiple entry visa can only stay in the UK for up to 180 days per year. However, this is an incorrect interpretation of the Immigration Rules. Indeed, the Immigration Rules clearly enables a visitor to cumulatively stay for more than 180 days per year.

If you need to visit the UK regularly over a longer period, you can apply for a long-term Standard Visitor visa that lasts 2, 5 or 10 years. You can stay for a maximum of 6 months on each visit. GOV.UK

Accordingly, a genuine visitor can stay for more than 180 days per year. However, there must be a compelling genuine reason to do so. For instance, childcare of an ailing relative. Accordingly, such a a visitor can stay up to 180 days per visit and can repeat this throughout the validity of the visa. However, if the reason is not genuine then the leave to enter or remain can be curtailed and visitor can be removed or deported. Moreover, any subsequent application could be refused solely for extended stays and making the UK home.

How many days a visitor usually stays on a Type-C visa?

Certainly, a C-Type visitor can stay up to 180 per visit. And perhaps more than 180 days per year if a visitor is making more than one trip in a year to the UK. However, most of the visitors have an active life in their home country. Therefore, usually, the stay is no longer than 2-3 weeks for business visitors and tourists. Perhaps, even most of the family visitors usually don’t stay longer than 1-2 months per year.

When a visitor can stay for more than 180-days per visit?

Indeed, a visitor on a Type-C visa can stay for more than 180 days per visit if he/she is on a:

11-month Private Medical Treatment visa 12-month Academic Visitor Visa. Please note, an academic employed by an overseas institution can visit for carrying out the permitted activities under paragraph 12 of Appendix 3. Accordingly, can stay up to 12 months. Moreover, the dependant spouse/partner and children of an academic visitor can also stay up to 12-month

How soon a visitor can re-enter the UK?

Apparently, the immigration rules don’t specify any particular time duration for re-entering the UK. Perhaps, one can re-enter even within 24 hours. This is possible if a person intends to visit Ireland or any Schengen countries for a very short visit. What’s important are the purpose and genuine intentions.

UK multiple entry 180 days type-C visa rules for extension

Indeed, a visitor on a multiple entry Type-C visa can extend the stay for a duration longer than the visa expiry date. Therefore, can apply for an extension for a maximum period up to 6-month. For instance, a visitor arriving in July 15, with a visa expiring in August, can extend the visa up to 180 days. Accordingly, a visitor can also extend a single entry or 6-months visa to complete 180 days per visit in the UK.